REMARKS
FOR
THE
HONORABLE NORMAN Y. MINETA
SECRETARY
OF TRANSPORTATION
UNITED
STATES COAST GUARD ACADEMY COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
NEW
LONDON, CT
MAY
22, 2002
Thank you, Admiral Loy, for that kind introduction, and for the opportunity to accompany you to your final commencement here as Coast Guard Commandant. The American people owe you a special debt of gratitude for your forty years of service to your country, and I will personally miss your advice and your good counsel. Fair winds, my friend.
Admiral Olsen, you have always made me feel right at home in New London, and today is no exception.
There is something special about coming to this historic place, and I am certain the Polaris, the Lighthouse, the Sword, the Eagle, the Helm, the Anchors, and the Chains, will all serve our graduates well in their Coast Guard careers.
And to the Corps of Cadets, my warmest congratulations to one and all on a splendid achievement. You have worked hard, learned much, and shared experiences that other young men and women your age can only dream about.
It goes without saying that you have gotten this far in life, in part, because you are also good at thinking on your feet, not unlike the young Coastie who was being put through the paces years ago by an old sea captain.
When the captain asked the cadet, "What would you do if a sudden storm sprang up on the starboard?" The cadet replied, "Throw out an anchor, sir."
"Okay," said the captain. "What would you do if another storm sprang up aft?" "Throw out another anchor, sir," was the reply.
"And if another terrific storm sprang up forward, what would you do then?" the captain asked, to which the cadet said, "Throw out another anchor, sir."
"Now hold on there, the captain said. "Where are you getting all those anchors from?" The coastie replied, "From the same place you're getting your storms, sir."
Years ago, I had the opportunity to serve my country as a member of the armed forces. Like you, I learned many things, not the least of which was this.... do not stand for too long between someone in uniform and shore leave, or you may get run over.
And believe me.... I'd prefer not being run over by the sailors of 2002. With that in mind, I will try and keep my remarks to the point.
In January 1953, at his Inaugural Address, President Dwight Eisenhower said, "History does not entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid." Today, Class of 2002, you are being entrusted with the "care of freedom".
As cadets, you have every reason to be proud of yourselves for what you have accomplished during your time here. And your families, who we are pleased to have with us today, have every right to be proud of you too.
In a few minutes, you will close out one chapter of your life, and begin another, and this transition could not come at a more critical time in our nation's history.
I join you today as a father, as a son, as a brother, as a veteran, and as your Service Secretary, with a few thoughts to share before you leave these hallowed halls of learning and enter the fleet.
One year ago, the United States of America was a nation at peace, in a world where terrorism always seemed to rear its ugly head somewhere else.... where the face of evil was no stranger beyond our shores.
All that changed on the morning of September 11, when a group of fanatical cowards, deliberately and without warning, murdered thousands of innocent men, women, and children. Mankind, in the words of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, had entered the third millennium through a gate of fire.
We
must never, ever, lose sight of the fact, as President Bush so eloquently
stated, that every man, woman, and child who died on September 11th was the most
important person on earth to somebody. And
every one of their deaths, extinguished a world.
Today, I am exercising the privilege of addressing the graduating class for the second year in a row. I made this unusual request because I wanted to tell you something as your Service Secretary.
I know that September 11th has been in your constant thoughts during the past eight months, but I need you now to listen closely to what I say.
At last year's commencement, I told the Class of 2001 that they would soon come face-to-face with challenges.... real-world challenges that previously may have been no more real to them than a table-top exercise in a classroom.
They, like you, spent their time preparing to serve their nation, uncertain what challenges and dangers they would face, but ready to answer the call to duty, and, if need be, a call to arms.
Since September 11th, America has seen abundant acts of unsung heroism from those who have gone before you, and historians someday may well record the events started by September 11 as America's darkest, yet finest, hour.
Recent graduates, who may have sat next to you in a lecture last year, departed here, much like you soon will, and confronted their destiny with a sense of purpose and pride.
On September 11th, and in the days, and weeks, and months since, your former Academy mates have served as deck watch officers, engineers and boarding officers on cutters at sea -- guarding the coast, from New York to Boston to Miami to Los Angeles, and many points in between.
By
doing their duty, they protected millions of Americans and helped the U.S. Coast
Guard, indeed the nation, define what maritime homeland security is all about.
They have given deeper meaning to the words, Coast Guard.
2002….
you will stand the watch.... with pride!
As a part of the Coast Guard’s traditional peacetime mission -- before, during, and since the terrorist attacks on our nation -- your future shipmates, and their units, also helped to save the lives of over 4,300 people.
They conducted over 65,000 rescue missions.
They confiscated over $2 billion worth of narcotics.
They participated in over 11,000 environmental cleanups or responses to pollution.
And they stopped tens of thousands of illegal migrants from entering the country.
None of this was accomplished without sacrifice, and this sacrifice has not gone unnoticed.
Perhaps, because of the Coast Guard, a young couple will not perish in a boating accident, and instead, live to adopt a child or volunteer their time to a charity in service to needy Americans.
Perhaps, because of the Coast Guard, a child will not succumb to the lure and the destruction of drugs, and instead, grow up to become a doctor and help find a cure for cancer or AIDS.
Perhaps, because of the Coast Guard, desperate immigrants will not die aboard dangerous vessels while trying to escape to a better life in America, and instead, return to their homeland to fight for their dreams, and democratic reforms.
2002….
you will stand the watch.... with pride!
You will diligently stand the watch…. on the deckplates. You will faithfully stand the watch…. along our coastlines and on distant waters. You will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the other armed services to keep us safe.
You will stand one-in-three, or port and starboard.... meeting the demanding requirements of an unforgiving sea.
You will take an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States, so help you God. You will do your duty.
I know there have been times these past months when you thought you had it rough. Whether it was trying to get through Commander Brubacker's MLE course or last year’s PQS with Captain Heyl. Well, let me tell you something. You haven't met rough yet.
You do have a tough act to follow, to be sure, but I have every confidence that you will measure up to the task at hand.
2002….
you will stand the watch.... with pride!
Over the past year, you have shown us some great examples of “Bear Mania” -- and I have seen it. I submit to you that here too, you have shown you have stout hearts.... in military leadership, athletics, and in the classroom.
You learned by example when Admiral Olsen led the charge to kick-off Homecoming on the Chaplain's Harley.
He may have fallen off the motorcycle that day, but you know something? He demonstrated the kind of determination that is the hallmark of a true Coast Guardsman. He got right back on, and made it to the 50-yard line.
You too may stumble or fall someday, but you will get right back up, and like Admiral Olsen, complete the mission, with courage.
You also drew inspiration from your regimental commanders this year, who led this corps with courage, while demonstrating moral leadership, poise and professionalism under fire.
Neil Armstrong and Sarah Salazar, set the tone for you, in organizing the Sunset Review Parade two days after September 11th, to which you responded with such enthusiasm that retired, battle-tested, flag officers looked out at you with pride.
And only someone without a heart would not have been motivated by the words of Second Class Cadet Mike Snyder, who sent you all a stirring e-mail shortly after the terrorist attacks on our nation.
In that message, Mr. Snyder wondered if you all realized why you were out on the parade grounds, day after day, doing all those drills. It wasn't, he said, because another VIP was coming to town.
"I realize that most people here feel pretty helpless," he wrote, "because we're supposed to be active duty military personnel and we're sitting around here like nothing happened (on September 11th)."
"It doesn't have to be like that though," he said. "If this drill is the best we can do to show our support and express our thoughts for the people who died, and the families who have to live through this, then I'm all for it."
He continued. "We should take this extremely seriously and try our hardest to make this the best drill ever. Just think about all those people who died.... all those Americans who we directly represent by being members of the United States Coast Guard."
From where I stand, that pretty well sums up why you are here.
2002….
you will stand the watch.... with pride!
Leading the charge with espirit-de-corps, setting the tone, and seeing the mission through. That's what it’s all about. It is raising the bar for the next class of graduates, and leaving the Academy, and your future unit, better than you found it.
It is building on the foundation you have created here. It is what all of you are about to do in the operational Coast Guard.
While it may be true, as someone once said, that it's going to be a really nice world when they get it finished, the fact is, the Coast Guard is going to be needed to help guard it while construction is still underway.
I
wish I could tell you that your efforts are drawing to a close, but I cannot.
As our Commander-in-Chief has said, we are a country awakened to danger,
and called to defend freedom.
And we face a cunning and remorseless enemy.
As we move forward from September 11, we must step up our
vigilance along our borders, and we must take new steps to move people and
commerce safely and efficiently, recognizing that the nature of the threat has
changed.
These are missions we cannot afford to leave for a later
time. In fact, these are missions
that the United States Coast Guard has been training for the past 212 years.
Now America has once again called on the Coast Guard, and I have no doubt
that you will once again answer the call.
Our Coast Guard is
at one of the pivotal moments that occur maybe once every century.
It is occurring now, and you will be a part of it.
You will decide the future of the Coast Guard.
War is ugly.
But it is not the ugliest thing of all.
That would be our failure to defend ourselves and our way of life from
the evil forces that have darkened the gateway to the freest country in the
world.
And throughout this nation’s history, especially during
times of great conflict or crisis, Americans have come together for this common
purpose.
Today, as never before, that purpose is to protect,
preserve, and unite our homeland.
Forty-one years ago, President Kennedy said, "Let
every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any
price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, and oppose any
foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty."
You have been chosen to fulfill this mission.
May the angels watch over you and protect you in the struggle ahead. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America. Semper Paratus.
# # #