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THIS IS THE 2021, UH, HOUSTON NAVY WEEK.
AND I'M VERY HAPPY AND PROUD TO BE PART OF THE NAVY TEAM TO WELCOME UON STATE NAVY TO THE GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, I WOULD THINK ABOUT, UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE, UH, LINCOLN, UH, PAGE, UH, THIS MORNING.
AND I WAS WATCHING THE A CEREMONY, UH, EACH SEVEN CHIEF HEAD OFFICER CEREMONY.
AND JUST REMIND ME DURING MY PERIOD OF TIME IN THE NA NAVY, BECAUSE YOU REACHED DIFFERENT MILESTONE, MY MILESTONE WAS PAID OFF THE THIRD CLASS.
THEN AFTER PAID OFFICER THIRD CLASS, THEN YOU MAKE CHIEF PET OFFICER.
AND FROM THAT POINT, YOU CAN GO ANYWHERE YOU WANT TO.
I CHOSE TO GO, GO THE CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER ROCK, AND I'M JUST PROUD.
I WANT TO WELCOME ALL MY GUESTS VICE HERE, UH, CITY COUNCILMAN, AND ALSO, UH, OUR, OUR CITY REPRESENTATIVE AND OUR FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVE.
WELL, FURTHER ADO, LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO, UH, MAYOR PROTE, DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE CAST TAYLOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UH, WE COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR MORE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER TO CELEBRATE TODAY.
I DO WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO OUR, OUR NEWEST, UH, NAVY RECRUITS.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY BEFORE THE PROGRAM TO SHAKE THEIR HANDS AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE.
UH, WE KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE TAKING YOUR OATH TODAY AND IT IS JUST REFRESHING TO SEE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WILLING TO SERVE IN OUR NAVY.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
AND WE PRAY GOD WILL PROTECT YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY OF YOUR LIVES AND WISH YOU THE VERY BEST ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK, UH, MR. DEMBO, IF YOU'LL COME UP.
WE DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AS WE CELEBRATE HOUSTON NAVY WEEK, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EACH OF YOU KNOWS HOW VERY, UM, HONORED WE ARE TO STAND WITH YOU AND CELEBRATE THIS IMPORTANT OCCASION.
UH, WE DO KNOW THAT MAYOR TURNER IS OUT OF THE COUNTRY, BUT HE SENDS HIS VERY BEST.
AND TO EACH OF US WHO SERVE YOU ON CITY COUNCIL, I'M GOING TO ASK MY TWO COUNCIL MEMBER COLLEAGUES IF THEY WOULD COME AND, AND JOIN IN THE PROCLAMATION COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN AND COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS AND THE PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS HONORED TO HAVE THE PRESENCE OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES NAVY, THE MARITIME SERVICE BRANCH OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES PROTECTS AMERICA AT SEA ALONGSIDE OUR ALLIES TO DEFEND OUR FREEDOM ACROSS THE GLOBE AND AT HOME.
AND WHEREAS THE NAVY DOES NOT COMPETE, DEFER OR FIGHT ALONE, THEY ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE JOINT COURTS AND WORK CLOSELY WITH ALLIES, PARTNERS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
AND WHEREAS FOUR US NAVY SHIPS HAVE BORN THE NAME USS HOUSTON AFTER THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THIS YEAR'S MEMORIAL SERVICE AT SAM HOUSTON PARK IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON MARKED THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE USS HOUSTON SLOTS.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS HOME TO NAVY OPERATIONAL SUPPORT CENTER, HOUSTON ELLINGTON FIELD, NAVY TALENT ACQUISITION GROUP, HOUSTON AND RICE UNIVERSITY, N-R-O-T-C PROGRAM.
AND WHEREAS US NAVY WILL HOST SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS IN THE HOUSTON AREA TO INCREASE AWARENESS BY SHOWCASING THE NAVY TO CITIES THAT NORMALLY DO NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NAVAL PRESENCE.
IT ALSO GIVES LOCAL CITIZENS THE CHANCE TO MEET SAILORS AND LEARN ABOUT CAPABILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE US NAVY.
THEREFORE, I, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM VICE MAYOR PRO TIMM ON BEHALF OF SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE OCTOBER 24TH THROUGH 30TH AS HOUSTON NAVY WEEK IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
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1, 2, 3.NOW IT'S MY HONOR AND PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE YOU A TEXAN NAVY, UH, GREAT ALMA HILL.
I KNOW THE WARRANT OFFICER PUT THIS MICROPHONE UP SO I HAVE TO EMBARRASS MYSELF AND LOWER IT
UH, HEY, UH, IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.
I WANT TO THANK, UH, OUR VICE, UH, MAYOR, UH, PRO PROM CASTEX TATUM FOR SUCH A GREAT, UH, KICKOFF AND PROCLAMATION.
AND I WANNA TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, WHAT IT MEANS FOR ME AS A NATIVE OF TEXAS AND AS A FLAG OFFICER, UH, IN THE NAVY.
FIRST I'LL POINT OUT THE T-SHIRTS THESE YOUNG RECRUITS OF AMERICA ARE WEARING.
UH, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THEY SAY FORGED BY THE SEA.
AND ALTHOUGH THAT SOUNDS INCREDIBLY DRAMATIC AND VERY COOL, WHAT IT REALLY MEANS IS KIND OF OUR MOTTO IN THE NAVY, IS THAT PRESENCE MATTERS.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOUR SAILORS, YOUR OFFICERS, YOUR SHIPS, YOUR SUBMARINES, YOUR AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, YOUR SPACE CONTROLLERS.
WE ARE DEPLOYED GLOBALLY EVERY DAY PRACTICING OUR ART, WHAT WE DO.
AND WHY DO WE DO THAT? WE DO THAT BECAUSE WE ARE A MARITIME NATION.
AND A MARITIME NATION HAS TO PROTECT FREEDOM OF THE SEAS SO THAT GLOBAL COMMERCE IS SAFE.
IT IS WHAT BUILDS PROSPERITY FOR ANY NATION THAT IS A MARITIME NATION.
IF YOU LOOK BACK AT HISTORY, WHY DID THE UNITED KINGDOM HAVE TO HAVE A NAVY TO PROTECT GLOBAL COMMERCE? 'CAUSE THEY WERE AN ISLAND NATION.
WHY DID JAPAN DURING WORLD WAR II BUILD UP AN INCREDIBLE NAVY? WHY DID THEY DO THAT? ISLAND, NATION, NATION, VERY FEW RESOURCES NEEDED TO PROTECT THE COMMERCE.
AND NOW THE MOST IMPORTANT NAVY ON THE PLANET AS WE CELEBRATE 247 YEARS IS THE UNITED STATES NAVY.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GEAR, 'CAUSE WE'RE IN THE NAVY, WE LOVE THINGS LIKE SHIPS.
I'M ENAMORED BY DESTROYERS AND CRUISERS.
I THINK SUBMARINES ARE STUNNING.
YOU KNOW, THE UNITED STATES NAVY WAS THE FIRST NAVY TO PUT SUBMARINES AT SEA.
REALLY THE FIRST NAVY TO DO AVIATION FROM THE SEA, THE FIRST NAVY TO LEVERAGE SPACE CAPABILITY.
NOW THAT'S IMPORTANT, BUT IT'S ALL OPERATED BY OUR INCREDIBLY TALENTED SAILORS WHO DO EVERYTHING FROM CONTRACTING TO LOGISTICS, TO CYBERSECURITY, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, MACHINISTS MADE FOLKS THAT BUILD THINGS, PEOPLE THAT OPERATE ELECTRONICS.
IT'S AMAZING THE KIND OF TALENT THAT IS AROUND HERE TODAY.
AND I'LL TELL YOU, EVERY TIME I MEET A SAILOR, FIRST OF ALL, THEY STUNNED ME FROM WHAT STATE THEY'RE FROM.
'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT ALL FROM TEXAS.
UH, BUT THEY, THEY REPRESENT YOU.
THEY REPRESENT THIS COUNTRY AND THEY DO SUCH AN INCREDIBLE JOB AT IT.
UH, SO I WANT YOU TO TAKE TIME THIS WEEK AND, UH, JOIN INTO THE CELEBRATION, LEVERAGE EVERYTHING, UH, THAT WE'RE DOING HERE FOR, FOR NAVY WEEK.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS, MY FAVORITE COUNTRY, ALONG WITH THE GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON FOR, FOR SPONSORING THIS.
BECAUSE WHAT IT MEANS IS YOU GET TO SEE THE BLUE ANGELS, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE OUR PARACHUTE TEAMS. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THE F 16, YOU KNOW, DEMO.
UH, OVER THE WEEKEND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE AND MEET SOME OF OUR MEDICS.
YOU'LL SEE SAILORS FROM THE USS CONSTITUTION, THE OLDEST SHIP STILL OPERATIONAL ON THE PLANET TODAY, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL SIX FRIGATES OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY ESTABLISHED BACK IN 1777.
THAT'S RIGHT, OUR 247TH BIRTHDAY.
AND THEN DON'T FORGET THAT WE'LL BE CELEBRATING OUR SISTER SERVICE, THE MARINE CORPS NEXT WEEK.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
THANK YOU HOUSTON, ALL THE HOUSTON VETERANS, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.
AND I WANT TO THANK OUR YOUNG PRIESTS FOR WHAT YOU WILL DO.
IT'S A GREAT DAY AND I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.
THIS IS A PROUD MOMENT FOR ME TO INTRODUCE OUR NEXT SPEECH SPEAKER
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COUNCILWOMAN SHOULD.I LOVE THIS BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL, BLESSED DAY AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE HERE, UH, UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, SYLVESTER TURNER, AND OUR ILLUSTRIOUS AND ESTEEMED VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, WHO HAS DONE SUCH AN EXCELLENT JOB.
THANK YOU, UH, MADAM AS TATUM FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, THANK YOU AGAIN.
LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, HORNE CISNEROS AND ALL OTHERS CITY WORKERS WHO ARE REPRESENTING US TODAY.
AND LET ME, MOST OF ALL, EVEN BEFORE I LOOK TO THE BEAUTIFUL WIFE, LET ME ACCEPT, UH, THE, UH, COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION OF THESE NEW RECRUITS WHO HAVE INDICATED THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PUT ON THE UNIFORM UNSELFISHLY.
WE COULD NOT BE THE NAVY THAT YOU ARE WITHOUT THE RECRUITS THAT YOU SECURE.
LET'S GIVE THEM ANOTHER ROUSING APPLAUSE.
AND I MUST SAY HOUSTON IS HOUSTON PROUD.
WE ARE HOUSTON PROUD WITH ALL OF YOU.
AND I AM AS GRATEFUL AS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO BE ABLE TO THANK YOU.
I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, THIS OUTREACH PROGRAM.
AS MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICA TO KNOW THE UNSELFISH MEN AND WOMEN IN OUR MILITARY SERVICES.
NAVY WEEK IS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE THERE IS NOT A HUGE NAVY PRESENCE, VICE ADMIRAL TO BE PRESENT.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE JOINED IN WITH THESE FESTIVITIES BEFORE.
I HAVE AT OUR VERY ESTEEMED, AGAIN, ELLINGTON FIELD, WHICH WE ARE SO PROUD OF.
AND OF COURSE, NAVY WEEK WILL BE THERE THIS WEEKEND, COME OUT, GO OUT AND ENJOY IT AND KNOW WHAT THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES DO FOR US EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I'M DELIGHTED TO WELCOME VICE ADMIRAL JOHN HILL, A NATIVE OF TEXAS, UH, AND OF COURSE THE NAVY CEREMONIAL GOD DRILL TEAM, UH, THAT HAS, UH, BLESSED US AND WILL BE HERE.
BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF NAVY WHEAT BECAUSE THESE ARE, UH, PARTICULARLY FUNDED BY FEDERAL DOLLARS AND OUR APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEFENSE.
AND WE SHOULD KNOW THAT IN ADDITION TO BEING ON THE BATTLEFIELD, THE NAVY IS ON THE FIELDS OF OUR NATION EDUCATING AND EMBRACING AMERICAN CITIZENS 250 NAVY WEEKS HELD IN 80 US CITIES.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT THAT MEANS THAT THERE ARE THAT NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES AND PROGRAMS WHERE JUST PLAIN FOLK GET A CHANCE TO INTERACT WITH OUR NAVY? IT IS DESIGNED WITH AMERICANS TO KNOW HOW THEIR NAVY IS.
AND VICE ADMIRAL, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT ONE OF THE PROUDEST NAVY VETS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS ROBERT DEMBO III.
AND HE DOES NOT LET ONE MOMENT GO BY WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW.
HE'S A NAVY VET, MEMORIAL DAY VETERANS DAY, AND EVERY DAY I AM PROUD OF HIM.
WE ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD BECAUSE HE STANDS ABOUT 10 FEET TALL.
SO WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR HIS LEADERSHIP.
UH, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE NAVY, UH, WHICH IS DEPLOYED AROUND THE WORLD.
AND WHEN THERE IS A SUSPICION OF TROUBLE, I AM SO PROUD THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GO TO WAR.
WE JUST SET ONE OF OUR NAVY CARRIERS RIGHT OFF THE SHORE AND EVERYBODY STARTS TO BEHAVE.
IT HAPPENED IN LIBERIA, IT'S HAPPENED IN OTHER PLACES.
ALL THEY NEED SEE IS A NAVY CARRIER READY TO MOVE ON THE SHORES OF THAT DISRUPTION.
I'M VERY GRATEFUL AS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
ONE OF MY FIRST TOURS WAS ON A NAVY SUBMARINE DOCKED OUT OF HAMPTON.
UH, AND UH, YES, I ACTUALLY WENT IN AND WENT UNDER.
UM, AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT.
THE OTHER ONE WAS USS ROOSEVELT, UH, IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
UH, AND WE SPENT SOME TIME AND EVEN SLEPT THERE.
BUT I DID HAVE MY MOMENT OF, UM, HOW SHOULD I SAY IT? UM, MY TERM ENDED AND I WAS ON SHORE AFTER THAT.
BUT THESE ARE EXPERIENCES THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET.
ALONG WITH THE CHRISTENING OF NAVY SHIPS THAT I PARTICIPATED IN IN CALIFORNIA, UH, AND CERTAINLY,
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UH, HAVE BEEN ABLE TO, AS THE WIND BLOWS AND NAVY POP CAN UNDERSTAND THAT AS THE WIND BLOWS, UH, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE WHAT A STRONG NAVY THAT WE HAVE.AGAIN, IT IS OF, HOW SHOULD I SAY IT? HISTORIC VINTAGE.
UH, IT IS PART OF OUR HISTORY.
AND SO THE STORIES ABOUT THE NAVY, THE ASSETS, THE EQUIPMENT, THE PERSONNEL, ALL OF THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO LEARN ABOUT.
UH, AND TO SEE THE VETERANS AND ENLISTED PERSON AND AS WELL THOSE WHO ARE SERVING AT THE HIGHEST RANK, THAT IS KEY FOR ALL OF US.
THERE WILL BE NO MORE IMPORTANT MOMENTS AT THESE, AT THIS POINT IN YOUR LIFE THAN THE OATH OF ENLISTING, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN TO RECRUITS ON THIS DAY.
I THINK THAT IS A VERY SPECIAL OCCASION.
AND THIS SERVES AS A VERBAL PROMISE THAT REMINDS US OF OUR COMMITMENT, YOUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR COUNTRY, TO SERVICE TO YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ALL.
I'M VERY PROUD THAT THE NATION HAS A VOLUNTARY SERVICE THAT HAS TAKEN US THROUGH THE LAST DECADE.
WE HAD DRAFT IN YEARS PAST OUR VIETNAM VET OR DRAFT.
WE ALL UNDERSTAND THE GREATNESS OF THEIR SERVICE.
AND NOW WE UNDERSTAND THE GREATNESS OF YOUR SERVICE.
'CAUSE YOU HAVE ACCEPTED THE CALL ON YOUR OWN WITH NO ONE CAJOLING OR PUSHING, MAYBE SOMEONE GIVING YOU COUNSEL AND SAYING YOU'RE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION.
BUT THIS IS A MIGHTY, MIGHTY SERVICE AND A MIGHTY, MIGHTY CHALLENGE AND A MIGHTY SPECIAL ROLE THAT YOU ALL WILL TAKE UP.
SOME OF YOU WILL WOUND UP BEING OUR ADMIRALS, OUR VICE ADMIRALS, AND OTHERS OF LEADERSHIP ROLES.
YOU MAY BE LEADING SHIPS AND LEADING PLACES WHERE YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU WOULD GO.
I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE A NATION THAT OPENS THE DOORS TO MEN AND WOMEN NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE, AND SAYS, IF YOU'RE READY TO SERVE, WE'RE READY TO CALL YOU IN.
TODAY IS THAT DAY, AND I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE REPRESENTING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, OUR PRESIDENT, OUR UNITED STATES CONGRESS, OUR VICE PRESIDENT AND THE LEADERSHIP AS WELL AS OUR SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.
I AM GRATEFUL TO BE HERE IN THIS NAVY WEEK IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, EVIDENCING WHAT A GREAT COUNTRY WE ARE.
AND SO IT IS MY PRIVILEGE AS I DO THAT.
AND JUST A DEVIATION FOR A MOMENT, UH, AS I ACKNOWLEDGE THE GREATNESS OF OUR COUNTRY EVERY DAY, I ASK HOUSTONIANS TO PRAY FOR BRITTANY GR A HOSTAGE IN IAN PUTIN'S RUSSIA.
AND THERE ARE MANY HOSTAGES AROUND THE WORLD, SOME OF WHOM HAVE BEEN RESCUED BY A VERY BRAVE MILITARY.
BUT WE MUST KEEP THEM IN PRAYER BECAUSE THEY TOO ARE SUFFERING, UH, BECAUSE OF THE GREATNESS OF THE DEMOCRACY THAT WE HAPPEN TO BE.
WITH THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE, UH, AND EXTEND, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE VICE ADMIRAL AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MR TO COME, UH, TO RECEIVE A RECOGNITION NOW FROM THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AGAIN, THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL DAY FOR NAVY WEEK IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, 258 EVENTS AND 80 80 EVENTS, 250 WEEKS I BELIEVE, OF THIS GREAT ACTIVITY.
SO WE ARE GRATEFUL VICE ADMIRAL TO HAVE YOU AND CERTAINLY TO CALL YOU FIRST.
FIRST, IF I MIGHT THANK THE NAVY, MAN OF NAVY MAN FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.
MR. DIM, WHO THE VICE ADMIR SAID HE'S VERY PROUD OF.
LEMME THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT PROGRAM AND ACKNOWLEDGING THIS DAY ON.
DELIGHTED THAT MY COLLEAGUE IS HERE, CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN.
WE STAND, UH, IN EACH OTHER'S, UH, STEAD, IF YOU WILL, IN TERMS OF OUR LOVE AND AFFECTION, UH, FOR THE UNITED STATES MILITARY.
AND SO VICE ADMIRAL JOHN HILL, UH, DIRECTOR OF DEFENSE AGENCY IN HOUSTON NAVY.
WHEN YOU SAID IT RIGHT, YOU SAID IT BEAUTIFULLY, BUT YOU SAID IT STRONGLY.
AND ALL OF THESE REPRESENTED UNITED STATES, THE ROLE THAT WE PLAY IN THE UNITED STATES
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ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES, UH, CONGRESS, UH, LET ME ALSO SAY FOR NAVY WHEAT, THAT IF YOU'LL TAKE THIS TO YOUR OFFICE AND IN THE NAME OF ALL THESE RULES ON THIS DATE, OCTOBER 25TH, UH, 2020, WE THIS, UM, THIS IS THIS 1, 2, 3.I WAS TELLING THE, UH, VICE ADMIRAL AND FOR THE RECRUITS, WE DON'T BUY THESE AT HOME DEPOT.
THESE GET FLOWN DOWN FROM WASHINGTON.
SO THESE ARE TRUE AMERICAN FLAGS.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU IN YOUR HONOR.
UH, NOW I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UH, CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE VERY KIND OF WARM INTRODUCTION.
LET ME START WITH SOMETHING THAT I TRUST WILL BRING AS TRUE FOR ALL OF US WHO ARE HERE TODAY.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU LOVE YOUR COUNTRY AND YOU KNOW IT, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU MUST SHOW IT.
I BELIEVE THIS IS SUCH A TIME, LET US LOUD SHOW THE COUNTRY THAT WE LOVE IT BY GIVING THE COUNTRY AN EXPRESSION OF A LOVE AND APPRECIATION IN THE FORM OF AN APPLAUSE.
SOMEBODY MIGHT WANNA JUST SHOUT SOMETHING.
NOW, ADMIR, IF I SAY NO, LEMME SAY THIS.
BUT THAT WASN'T A TEXAS SIZE LOVE FOR THE COUNTRY.
THAT WAS MORE LIKE DALLAS FORT WORTH.
SO LET'S NOW GET INTO TEXAS WITH THIS.
LET'S HEAR A TEXAS SIZE EXPRESSION OF LOVE AND EXPRESSION FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
NOW THAT'S, THAT'S THAT, THAT A LOT OF PEACE TODAY.
LEMME THANK ALL OF THE PERSONS WHO ASSEMBLED THE MANY PUBLIC OFFICIALS, ALL WHOM, ALL OF WHOM HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED, I'M SURE.
BUT I DO ACKNOWLEDGE MY COLLEAGUE, UH, JACKSON LEE.
UH, SHE AND I DO WORK TOGETHER VERY CLOSELY TO GET THINGS DONE IN CONGRESS.
THE MAYOR, IN HIS ABSENCE, I, UH, ASSURE YOU WOULD BE HERE, BUT FOR OTHER DUTIES.
UH, I'M HONORED ALSO TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE THE VICE MAYOR WHO HAS ALREADY SPOKEN.
UH, I'M GRATEFUL TO THE GENTLEMAN WHO INTRODUCED ME.
UH, MR. DUMBO DEMBO, EXCUSE ME.
UH, THE THIRD, THE DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.
PRINCE, LET ME SAY THIS QUICKLY AND UH, TAKE MY SEAT.
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I BELIEVED THAT IF WE LEFT THE WORLD ALONE, THE WORLD WOULD LEAVE US ALONE.
I THINK WHAT HAPPENED IN UKRAINE IS THE BEST EVIDENCE OF HOW YOU CAN BE IMPOSED UPON, AND I'M BEING VERY KIND.
MY DICTIONARY, SOMETIMES LESS THAN SUPERB, HOW YOU COULD BE IMPOSED UPON BY ANOTHER NATION.
AND HOW THAT IMPOSITION IS SOMETHING THAT IS BEST EXPLAINED BY WHAT DR. KING SAID WHEN HE PROCLAIMED THAT LIFE IS AT ANY ESCAPABLE NETWORK OF MUTUALITY TIED TO A SINGLE GARMENT OF DESTINY.
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WHAT IMPACTS ONE DIRECTLY IMPACTS ALL INDIRECTLY.THE INVASION OF UKRAINE IMPACTED US INDIRECTLY.
UKRAINE DIRECTLY, BUT US INDIRECTLY BECAUSE WE GET A LOT OF GRAIN FROM UKRAINE.
UKRAINE HAS BEEN OF GREAT BENEFIT TO US, AND WE ARE FEELING THE PAIN.
SO WE CANNOT ASSUME THAT IF WE JUST LEAVE THE WORLD ALONE, DON'T HAVE A GOOD MILITARY, EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT, NOT THE CASE.
THIS IS WHY I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE DO HAVE TO HAVE A STRONG MILITARY TO PROTECT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND PROTECT THOSE WHO ARE ALLIES.
I BELIEVE OUR MILITARY IS THE STRONGEST ON THE PLANET.
LET'S SALUTE THE MILITARY PEOPLE FOR WHAT THEY DO TO PROTECT US AND THEIR GLOBAL REACH.
AND WHEN I SAY, UM, OURS IS THE STRONGEST ON THE PLANET, LET ME JUST TELL YOU ABOUT A NIMITZ CLASS AIRCRAFT CARRIER.
I DON'T HAVE TO TELL THE NAVY BEND.
I'LL JUST TALK TO THE NEW RECRUITS.
THE NIMITZ CLASS AIRCRAFT CARRIER IS THE BADDEST SEA GOING VESSEL IN THE WORLD EXCEPT FOR THE GERALD FORD CLASS, WHICH IS TO REPLACE THE NIMITZ.
THE NIMITZ IS BAD, BUT THE GERALD FORD IS REPLACING THE NIMITZ BECAUSE IT IS EVEN BATTERED.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, A NIMITZ CLASS AIRCRAFT CARRIER HAS TWO WESTINGHOUSE, A FOUR NUCLEAR REACTORS.
WHEN IT IS SENT OUT TO SEA, ITS FUEL.
AND TECHNICALLY SPEAKING, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COME BACK FOR 25 YEARS.
IT CAN HAVE ABOUT 90 FIXED WING AIRCRAFT.
IT IS MORE THAN A THOUSAND FEET IN LIFT.
BUT HERE'S THE THING THAT IMPRESSES ME.
IT IS SO LARGE, IT HAS ITS OWN ZIP CODE.
WE ARE THE MOST POWERFUL THING ON THE SEA, IN THE AIR, AND ON THE GROUND.
AND I RESPECT THAT AND APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND NOW THAT YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE THE WORLD ALONE AND ASSUME THAT THE WORLD WILL LEAVE YOU ALONE.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT DAY WHEN THE WORLD DECIDES TO INVADE YOUR SPACE.
SO TODAY, I'M GRATEFUL TO BE HERE AND I THANK ALL OF WHOM ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THIS OCCASION.
AND I WANT TO THANK SOME PERSONS WHO ARE NOT HERE.
THEY MAY HAVE BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED ALREADY, BUT THESE ARE THE PERSONS WHO SERVED IN UNIFORM WHO ARE THE FRONT LINE OF AMERICAN DE DEMOCRACY.
UH, THESE ARE THE PERSONS WHO MAKE REAL THE GREATER NOBLE AMERICAN IDEALS OF LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
UH, REGARDLESS HOW WE FEEL ABOUT THE VARIOUS WARS, WE OUGHT TO WANT EVERY ONE OF THEM TO COME HOME SAFELY.
SO GIVE THEM AN EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION FOR WHAT THEY DO TO PROTECT AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.
FINALLY, IF THEY COULD TRA TRAVERSE THE GLOBE TO PROTECT AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AND THE RIGHT TO VOTE, THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS VOTE.
WE ALL OUGHT TO APPRECIATE THAT.
AND THAT WAS AN APPLAUSE LINE.
I WILL NOT ASK EVERYONE TO COME BACK TO THE PODIUM, BUT IT IS A UNIQUE OCCASION WHEN YOU HAVE TWO FLAGS THAT HAVE BEEN FLOWN OVER THE CAPITOL PRESENTED ON THE SAME DAY OR THE SAME OCCASION.
AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT I TOO HAVE A FLAG THAT WAS FLOWN OVER THE CAPITOL, ALONG WITH THE CERTIFICATE OF SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION THAT I SHALL PRESENT IN A VERY MODEST WAY.
AND I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
GOD BLESS YOU, AND PLEASE GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
OKAY, SO I MENTIONED THAT, UH, WE JUST CELEBRATED OUR 247TH BIRTHDAY.
I'LL ALSO TELL YOU THAT BACK IN 1985 WHEN I TOOK THE OATH, IT WAS DONE IN A CLOSET WITH THE LIEUTENANT AND IT WAS AWESOME.
I'LL TELL YOU TODAY THAT STANDING ON THE STEPS OF CITY HALL,
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THAT HAS GOTTA BE REALLY COOL.AND SO YOU'RE GONNA HEAR ME TALK ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION.
THE UNITED STATES NAVY IS THE ONLY SERVICE THAT IS PROVIDED FOR IN THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE EIGHT, SECTION ONE, RIGHT? SO TO RAISE THE NAVY, AND I HAVE THE HONOR AND THE, UH, JUST ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO READ THE OATH AND LISTENING TO THESE FINE, YOUNG, NEW SAILORS WHO WILL GO OFF AND DO AMAZING THINGS.
SOME OF THEM WILL SERVE THE MINIMAL TOUR.
SOME OF THEM WILL SPEND A LIFETIME DOING GREAT THINGS FOR THEIR NATION.
AND I'M JUST, I'M ABSOLUTELY THANKFUL THAT, UH, YOU WERE TAKING THE OATH TODAY, UH, TO JOIN OUR GREAT NAVY TO SERVE THIS COUNTRY.
WE DON'T TALK ABOUT SERVICE ENOUGH THAT SERVING THIS COUNTRY IS A NOBLE PROFESSION.
AND I WELCOME YOU ALL TO THAT.
AND SO LISTEN CLOSELY AS I GO THROUGH THE OATH, I WROTE IT DOWN SO I CAN SCREW IT UP.
OKAY? SO PLEASE, UH, STAND AND YOU ARE ALLOWED.
FOR THOSE OF YOU TAKING THE OATH BEFORE, FEEL FREE TO TAKE IT WITH THESE, UH, YOUNG, NEW SAILORS.
SO IF YOU COULD RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I'LL SUPPORT AND DEFEND, THAT I'LL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AGAINST ALL ENEMIES.
AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.
THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH, THAT I'LL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME.
AND THAT I WILL OBEY THE ORDERS AND I'LL OBEY THE ORDERS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE ORDERS OF THE OFFICERS, AND THE ORDERS THE OFFICERS APPOINTED OVER ME, APPOINTED OVER ME ACCORDING TO THE REGULATIONS, ACCORDING TO THE REGULATIONS, TO THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE, THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE.
AND HERE THEY ARE, SAILORS HERE.
I HEAR THEY DO EVERYTHING BIGGER IN TEXAS.
SO IF WE'RE GONNA DO A PROCLAMATION EVENT, WE'VE GOTTA HAVE A PERFORMANCE TO GO ALONGSIDE IT.
AND MUCH LIKE THE FLAG THAT WERE BROUGHT DOWN FROM THE, THE NATION'S CAPITOL WHERE, UH, WE'VE GOT A UNIT ALSO FROM DC FROM OUR NATION'S CAPITOL, THE, THE BEST OF THE BEST.
THE US NAVY CEREMONIAL GUARD SENIOR.
[00:35:26]
GO TO ME.IN CLOSING, WE TAKE A LOT FOR GRANTED.
NOWADAYS, CONFLICTS BETWEEN NATIONS AND INTIMATE THREAT RALLY TOWARDS OUR NATION SOUL, WE FEEL SECURE WHEN WE TURN THE LIGHT TO RETIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS DAY IS A GENERAL REMINDER TO BE THANKFUL FOR THE SACRIFICE OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF ALL AMERICAN ARMED FORCES FOR ANSWERING THE CALL OF DUTY AS THEY WORK TOGETHER TO PROTECT AND SERVE OUR GREAT NATION ON LAND AND SEED AND BY AIR.
OUR VETERAN AND MILITARY MEMBERS PROTECT OUR FREEDOM, OUR DEMOCRACY, OUR WAY OF LIFE.
WE PAY THE OFFER CHRIST, BUT FREEDOM, FREEDOM ISN'T FREE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND MAKE GOD BLESS.