Announcer (00:06):
Distinguished guest, General Brown.
General Brown (00:10):
Well, good afternoon. That is a very, very tough act to follow. Now, today we gather to honor and say farewell to our Commander in Chief, a man who has dedicated his life in service of our nation. A man who for over 50 years has fought for those who serve in uniform, fought to prepare our military for the challenges they face defending our nation whether forward deployed or back at home. He fought as a senator from Delaware to ensure our service members, veterans, and their families were taken care of. He fought as Vice President for stronger Veterans Affairs programs and more support for service members transitioning back to civilian life. And as our president and he continued to fight, lead our nation through an uncertain and dynamic geo-strategic environment, while strengthening our force to protect our future. Mr. President, Dr. Biden, Madam Vice President, Mr. Inhofe, government and elected officials, civic leaders, Department of Defense leadership, General of the Flag officers, senior enlisted leaders and distinguished guests. Welcome, and thank you for being here.
(01:55)
President Biden's work with Congress on bipartisan legislation has set our military on a course to confront the threats of tomorrow, to ensure our war fighters are ready when the nation calls. He supported significant investments in shipbuilding to modernize and expand our naval fleet. We are on track to increase the number and the lethality of our fighters and bombers and expand our space domain capabilities. We're now on a trajectory to increase long-range fires, implement next generation combat vehicles, and improve air and missile defense. Intergenerational modernization of U.S. Nuclear Triad is underway bolstering our deterrence capabilities. And we're on a pathway that's been set to streamline adopting emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and un-crewed systems into our fighting force. Simultaneously, President Biden has worked tirelessly to care for our men and women in uniform and their families, improving the quality of military housing, providing historic pay raises, and implementing new programs to expand the benefits available to all service members.
(03:18)
I'd also like to recognize the incredible work of Dr. Jill Biden. What she has done with Joining Forces Initiative, supporting service members, veterans, caregivers and their families. As our Commander in Chief, President Biden has fought for our military time and time again and today's ceremony is just a small, small token of our appreciation. So thank you, Mr. President, for all you have done for this nation and its military. Your unwavering commitment to the strengthening of our force and the welfare of our service members, veterans, and families stands as a testament to the deep responsibility you have carried throughout your service. On a personal note, I want to thank you for the trust and confidence you placed in me as the 21st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It's truly an honor to serve our nation and have this opportunity to lead the joint force.
(04:21)
Mr. President, your lifetime of selfless service, your unwavering commitment to those that answer our nation's call, and your leadership as our Commander in Chief has profoundly shaped our nation. To paraphrase Timothy 2, 4:7, you have fought the good fight, you have finished a race, and you have kept the faith. On behalf of our 2.1 million men and women in uniform, our military families, and our veterans, thank you, Mr. President, for keeping the faith and those past and present who defend our great nation. Simply said, thanks for your leadership. May God bless you and your family. May God bless our service members and their families. May God continue to bless the United States of America. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Attention. [inaudible 00:05:45]. At ease. [inaudible 00:05:50]. Staff, ceremony, at ease.
Announcer (05:59):
Distinguished guests, Secretary Austin.
Secretary Austin (06:21):
Well, good afternoon, everybody. Mr. President, Dr. Biden, Madam Vice President, Mr. Inhofe, Department of Defense leadership, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Armed Forces Farewell Tribute in honor of our 46th President.
(06:47)
For more than five decades, President Joe Biden has thrown himself into public service, and over the past four years he's secured his place in history as one of our great foreign policy presidents. As Secretary of Defense, I have seen this and I've seen his leadership up close. He took the oath of office as America faced a moment of great challenge. The COVID pandemic was raging and our allies and partners feared that America had lost its way. President Biden helped America and the world recover from the pandemic, and he renewed American leadership around the planet.
(07:45)
President Biden dramatically strengthened our unmatched global network of allies and partners. He rallied the free world to help Ukraine fight for its freedom after Putin's indefensible invasion. He positioned America to succeed in strategic competition with the People's Republic of China. He orchestrated a new convergence in the Indo-Pacific around a shared vision of security, openness, and prosperity. He reinforced NATO, which is now larger, stronger, and more united than ever. He shored up Israel's security after the vile October 7th, terrorist assault by Hamas. He helped defend Israel from outrageous direct attacks by Iran. And he's prevented the Middle East from erupting into an all-out regional war. And he has just secured a ceasefire that will stop the fighting in Gaza, surge more humanitarian aid to suffering Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families.
(09:25)
In Afghanistan, he ended America's longest war, one that spanned four presidents, and he refused to hand it over to one more. And he has always understood that the power of our example counts for more than the example of our power. President Biden showed the world the strength and the resolve that only a democracy can muster.
(09:56)
Now, as I said, his leadership is rooted in his decades of expertise. President Biden processes policy at graduate levels. And I learned quickly that whenever I went over to the White House I needed to be prepared to dive deep on key issues, because inevitably the President will send a question your way and he'll ask something that takes it to the next level. He insists on hearing a range of views and he's not afraid of making the big decisions.
(10:43)
And he also has a secret weapon because he's not just the President, he's also Dr. Jill Biden's husband. America knows Dr. Biden as a great educator and a role model. But at the Department of Defense, we also know that she's a proud daughter of a World War Two veteran, and she's a long-term, long-time champion of our military families and veterans. Dr. Biden, we are deeply, deeply grateful for your continued leadership of Joining Forces. Your work increased employment opportunities for military spouses. It improved education for military children. It enhanced military family health and much, much more. And it was great to get to visit Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama with you recently where we got to see a universal pre-K class and a Department of Defense school up close.
(11:57)
Now, our first family is also
Secretary Austin (12:00):
… military family. President Biden and Dr. Biden know firsthand what our military families carry, both the worry and the pride, and you can see it in their fierce love for our troops. And I've seen it over and over again. I've been there, Mr. President, when you've reached out to grieving families. I've seen you focus your entire being on a service member, a military spouse or a military child. And by the way, nobody is going to stop Joe Biden from wading into a crowd of troops. He loves to grab a service member's cell phone and call a stunned loved one. And of course, everyone gets a selfie.
(13:05)
Mr. President, that's just who you are. You've pushed hard to make life easier for our troops and their families. Base pay for our troops is up almost 10% since you were sworn in. We're expanding access to affordable child care and we're doing far more to help military spouses excel in their own careers. President Biden has also worked hard with Congress to invest in America's future. The department's budget last year was $100 billion more than in his first year, and that will help keep our United States military the strongest fighting force on Earth.
(13:56)
Now, President Biden always ends his speeches the same way, with the same five words. He always says, "May God protect our troops." And he means every word every time. Mr. President, it has been an honor to serve with you and I hope that future presidents and secretaries of defense will enjoy similar relationships of trust, candor and friendship. Our entire department stands together today. We salute your service to the republic that we defend, and we are deeply, deeply grateful for your love of our troops. Thank you, Mr. President and Dr. Biden. May God bless you and your family and may God continue to bless the United States of America.
(15:02)
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to introduce one last time the President of the United States, Joe Biden.
General Brown (15:54):
Thank you. Every time I'm here, it just makes me so damn proud to be an American and it must to all of you as well. 1% of you are defending 99% of us. We owe you, we owe you big. Just over 240 years ago, George Washington gave his farewell address to the Continental Army. Still astonished by their victory and by their unity, Washington asked, and I quote, "Who that was not a witness could imagine that men who came from different parts of the continent would instantly become one patriotic band of brothers."
(16:53)
That's what you are, one patriotic band of brothers. Vice President Harris, Jill, Doug, Secretary Austin, Secretary Brown, two of the best decisions ever made in my career I might add. Service secretaries, members of the Congress, and most importantly, this patriotic band of service members before me, serving as your Commander-in-Chief has been the greatest honor of my life. While I'm deeply grateful for your thanks and affection, I'm here to thank you. Thank you for your service to our nation and for allowing me to bear witness to your courage, your commitment, your character.
(17:45)
As I listened to the choir sing, I thought about it. You all represent what America is. Character, honesty, integrity, commitment. Like Washington, you've left me astonished and I mean it. Over the years, I've frequently seen you in action in war zones in Bosnia, Baghdad, Fallujah, Kabul. I'm not going to bore the hell out of you, but Helmand, Kandahar and other places.
(18:18)
I remember one trip to Afghanistan as Vice President. I was at a forward operating base in Wardak Province, which is in eastern Afghanistan. I was asked by commanding officer to pin a bronze star on a soldier for his heroism. A soldier's teammate was hit while driving in a Humvee and this soldier did everything possible to rescue his colleague from the burning flames. But when I went to pin the medal on him, the soldier looked at me and said, "I don't want it. I don't want it. He died. I don't want it." And in that moment, all that I could think about was the incredible courage and humility and moral compass of this soldier had, that all of you have. This is not hyperbole. You are simply the greatest fighting force in the history of the world. In the history of the world. That's a fact. That's not hyperbole. That's a fact. And there's never been a time in history when we've asked our military to do so many different things, so many places all at the same time.
(19:38)
And I want to be clear, you have done all, all these missions with strength and maybe even importantly, in integrity. When I asked you to end our nation's longest war, you rose to the occasion, evacuating Americans, allies and our Afghan partners, accomplishing the largest airlift in military history and ending a war with the same courage as the fine American service in Afghanistan for over 20 years. I believe history will reflect it was the right thing to do. But I know it was hard. After decades of losing your brothers and sisters, including the withdrawal, the pain was still real and it was for me as well. Every day I still carry, every single day. This is my schedule. On the back of the schedule, every single day at the top since I've been here, it says daily US troops in Afghanistan. US troops that have died in Afghanistan, 2,465. Not over 2000. 2,465. Troops wounded, 20, 769. And every day, we'll honor their sacrifice for continuing the mission in which they gave their lives, fighting terrorism, defending our homeland, and protecting the American people.
(21:18)
Six months after that war ended, when Russia began its largest war in Europe since World War II, I asked you to help defend Ukraine. You didn't hesitate. You kept Ukraine in the fight, trained Ukrainian soldiers and pilots, troops. Bolstered NATO's Eastern flank, and above all, you showed the world America stands up for freedom, stands with our friends. America stands strong with our allies. We never bend down. We bend down to no one, certainly not Putin.
(21:59)
And now nearly three years later, Putin has failed to take Kiev, failed to make large territorial gains and failed to break NATO. As a matter of fact, when I spoke to him on the phone, he talked about he wanted us to be the Finland of Europe. And I pointed out to him at the time, for real, that you're not going to get the Finland of Europe. You're going to get the Finlandization, not of Europe. You're going to see Europe joining NATO, Finland joining NATO, Sweden joining NATO.
(22:41)
On America's watch, dictators do not get to do whatever the hell they want. Then following Hamas's terrorism of October 7th, I asked you to deploy… Excuse my back, by the way. My mother would be very upset. I asked you to deploy to the Middle East. Again, you stepped up, pulling long nights and long deployments to weaken Hamas, to defend Israel against unprecedented attacks in Iran. Imagine had we not. If we don't lead the world, who will lead the world? Who?
(23:26)
And twice you've stood up to the attacks by the Houthis in the Red Sea. Last year I spoke with the women and men aboard the destroyer that took down the first Houthi attacks. It was the USS Carney. And I want to tell you all what I told them. We owe you. We owe you. And back in May, yesterday, I announced the proud announcement of ceasefire, the hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. The road to that deal
General Brown (24:00):
It was not easy. It was eight months ago. I laid down the elements of that deal, in May, embraced by countries around the world because they know we say what we mean. Endorsed overwhelmingly by the UN Security Council. It's taken eight months of nonstop relentless effort of Biden administration to get it done. But because of you, all of you standing behind me, because of you, because of so many diplomats in defense professionals, we kept the pressure on Hamas and we got it done. We got it done. And finally, when I ask you to strengthen America's position in the Pacific, in the middle of all the other conflicts and crises, you said, "No problem." You kept China in check.
(24:50)
Remember when we took office? China was over going to overcome the United States economically and politically by 2030. Everybody wrote that. Except here in this building. The skies open, the seas free and our allies close. You established our first Tri-Dial defense partnership with Australian United Kingdom, our first Tri-Dial partnership that we said couldn't get done in Japan and the Philippines, and our first Tri-Dial partnership between Japan and South Korea. Remember that? Camp David said we couldn't do. It wasn't me, it was America. We did it. That's what America does, and people know America's acting out of character.
(25:50)
Our nation is so much and so many others. Our nation has asked so much, so many others as well. Doctors and nurses helping service members to learn to walk again, eat again, speak again. The National Guard members who dropped everything to help their fellow Americans during the fires and hurricanes, the Marines guarding embassies around the world, the scientists making sure we have an edge over adversaries, interpreters who make our missions possible. Perhaps most importantly, your families. They sacrifice so much. And I might add the doctors and nurses, excuse the point of personal privilege as he used to say in the Senate. Came home one, I commuted every day, every single day, over 2,100,000 miles on Amtrak because I've lost my family when I first got here.
(26:51)
My oldest son, one day I went home, he was the attorney general. He said, "Dad, what are you doing Friday?" I said, "What do you want me to do?" He said, "Why don't you pin my bars on?" I said, "What?" I said, "You're married with two children." He said, "I know dad, but someone's got to go." He spent a year in Iraq, won the Bronze Star Service Medal, but like many others, he was exposed to those burn pits, which are within about half a mile of where he bunked, a stage four glioblastoma like so many other of our folks. And I watched the nurses, the doctors who took care of him for so long.
(27:39)
And by the way, I want to take a moment to speak to all military spouses, kids and parents here today. Most Americans never see the sacrifices that you make every single day. They'll ever see all those holidays and birthdays with an empty seat at the dinner table because mom or dad was deployed. They'll never see all the moves you had to make to new states, to new schools, to new jobs, but I see it, and Jill saw it. She made it her life's work. She's done everything big and small, help of military spouses find child care and build their own careers by hanging photos, employed moms and dads outside classrooms of those National Guard folks because then every holiday, every time there's something going on, their moms or dads weren't there, but no one ever mentioned it. She started getting in every classroom in America to put a picture of an employed mom or dad outside the classroom.
(28:54)
Even this morning, she held an event for Joining Forces and a story White House initiated to support military and veterans families, because as a poet, John Milton wrote, they also serve or only stand and wait. They also serve only stand and wait. So for the last time, as Commander-in-Chief, I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you to all the families. We owe you. I've long said as a nation, we have many obligations, but I say we only have one truly sacred obligation. Now prepare those we send into harm's way and care for them and their families when they come home and when they don't.
(29:42)
Over the last four years, Kamala and I have worked to make good that obligation and pass more than 40 bipartisan and laws to support you, including something that I felt so strongly about, the passage of the PACT Act and drafted that law and we passed it. Now, it's already helped over one million service members and their survivors, their children, their access, everything from college to healthcare. These people were exposed to toxins in my generation to Agent Orange, my son's generation to burn pits. But we had to prove that what you had with your disease, all the brain damage, all the brain cancers were direct consequence of those toxins or Agent Orange, but we changed that.
(30:42)
I want to publicly thank the 911 Commission. All those folks, all those firefighters were so badly, badly damaged because of the fumes and the toxins associated with the 911. And those of you who are the Vietnam generation, finally, all you had to prove is that stuff dropped on you and it didn't cause… They didn't have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt it caused your disease to state the fact and you're covered. We've invested over a trillion dollars under our defense industry base. In real dollars, that's more than America in any four-year period during the Cold War.
(31:37)
We've also invested record resources to fight the scourge of military suicide. No more calling and saying, "My husband needs help. He needs help get an answer." We fought veterans home. We brought veterans homelessness to record lows, made historic changes in the military justice system, which has reduced the rates of sexual assault for the first time in nearly a decade. We entered the ban on transgender service. We took landmark steps to create more economic opportunities for military spouses. We expanded opportunity for women in combat roles, and I'm proud to have appointed the first woman as a service chief in the history of this country. Clap for that, folks, because she deserves it.
(32:29)
I don't know about the rest of you guys, but the women in my step family are a hell of a lot smarter than the men in my family. Look, if there's one thing hope to take away from today's this, this is not hyperbole. You're truly the finest fighting force in the history of the world. That's not hyperbole. That's true. Everything I and others have asked of you, you've done, you've done with honor, commitment, grit, and guts.
(33:12)
Let me close with the final request. I say it not as your president or commander-in-chief. I say it as a man who spent 50 years of his life serving his country in a different way. Remember your oath. My son, Major Beau Biden, used to call it home base. That's a set of principles of values that give you light and darkness, that guide you. It's true to the military. It's the best weapons, the best training in the world. We have the most cutting-edge ships, planes, and subs. We have the smartest, the most well-trained force on earth. That's all critical, but that alone is not what makes us strong. This is not what brought Washington it's band of brothers together all those years ago. It's our values. I mean this sincerely. It's our values, American values, our commitment to honor, to integrity, to unity, to protecting and defending, not a person or a party or a place, but an idea. Literally, unlike a student of each, I can say unlike any other in human history, that idea is the United States America is unique in the world.
(34:41)
Virtually every other nation in the world is based on geography and this ethnicity or religion or some defining feature. We're the only nation in the world, only nation in history are built on an idea, an idea, an idea that we're all created equal. We know the words by heart. We're endowed by our creator with certain and alienable rights. Among them, life, liberty, pursuit of happiness. That's the idea that generations of service members have fought for, an idea you have sworn an oath to defend. As a nation, we've never fully lived up to that idea, but we've never, ever, ever walked away from it. And our country's counting on you to ensure that that will always be true. As I said when I began, 1% of you defend 99% of the people across this nation. That's why you all deserve a special place in our hearts and in God's heart. May God bless you all and may God protect our troops. Thank you. Thank you. Thank
Speaker 2 (36:19):
Stand by. Step. Attention.
(36:19)
Honor guard, color guard. Attention.
Speaker 3 (36:19):
Color, release, shoulder.
(36:19)
[inaudible 00:38:02].
Speaker 4 (36:19):
Pass and review.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
Honor guard, pass and review. Right.
Speaker 3 (36:19):
Left guard.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
Hike. Right shoulder.
Speaker 3 (36:19):
Right wheel.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
Honor.
(36:19)
[inaudible 00:38:57]. March.
Speaker 1 (39:55):
Distinguished guests, please stand for the service songs of the Armed Forces of the United States.
(42:55)
Distinguished guests, this concludes today's farewell tribute in honor of our commander-in-chief, Joseph R. Biden, the 46th President of the United States. Please remain at your seats for the departure of the official party.