Remarks by Admiral Keating during Armed Forces Luncheon, Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce
May 18, 2006
ADM Tim Keating
NORAD - US NORTHCOM
Armed Forces Luncheon
Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce
(As delivered)
GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AND THANK YOU BOB… FOR THE KIND INVITATION AND FOR THE WARMTH AND GENEROSITY YOU SHOW IN THIS CELEBRATION.
MARGARET THATCHER SAID, “THERE IS LITTLE HOPE FOR DEMOCRACY IF THE HEARTS OF MEN AND WOMEN IN DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES CANNOT BE TOUCHED BY A CALL TO SOMETHING GREATER THAN THEMSELVES.”
MY FRIENDS, SHE’S TALKING ABOUT SERVICE, ABOUT COMMITMENT, ABOUT SACRIFICE. YOU’LL SEE ALL THAT AND MORE IN OUR WINNERS TODAY.
YOU’VE A GOOD-SIZED PROGRAM IN FRONT OF YOU BUT I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE THE TIME TO READ ABOUT THE MEN AND WOMEN WE RECOGNIZE TODAY. THEY ARE UNCOMMON. THEY ARE OUR “NEWEST GREATEST GENERATION.”
SOME MONTHS AGO, A YOUNG MILITARY POLICEMAN – AN ARMY SPECIALIST, PAY GRADE OF E-4 – MAKING LESS THAN $2,000 A MONTH -- STOOD GATE DUTY AT FORT CARSON. A LOCAL VISITOR TO THE POST STRUCK UP A CONVERSATION, ASKING THE SOLDIER HOW HE LIKED COLORADO. TURNS OUT HE LIKED IT A LOT; WHAT HE’D HAD TIME TO EXPERIENCE, THAT IS.
THIS KID’S NOT QUITE 20-YEARS-OLD, THE SOLDIER HAD ALREADY DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN, HAD RETURNED RECENTLY FROM IRAQ AND WAS IN RECEIPT OF ORDERS TO HIS NEXT PERMANENT ASSIGNMENT AT GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA. THE VISITOR REMARKED TO HIM THAT HE’D DONE AN AWFUL LOT IN A PRETTY SHORT TIME, TO WHICH THE SPECIALIST SHRUGGED AND REPLIED, “I’M IN THE MILITARY, THAT’S WHAT WE DO.”
THIS IS AN ANSWER THAT SCORES OF AMERICANS -- THAT MANY OF YOU IN THIS ROOM TODAY -- HAVE GIVEN WHEN CALLED TO DUTY, WHEN YOU AGREED TO SERVE, THROUGHOUT OUR NATION’S HISTORY.
THAT SOLDIER’S WORDS ARE SIMPLE BUT TELLING, YET IT IS THE ACTIONS OF OUR TROOPS THAT SPEAK VOLUMES. EVERYDAY SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN, MARINES AND COAST GUARD PERSONNEL GO ABOUT THEIR DUTIES AROUND THE WORLD, FREQUENTLY IN THE FACE OF CONSIDERABLE RISK TO THEMSELVES. TOO INFREQUENTLY, WE HAVE A CHANCE TO HONOR THEM AS INDIVIDUALS WHO REPRESENT AN EXTRAORDINARY TEAM.
VERY FEW OF THEM SEE THEMSELVES AS “HEROES.”
IN FACT, IN OUR SOCIETY SOME MIGHT SAY THE WORD “HERO” IS EMPLOYED TOO FREELY. HONESTLY, IN THE MILITARY THE WORD ISN’T USED MUCH AT ALL YET WE ARE FORTUNATE TO WORK AMONG HEROES EVERYDAY. AT THE SAME TIME, MANY OF US ARE DOUBLY BLESSED … TO LIVE WITH OUR HEROES AS WELL…. I’M TALKING ABOUT OUR FAMILIES.
THE FAMILIES OF OUR UNIFORMED MEMBERS ARE VERY SPECIAL; THEY ARE A TRUE NATIONAL TREASURE. I’VE PARTICIPATED IN MORE THAN ONE FAREWELL EVENT, WHERE SPOUSES AND SONS AND DAUGHTERS SAY GOOD-BYE TO MOM OR DAD, NOT KNOWING IF THIS WAS THE LAST FAREWELL. THEN MANY, MANY MONTHS LATER, IS THE HOMECOMING! IF YOU HAVE NEVER WITNESSED A MILITARY HOMECOMING – I RECOMMEND IT TO YOU. IT IS HARD TO FIND A COMPARABLE INTERSECTION OF SUCH JOY AND RELIEF ANYWHERE ELSE. THE FEELING IS SIMPLY BEYOND DESCRIPTION.
FAREWELLS AND HOMECOMINGS ARE, OF COURSE, THE PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS OF LOVE AND UNRELENTING SUPPORT. BUT IT IS THE QUIET, STEADY RESOLVE AND LOVE THAT FAMILIES DISPLAY EVERYDAY THAT REALLY MEAN THE MOST. RARE, BRIEF PHONE CALLS DURING WHICH A MAN AND WOMAN, SEPARATED BY THOUSANDS OF MILES AND ENDLESS DAYS, THEY HARDLY NEED TO SPEAK; PRECIOUS PHOTOS AND LETTERS, WORN FROM REPEATED VIEWINGS; CARE PACKAGES WITH COOKIES AND KOOL-AID SHARED WITH BUDDIES AFTER A LONG DAY.
THESE SIMPLE PLEASURES DO MORE FOR OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM THAN YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, FOR THESE GESTURES REMIND US THAT FREEDOM MAY HAVE A PRICE BUT SHE ALSO IS THE EMINENTLY WORTHY PRIZE.
AND WHILE OUR TROOPS ARE AWAY, IT IS COMMUNITIES LIKE COLORADO SPRINGS AND PUEBLO THAT GUARD AND GUIDE OUR DEAR FAMILIES. I DIDN’T KNOW UNTIL THE FOLKS ON THE STAFF TOLD ME -- EVERY STATE IN AMERICA, ON A STATE-BY-STATE BASIS, CELEBRATES “MILITARY APPRECIATION” DURING THE MONTH OF MAY? THAT’S WONDERFUL, BUT NOT REALLY SURPRISING. YET THOSE OF US WHO ARE STATIONED HERE, IN AND AROUND COLORADO SPRINGS, DON’T NECESSARILY NOTICE ANYTHING SO SPECIAL ABOUT MAY OR ANY OTHER MONTH.
THAT’S BECAUSE ALL OF US WHO ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE LIVING ON THE FRONT RANGE WITH OUR PURPLE MOUNTAINS MAJESTY – MORE THAN 40,000 SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN, MARINES AND COAST GUARDSMEN – RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE TREATED PRETTY SPECIAL EVERY DAY.
I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT THE GREATER COLORADO SPRINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE MANY WAYS YOU SHOW SUPPORT FOR OUR TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
WE HAVE IMMENSE APPRECIATION FOR THE “MILITARY AFFAIRS COUNCIL” WHICH DEMONSTRATES ITS SUPPORT THROUGH EVENTS LIKE THIS ONE, AND ALSO THROUGH ITS IMPORTANT ADVOCACY TO, AND INTERACTION WITH, OUR CONGRESS. WE KNOW THE CHAMBER’S DEFENSE MISSION TASK FORCE HAS BEEN A CRITICAL PARTNER IN ACQUIRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR TROOPS, GETTING ROADS AND BRIDGES REINFORCED TO HANDLE HEAVY MILITARY VEHICLE TRAFFIC, LOBBYING FOR ACCESS ROADS TO OUR INSTALLATIONS AND HELPING TO ENSURE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE SCHOOLS THAT MILITARY FAMILY MEMBERS ATTEND.
YOUR “AREA CHIEFS OF STAFF” FORUM PROVIDES AN ENDURING AND ROBUST LINK BETWEEN OUR MILITARY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. PLUS THE MILITARY BALLS, PARADES, AND HOMECOMING EVENTS THE CHAMBER SPONSORS CLEARLY SHOW THAT YOU TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE WELCOME ALL OF US -- YOUR MILITARY NEIGHBORS.
BUT MY WORDS PROVE UNNECESSARY – JUST LOOK AROUND THIS VENUE TODAY – LOOK HOW MANY FOLKS ARE HERE TODAY! THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR: COLORADO SPRINGS LOVES - AND TAKES GOOD CARE OF - OUR MILITARY.
AND THIS WARMTH AND SPECIAL TREATMENT IS COMPREHENSIVE … COUNTLESS BUSINESSES EXTEND DISCOUNTS AND SPECIALS TO OUR MILITARY FOLKS. ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS ACCOMMODATE UNCERTAIN MILITARY SCHEDULES. KIND STRANGERS APPROACH TROOPS IN GROCERY STORE AISLES, REACHING OUT TO TOUCH THE UNIFORMED SLEEVES OF SERVICE MEMBERS, WHILE EXPRESSING PRIDE AND THANKING US FOR OUR SERVICE.
THE SIGNS, THE RIBBONS, THE SENTIMENTS ARE MOST ASSUREDLY APPRECIATED -- ABSOLUTELY. YET I WILL TELL YOU, THERE IS ONE OTHER EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ASPECT EACH OF US HAS TO REMEMBER AS WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS … THAT IS - WE ARE A NATION AT WAR. NEVER, EVER FORGET WE ARE IN THE LONG WAR. BUT BE CERTAIN OF ONE, TRUE THING – IN THIS WAR, WE WILL PREVAIL!
I ASK YOU TO LOOK FOR A FEW MINUTES AT THE SLIDE BEHIND ME …. THAT’S OUR HEADQUARTERS AT THE BOTTOM; OUR COMMAND CRESTS FOR U.S. NORTHERN COMMAND AND THE NORTH AMERICAN AEROSPACE DEFENSE COMMAND APPEAR NEAR THE TOP.
AT NORTHERN COMMAND AND NORAD, WE ARE FORTUNATE TO EXECUTE A VERY HONORABLE MANDATE … PROTECTING OUR HOMELAND. BEHIND OUR HEADQUARTERS YOU SEE OUR SPECTACULAR PIKES PEAK. PROTECTING OUR COUNTRY IS, TO A GREAT DEGREE, ABOUT THE PROTECTING OUR PHYSICAL TERRITORY.
OUR PHOTOS DEPICT SOME OF THE WAYS WE DO THIS … IN THE LAND, SEA, AIR AND SPACE DOMAINS -- WE DETER, PREVENT AND DEFEAT ATTACKS AND MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF THREATS, BE THOSE THREATS MANMADE OR NATURAL.
WHILE IT IS - OBVIOUSLY - OUR “LAND” WE OVERTLY DEFEND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE DEFEND OUR “HOME” AND OUR VALUES, OUR BELIEFS AND OUR WAY OF LIFE. AT U.S. NORTHERN COMMAND AND NORAD WE HAVE A UNIQUE MISSION, LIKE NO OTHER IN OUR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
THAT’S BECAUSE DEFENDING OUR HOMELAND CALLS FOR THE SECURITY AND PROTECTION OF OUR NATIONAL CHARACTER. THIS INCLUDES THE LIBERTIES AMERICANS AND CANADIANS HOLD SO DEAR. WE CONSIDER THIS MISSION A SACRED OBLIGATION.
THE AMERICAN EAGLE REMINDS US OF OUR NATIONAL CHARACTER AS WELL. HE IS A SYMBOL OF STRENGTH AND RESOLVE; OF FEROCITY – WHEN WE NEED TO BE -- AND COURAGE, ALWAYS.
AND AT THE VERY TOP OF THIS PHOTO COLLECTION, YOU SEE OUR BELOVED FLAG, OUR STAR-SPANGLED BANNER -- A SYMBOL WHOLLY SYNONYMOUS WITH FREEDOM. WHETHER CARRIED IN THE HANDS OF YOUNG CHILDREN, USED AS A MARKER AT THE SITE OF A FALLEN COMRADE, DRAPED OVER A BATTLE-SCARRED PENTAGON IN THE EARLY HOURS AFTER THE ATTACKS OF 9/11 OR CRUDELY ETCHED INTO THE ROUGH WALL OF A POW’S CELL … OUR FLAG EVOKES TREMENDOUS PRIDE AND A WELLSPRING OF PATRIOTISM.
EVEN PHOTOS TAKEN IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE KATRINA’S VIOLENT ASSAULT PORTRAY PEOPLE WHO, THOUGH SURROUNDED BY DEVASTATION, PROUDLY DISPLAY OUR NATION’S COLORS.
IN THE MOVIE “GLORY,” THE COMMANDER IS COLONEL ROBERT SHAW. JUST BEFORE HIS UNIT IS READY TO CHARGE UP A TREACHEROUS HILL TO TAKE AN ENTRENCHED AND WELL-DEFENDED FORT, THE COLONEL POINTS TO THE UNIT'S FLAG BEARER WHO IS HOLDING THE STARS AND STRIPES. HE CALLS TO HIS TROOPS, 'IF THIS MAN SHOULD FALL, WHO WILL CARRY THIS FLAG?' EVERY MEMBER OF THE UNIT REPLIES, SHOUTING, - 'I WILL!'"
IN AN INSTANT, THAT COLONEL SUMMONED UP THE FIRM BELIEF HELD BY ALL IN UNIFORMED SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY TO SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN AND MARINES FIGHT FOR A GLORIOUS CAUSE, AND THEY ARE WILLING TO FIGHT TO THE END. IN BATTLE, THE COLORS PROVIDE A FOCUS FOR ALL WHO FOLLOW SO THEY CAN PURSUE THE FIGHT. OUR NATION’S SERVICE MEMBERS KEEP THEIR EYES ON THESE COLORS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND ECHO THE WORDS, “I WILL.”
THAT IS PRECISELY THE COMMITMENT WE NEED TO ENGAGE AND DEFEAT OUR ENEMY IN OUR GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR. OUR FOE IS TENACIOUS, RESOURCEFUL AND RUTHLESSLY INDISCRIMINATE. IN THIS WAR, NATIONS WILL BE TESTED AND THOSE WHO LOVE LIBERTY AND WHO DISDAIN TYRANNY – BE IT PHYSICAL OR IDEOLOGICAL TYRANNY – MUST COLLECTIVELY STAND AGAINST THOSE WHO WOULD PERVERT PEACEFUL PHILOSOPHIES AND PEACEFUL PEOPLE, TO ACHIEVE THEIR CORRUPT ENDS.
TO WIN THIS FIGHT TAKES A SPECIAL WARRIOR.
IN 1999 THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS, GENERAL CHARLES KRULAK, WROTE OF THE MODERN YOUNG MARINE – AND IT SPOKE FOR EVERY MEMBER OF OUR ARMED SERVICES, “IN ORDER TO SUCCEED UNDER SUCH DEMANDING CONDITIONS, THEY WILL REQUIRE UNWAVERING MATURITY, JUDGMENT AND STRENGTH OF CHARACTER. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THESE MISSIONS WILL REQUIRE THEM TO CONFIDENTLY MAKE WELL-REASONED AND INDEPENDENT DECISIONS UNDER EXTREME STRESS … IN MANY CASES THE INDIVIDUAL … WILL BE THE MOST CONSPICUOUS SYMBOL OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY AND WILL POTENTIALLY INFLUENCE NOT ONLY THE IMMEDIATE TACTICAL SITUATION, BUT THE OPERATIONAL AND STRATEGIC (IMPERATIVES) AS WELL.”
GENERAL KRULAK CALLED THIS YOUNG ENLISTED MAN AND WOMAN THE “STRATEGIC CORPORAL.” TAKING ON THE ROLE OF THE “WARRIOR-DIPLOMAT” IS SOMETHING WE FORMERLY EXPECTED OF ONLY THE MOST SENIOR MILITARY LEADERS. TODAY, WE ASK IT OF PRIVATES, OF AIRMEN, OF YOUNG PETTY OFFICERS. THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE FIGHT TODAY’S WARS MEANS THE ON-THE-SPOT DECISIONS WHICH THAT JUNIOR TROOP MAKES CAN HAVE – AND WILL HAVE -- IMPLICATIONS THAT SHAPE A NATION’S FUTURE.
WHAT AN ENORMOUS RESPONSIBILITY WE PLACE ON OUR SERVICE MEMBERS. AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT? EVERY TIME THEY RISE TO THE CHALLENGE. THEY PERFORM MAGNIFICENTLY.
-- THE ARMY SERGEANT AWARDED THE SILVER STAR FOR LEADING HER TEAM THROUGH AN AMBUSH IN IRAQ
-- THE SEAMAN WHO PERFORMS AS A “FINAL CHECKER” ABOARD AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER AND WHO LITERALLY HOLDS THE VIABILITY OF A $65M AIRCRAFT AND THE LIFE OF A PILOT IN HIS HANDS, EVERY TIME THE PILOT TAKES THAT JET TO THE CATAPULT.
-- THE LANCE CORPORAL WHO PATROLS THE RUGGED HILLS OF AFGHANISTAN IN SEARCH OF INSURGENTS AND LATER SITS AMONG, AND GAINS THE TRUST OF, LOCAL LEADERSHIP IN A FOREIGN LAND.
-- THE AIR FORCE EXPLOSIVES ORDNANCE DISPOSAL SERGEANT TASKED WITH RENDERING THE ENEMY’S DEADLY IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES INEFFECTIVE, SAVING COUNTLESS LIVES.
-- THE JUNIOR COAST GUARD ENSIGN DIRECTING INTERDICTION OPERATIONS ABOARD SUSPICIOUS UNMARKED WATERCRAFT IN BRUTAL SEA STATES IN THE MIDDLE OF A PITCH BLACK NIGHT.
THESE ARE TODAY’S WARRIORS.
I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF THEM. I KNOW YOU ARE TOO. AND THEY ARE EQUALLY PROUD TO WEAR THE CLOTH OF OUR BE IN THE SERVICE OF AMERICA AND AMERICANS JUST LIKE YOU.
A YOUNG SERVICE MEMBER - WHILE STATIONED IN IRAQ - WROTE SOMETHING ON HIS PERSONAL WEBSITE. THIS IS AN INTERESTING NOTION. WE HAD CARRIER PIGEONS IN MY TIME, YOU ALL ARE THINKING … ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF THE “NEWEST ‘GREATEST GENERATION’” STATING, “IT IS NOT JUST THOSE OF US WHO HAVE DECIDED TO SHOULDER THIS BURDEN IN UNIFORM, IT IS AN ENTIRE SEGMENT OF THE AMERICAN POPULATION DEDICATED TO ITS (TROOPS), AND TO A POLICY OF UTILIZING FREEDOM TO END THIS NEWEST FORM OF TERROR.” THAT IS A STRATEGIC CORPORAL.
THESE DAYS WE ARE OFTEN ASKED WHAT HAS BECOME A COMMON QUESTION -- “WHERE DO WE GET MEN AND WOMEN LIKE THE STRATEGIC CORPORAL?’ IN A MOMENT, AS WE WATCH A FEW OF OUR OUTSTANDING TROOPS PASS ACROSS THE STAGE, YOU’LL ASK YOURSELVES PRECISELY THAT QUESTION. IN ANSWERING IT, LOOK NO FURTHER THAN WITHIN YOURSELVES.
THESE ARE YOUR STUDENTS, YOUR CUSTOMERS AND COWORKERS; YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR GRANDCHILDREN; YOUR NEIGHBORS AND YOUR FRIENDS. THEY ARE YOUR FELLOW AMERICANS AND ARE TRULY A REFLECTION OF YOU. THESE WARRIORS ARE DRAWN FROM A SOCIETY THAT ACKNOWLEDGES SACRIFICE, A COMMUNITY THAT ENFOLDS ITSELF IN A PATRIOTIC PASSION AND A PEOPLE WHO CHERISH FREEDOM BEYOND ALL MEASURE. THAT IS THE PRIZE.
A MOVIE CALLED “FLIGHT 93” OPENED A FEW WEEKS AGO RECOUNTING THE STORY OF THE COURAGEOUS PASSENGERS WHO ACTED BRAVELY TO AVERT FURTHER MORE NATIONAL CALAMITY. IF NOTHING ELSE, THOSE WHO SACRIFICED ALL ON THAT FLIGHT SERVE TO REMIND US OF THE “POTENTIAL” SELFLESS HERO WITHIN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. THE ACTIONS OF 40 PEOPLE WHO SHARED A SINGLE DESTINY SHOULD PROMPT EACH OF US TO ASK, “WHAT AM I PREPARED TO DO, TO PROTECT THIS HOMELAND, OUR HOMELAND?”
THEIR BOLD LEGACY HELPS US PROUDLY REMEMBER WE ARE ALL MEMBERS - PARTICIPANTS AND RECIPIENTS - OF THIS GREAT NATION, HER BOUNTY AND HER FUTURE. WE EACH HAVE A CRUCIAL STAKE IN THE DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY AND IN THE PERPETUATION OF OUR FREE SOCIETY. THAT’S BOTH A BURDEN AND A BLESSING – BUT THEN, SUCH IS THE CASE FOR ANY PURSUIT THAT IS TRULY WORTHWHILE. WE WILL PREVAIL.
THE MEN AND WOMEN BEING HONORED TODAY KNOW THIS. BECAUSE YOU ARE HERE TODAY, I KNOW THE REST OF YOU KNOW IT TOO. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A MORE IMPORTANT TIME TO STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER AND ARM-IN-ARM TO DEMONSTRATE FOR OUR ENEMY OUR ABIDING RESOLVE. AS RONALD REAGAN ONCE SAID, "ABOVE ALL, WE MUST REALIZE, NO ARSENAL, (AND) NO WEAPON IN THE ARSENALS OF THE WORLD IS SO FORMIDABLE AS THE WILL AND MORAL COURAGE OF FREE MEN AND WOMEN." EACH OF YOU HERE TODAY PROVES PRESIDENT REAGAN’S ASSERTION.
“HONOR, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT.” THOSE ARE THE HALLMARKS OF OUR MILITARY AND ARE DRAWN FROM THE LEGACY BORN OF OUR HERITAGE. THESE CHARACTERISTICS ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR NATION’S FOUNDING, TO OUR FREEDOM AND TO OUR FUTURE.
TO OUR UNIFORMED AWARD WINNERS GO MY PERSONAL THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS. ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR SACRIFICES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS SHINE BRIGHT WHERE IT MATTERS MOST … WITHIN YOURSELVES.
I THANK EACH OF YOU IN ATTENDANCE TODAY -- FOR YOUR ENDURING SUPPORT TO OUR MILITARY, YOUR UNFLAGGING PATRIOTISM AND YOUR BOLD AMERICAN SPIRIT.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL, GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILIES AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.