The President: Thank you.
Please, everybody,
have a seat.
What an honor to
be with you today.
(applause)
Thank you.
And thanks to Bobby.
I'll never forget the time
Bobby came to the Oval
Office -- carrying
a baseball bat.
(laughter)
Secret Service got
a little nervous.
(laughter)
But it was a genuine
Louisville Slugger -- a
thank-you for going to
bat for our veterans.
And I want to thank Bobby
for your devotion to our
veterans, especially your
fellow Vietnam vets.
Thank you.
Give Bobby a big
round of applause.
(applause)
Audience Member: I love you!
The President:
I love you back.
(applause)
I do!
I want to thank our
outstanding leadership team
for welcoming me today,
including National Commander
Moses McIntosh.
(applause)
Senior Vice
Commander Dave Riley.
(applause)
National Adjutant
Mark Burgess.
(applause)
Executive Director
Barry Jesinoski.
(applause)
Your voice in Washington,
Garry Augustine.
(applause)
And, don't forget, Pat
Kemper and all the spouses
and families of
the DAV Auxiliary.
Thank you.
(applause)
I also want to acknowledge
Mayor Kasim Reed and County
Chairman John Eaves for
welcoming us to the great
state of Georgia and the
beautiful city of Atlanta.
(applause)
I am pleased to be joined by
our tireless Secretary of
the VA, Bob McDonald.
(applause)
I know he spoke
to you yesterday.
He is working hard -- hard
-- every single day to
transform the VA to serve
our veterans better.
He still gives out his
cellphone number and his email.
Not many people know this,
but, so far, he's received
more than 45,000 calls,
emails and texts.
(laughter)
And I don't know what his
phone bill is looking like --
(laughter)
-- I hope he
has a good plan.
(laughter)
But Bob and his team work to
deal with each one of those
texts or emails or phone
calls he receives because
every single
veteran matters.
And he knows that.
So, thank you, Bob, for the
great work you're doing.
(applause)
So it's good to be back
with the Disabled American Veterans.
What a journey that
we've had together.
Audience Member:
Glad to have you!
The President: It's
great to be here.
We worked together back
when I was a senator.
You were one of the first
veterans' organizations I
called when I ran
for President.
I welcomed you to the
White House as a partner.
I came to your convention
in my first term, and my
second, along with Michelle.
And so it is fitting that my
final major address to our
nation's veterans as
President is here at the DAV.
(applause)
And as I reflect on these
past eight years, some of
the most unforgettable
experiences that I've had
have been moments I've
spent with you -- America's
veterans and your families.
We stood together at
Arlington to honor Corporal
Frank Buckles, 110 years old
-- our last veteran from the
First World War -- as
he was laid to rest.
I ordered our flags to be
flown at half-staff because,
even after 100 years, we
will never stop saluting
those who served
in our name.
(applause)
We stood together at
Normandy to thank an entire
generation -- among them,
my grandfather, who was in
Patton's Army -- a
generation that literally
saved the world.
There was Harry Kulkowitz,
who returned to the beaches
he helped liberate -- and
told he could have anything
he wanted, said with the
humility of a soldier, a
hamburger will do just fine.
(laughter)
I think of Luta McGrath --
this past Veterans Day, just
before her 108th birthday,
then the oldest known female
veteran of World War II,
which was a reminder that
women have always served
to keep America strong and free.
(applause)
We've stood together at the
memorial to our Korean War
veterans and recalled how a
soldier, marching through
the snow, had a tiny pair of
baby booties hanging from
his rifle -- a reminder of
his unborn child -- a story
that had been
lost to history.
But we tracked him down.
We found him.
And we shared the story of
Korean War veteran Dick
Shank, who made it home to
that baby boy, and lived out
his life -- at 84 years old,
he was still roller skating
-- because no war should
ever be forgotten and no
veteran should
ever be overlooked.
(applause)
We've stood together at the
Wall and remembered the
lessons of Vietnam -- that
even when Americans may
disagree about a war, we
have to stand united in
support of our troops.
(applause)
And that for mothers like
Sarah Shay, who honored her
missing son for more than 40
years, we will never stop
working to bring home our
prisoners of war and our
missing in action.
We leave nobody behind.
No one.
(applause)
And we've come together to
welcome our newest veterans
into your ranks -- from
Desert Storm, the Balkans,
Afghanistan, and Iraq --
our proud 9/11 Generation.
This is a time
of transition.
When I came into office, we
had nearly 180,000 American
troops in
Afghanistan and Iraq.
Today, that number
is less than 15,000.
Most of our troops
have come home.
(applause)
To all of you who served in
Afghanistan, you can take
enormous pride in the
progress you helped achieve:
Driving al Qaeda
out of its camps.
Toppling the Taliban.
Delivering justice
to Osama bin Laden.
Helping Afghans
improve their lives.
There are millions of boys
and girls in school, and
democratic elections and
a democratic government.
Training Afghan forces to
take responsibility for
their own security so that
we are no longer engaged in
a major ground war
in Afghanistan.
That is your legacy.
And today we salute our
forces serving there on a
more limited mission --
supporting Afghan forces,
going after terrorists --
because we must never allow
Afghanistan to be used as a
safe haven for terrorists to
attack our nation again.
(applause)
To all of you who served in
Iraq, we saw your heroism in
pushing out a dictator whose
brutality must be condemned,
never praised.
In defeating an insurgency.
In giving the Iraqi
people a chance.
And no matter what has
happened since, your valor
in the deserts, in fierce
urban combat, will be
honored in the annals
of military history.
Let me say something else
about this generation.
As Commander-in-Chief, I'm
pretty tired of some folks
trash-talking America's
military and troops.
(applause)
Our military is somewhat
smaller -- after two major
ground wars come to a
close, that's natural.
And we're going to keep
doing everything we need to
do to improve readiness
and modernize our forces.
But let's get some
facts straight.
America's Army is the
best-trained, best-equipped
land force on the planet.
(applause)
Our Navy is the largest and
most lethal in the world.
(applause)
The precision of, and
reach of, our Air Force
is unmatched.
(applause)
Our Marines are the world's
only truly expeditionary force.
(applause)
We have the world's
finest Coast Guard.
(applause)
We have the most capable
fighting force in history --
and we're going to
keep it that way.
(applause)
And no ally or adversary
should ever doubt our
strength and our resolve.
And we will keep pounding
ISIL and taking out their
leaders, and pushing
them back on the ground.
And united with a global
coalition, we will destroy
this barbaric
terrorist group.
They will be destroyed.
(applause)
In the face of Russian
aggression, we're not going
to turn our back to
our allies in Europe.
We're going to stay united
in NATO, which is the
world's strongest alliance.
(applause)
From the Asia Pacific to
Africa to the Americas, the
United States and our armed
forces will remain the
greatest force for freedom
and security and peace that
the world has ever known.
That is your legacy.
That is what we have to
protect, and that is what we
have to defend.
(applause)
And let me say this: No one
-- no one -- has given more
for our freedom and our
security than our Gold
Star families.
(applause)
Michelle and I have spent
countless hours with them.
We have grieved with them.
There's a reason why, last
week in Philadelphia, I was
humbled to be introduced by
Sharon Belkofer from Ohio, a
Gold Star mom whose son,
Tom, a lieutenant colonel in
the Army, gave his
life in Afghanistan.
I requested Sharon to
introduce me, because I
understood that our Gold
Star families have made a
sacrifice that most of
us cannot even begin to imagine.
They represent the very
best of our country.
(applause)
They continue to inspire us
every day, every moment.
They serve as a powerful
reminder of the true
strength of America.
We have to do everything we
can for those families, and
honor them, and be
humbled by them.
DAV, I know that your
service has also been
defined by another battle.
This is a group that
understands sacrifice.
(applause)
You've been defined by the
battle here at home to
persevere through
wounds and disabilities.
I think of a veteran from
Iraq who lost her arm but
who said she decided to
focus "not on what I had
lost, but on what
I still had."
I see that same
spirit in you.
Maybe it was there in the
hospital bed, fighting for
your life, you learned what
it really means to have faith.
Maybe it was during rehab,
learning how to live without
a leg, or both, you learned
what it really means
to persevere.
About a month ago, I went
to Walter Reed -- I do this
periodically -- and was in
the rehab unit watching some
of these folks work out.
And I decided -- you might
have seen this -- I was
doing some pushups
with them and --
(laughter)
-- trying to keep
up with them.
And I was sweating and
getting all tired.
(laughter)
They took it easy on me.
(laughter)
But it gave me a sense of --
just a small sense of what
perseverance really means.
Maybe it was during the
night when the memories came
rushing back -- and you
summoned the courage to
reach out and get
help and stay strong.
And I was proud to help
recognize your patriotism
and resilience in the heart
of our nation's capital when
we dedicated the American
Veterans Disabled For
Life Memorial.
(applause)
This organization shows us,
shows this nation, what it
means to be strong.
But as strong as you are --
and nobody is stronger than
our disabled vets -- I know
you didn't make this
journey alone.
You're here because of the
love and support of your
families and your caregivers
and your neighbors and your
communities and your
fellow veterans.
(applause)
They were the shoulder you
leaned on, who carried you
when you couldn't walk,
who picked you up when you
stumbled, who celebrated
your victories with you, who
sometimes just made you
laugh and reminded you how
good life can be.
And that brings me to what
I want to talk about here today.
For more than two centuries,
this country that we love
hasn't just endured;
we have thrived.
We have overcome challenges
that would have broken a
lesser nation.
And not thanks to any one
person or one group of
people, but because, like
you learned in the military,
we're all one team.
We believe in taking care of
each other, and in lifting
each other up, and leaving
no one behind, and in
meeting the collective
responsibilities that we can
only meet together: The
security of our nation.
The education
for our children.
Dignity for our seniors.
Equal rights for
all of our citizens.
Health care -- which is
now a right for everybody.
And the care and well-being
of our veterans and
your families.
That is a responsibility for
all of us, not just a few.
We all have to do our part.
And as I've said before,
America's commitment to our
veterans is not just
lines in a budget.
And it can't be
about politics.
It's not even
really about policy.
Our commitment to our
veterans is a sacred covenant.
And I don't use
those words lightly.
(applause)
It is sacred because there's
no more solemn request than
to ask someone to risk their
life, to be ready to give
their life on our behalf.
It's a covenant because both
sides have responsibilities.
Those who put on the
uniform, you took an oath to
protect and defend us.
While the rest of us, the
citizens you kept safe, we
pledged to take care of you
and your families when you
come home.
That's a sacred covenant.
That's a solemn promise
that we make to each other.
And it is binding.
And upholding it is
a moral imperative.
(applause)
And at times, our nation
has not always upheld
this covenant.
Our Vietnam vets,
they sure know this.
Audience Members: Yes!
The President: When you came
home, you deserved better.
(applause)
Veterans who at times have
struggled to get care at the
VA, you deserve better, too.
(applause)
If there's ever a breach in
the covenant, then leaders
in this country have to
work hard to regain trust.
That's what Bob and so many
hardworking people at the VA
are doing.
But upholding this covenant
has to be the work of all of us.
It's not just the VA's job.
It's everybody's job.
Government has to deliver
the care and benefits and
support that
you have earned.
Veteran service
organizations have to hold
us accountable and be our
partners, like the 1.3
million members of the
DAV are doing every day.
And citizens have to step
up, too -- which is why
Michelle and Dr. Jill Biden,
through Joining Forces, have
rallied the American people
to honor and support our
military families
and our veterans.
Now, we've got a
lot more work to do.
But working together over
these past eight years,
we've delivered real
progress for our veterans.
And we can't let up.
It's not a reason for
complacency, but we should
understand that when we
really put our sweat and
tears and put our shoulder
to the wheel, we can make
things better.
About 200,000 servicemembers
are becoming veterans every
single year.
And America is going to have
to be there for you for a
lifetime in five
important ways.
Number one, we have to keep
fighting for the resources
you need.
Now, since I took office,
we've made historic
increases in veterans
funding -- the biggest boost
in decades.
That's a fact.
(applause)
And I've proposed another
increase for next year.
(applause)
So altogether, during my
presidency, we will have
increased funding for
veterans by more than
85 percent.
(applause)
With advance appropriations,
we're protecting veterans'
health care from the annual
Washington budget battles.
But I do have to point
this out -- Republicans in
Congress have proposed
cutting my VA budget.
And when they return in the
fall, they should pass the
budget our veterans need
-- and fund it, fully.
Don't just talk about
standing with veterans.
Don't just talk about me.
(laughter)
Do something to
support our veterans.
That's what you need to do.
(applause)
Number two, we've got to
keep fighting to deliver the
health care you've
been promised.
Today, more of our Vietnam
vets are getting your
disability benefits because
of your exposure to
Agent Orange.
That's a change
that we made.
So, too, for our Desert
Storm veterans, because of
the illnesses tied
to the Gulf War.
Those are changes we made.
Altogether, we've made VA
benefits available to more
than 2 million veterans who
didn't have them before.
(applause)
Let's face it, sometimes
folks don't know that, but
it's a fact.
And I have to say, thanks to
the Affordable Care Act --
Obamacare --
(applause)
-- veterans not covered by
the VA now have access to
quality, affordable
health care.
And insurance companies
can't discriminate against
you because of preexisting
conditions like
post-traumatic stress.
(applause)
And more veterans are
gaining access to
health insurance.
So we need to keep making
it easier to access care.
That's why we recruited some
of the best talent from
Silicon Valley and
the private sector.
And in one of their first
innovations, veterans can
now finally apply for
VA health care anytime,
anywhere, from any device,
including your smartphone --
simple, easy, in as
little as 20 minutes.
Just go to Vets.gov.
The days of having to wait
in line at a VA office, or
mailing it in --
those days are over.
(applause)
We're finally moving into
the 21st century when it
comes to helping
our veterans.
It's about time.
(applause)
We're reaching more
veterans, including rural
veterans, with telemedicine
-- so you can see someone at
the VA without
leaving your home.
We now have a designated
women's health provider at
all VA clinics --
(applause)
-- to make sure our women's
veterans get the tailored
care, and the dignity
and the respect that
you deserve.
(applause)
And for our disabled vets,
we have increased funds for
prosthetics, eliminated
co-pays if you're
catastrophically disabled,
made progress on concurrent
receipt so more severely
disabled retirees can now
receive your military
retired pay and your VA
disability benefits.
(applause)
And we're doing more than
ever to make sure your
devoted families and
caregivers get the skills
and support they need
to stay strong as well.
And here, I want to thank
veterans across our country
for being part of another
mission -- our precision
medicine initiative to
revolutionize health care
with treatments that are
tailored for each patient.
As of today, more than
500,000 veterans -- maybe
some of you -- have stepped
forward and donated your
health and genetic data for
research, which brings us
halfway to our goal of one
million veterans that are
doing so.
And what this does is
it gives us a better
understanding of genetics,
which will allow us to
improve treatments for
things like traumatic brain
injury and post-traumatic
stress, and diabetes,
and cancer.
And that won't
just help veterans.
It will help all Americans.
And it's just one more
example of how our veterans
keep serving our country
even after they come home.
(applause)
We need to keep improving
mental health care.
I'll never forget the
soldiers I met at Fort Bliss.
They were proud of their
service, but they were
struggling with issues like
post-traumatic stress.
So, for veterans with PTS,
we made it easier for you to
qualify for the VA care that
you need -- no matter when
you served.
We've increased funding for
veterans mental health care
by more than 75 percent
-- billions more dollars.
More awareness and outreach
-- because we have to end
any shame or stigma that
comes with going and
getting help.
(applause)
We've put in place more
clinicians, more counselors,
more peer support --
veterans helping veterans.
More research -- $100
million for new approaches
to PTS and TBI.
And today, we're delivering
more mental health care to
more veterans than ever.
We are saving lives.
(applause)
But when too many veterans
still aren't getting the
care that they need, we
all have to be outraged.
We all have to do better.
And when 20 veterans a day
are taking their own lives
-- that is a
national tragedy.
We all have to do better.
Most of those 20 vets taking
their lives each day are not
in the VA.
But we know that when vets
do get VA care, they're more
likely to survive.
So we need to get more
vets connected to the VA.
And when you have an urgent
need for mental health care,
you shouldn't have to wait
days, you shouldn't have to
wait weeks -- you should get
those services the very
same day.
(applause)
And Congress can help by
providing the funding and
flexibility we need to hire
highly qualified mental
health professionals.
And medical schools can help
us recruit and train
more psychiatrists.
And every American, military
and civilian, can help, as
well, by learning those
Five Signs that somebody is
hurting, so we can reach out
and help our veterans
stay strong.
We're one team.
One American family.
When any member of our
family is suffering, we've
got to be there
for each other.
Now, we also need to keep
fixing the problems that
came to light -- long wait
times, veterans denied care,
people manipulating the
books -- inexcusable.
I know Bob gave you an
update, but I want to repeat
-- we've hired thousands
more doctors, nurses, staff;
opened more clinical space.
And, with the Choice
program, we're helping more
veterans get care
outside of the VA.
It all adds up to millions
more appointments,
delivering more benefits
to more veterans than
ever before.
That is progress.
But even as we improve
access, more veterans than
ever are seeking care.
So we're putting more and
more resources in, but
you've got more and more
demand for care at the
same time.
And this surge in demand
means there are now more
veterans waiting for
appointments, even though
we've done a lot more.
So I know I'm not satisfied.
Bob is still not satisfied.
And we will not let up.
Bob and his new leadership
team are going to keep
pushing to transform the VA,
and he will keep holding
people accountable.
(applause)
This is somebody who cares
deeply about our veterans
getting what they deserve
and what they have earned.
(applause)
And when whistleblowers
expose misconduct, they need
to be protected,
not punished.
(applause)
We need Congress to make it
easier for the VA to help
veterans get care
in your communities.
But I have to say -- here's
one thing I want to be very
clear about -- here's one
thing we will not do: We
cannot outsource and
privatize health care for
America's veterans.
(applause)
Now, there are folks
who keep pushing this.
They don't always come
out and say the word
"privatize," but you read
what they say, that's what
they mean.
And these radical proposals
would begin to dismantle the
VA health care system that
millions of veterans depend
on every day.
And that would
hurt veterans.
Study after study shows that
in many areas, like mental
health, the quality of care
at the VA is often better
than in private care.
So let's listen to our
veterans, who are telling
us: Don't destroy
VA health care.
Fix it and make it work, but
don't break our covenant
with our veterans.
(applause)
This brings me to the third
area where we have to
stay focused.
We have to keep cutting the
disability claims backlog.
Now, from its peak, we've
slashed that backlog by
nearly 90 percent.
My Chief of Staff and I --
there was a chunk of time
when that backlog was high
where, every day, no matter
what else was happening
around the world, he and I,
we'd take these walks around
the South Lawn just to keep
our exercise,
keep our steps up.
And every day, we talked
about, how are we going to
get that backlog down.
And each week, we'd look and
see what kind of progress
we're making.
That's how we reduced
it by 90 percent.
The backlog is now lower
than when I came into
office, even though there
are a lot more people who
are eligible for claims.
And claims decisions are
more accurate the first time.
(applause)
And on both these fronts,
we're keeping at it.
But as we all know, when
veterans appeal a decision,
you're put into an appeals
system that right
now is broken.
(applause)
And you shouldn't have to
fight for years to get a
straight answer.
Now, we've proposed major
reforms, and I want to thank
the DAV and all the other
veterans' groups for raising
your voice on this.
We've got to keep
up the pressure.
Congress needs to pass
comprehensive reform of the
claims appeals process --
(applause)
-- because if we don't fix
the appeals process, even
when we get the backlog down
on the original claim, too
many folks are waiting
on the backend.
We've got to fix it.
And we can.
But we're going to
have to push Congress.
And I don't know if you've
noticed, that's hard.
(laughter)
Fourth, we've got to keep
fighting for the dignity of
every veteran.
And that includes ending the
tragedy, the travesty of
veterans' homelessness.
(applause)
This is something that,
within my administration,
we've said this is all hands
on deck, across government.
Everybody has got to
be involved in this.
And with Joining Forces,
Michelle and Jill have
helped galvanize hundreds
of mayors and communities
across the country.
Two states, Virginia and
Connecticut, as well as 27
cities and towns across the
country have effectively
ended veteran homelessness.
(applause)
So, today, I can announce
that, nationally, we have
now reduced the number of
homeless veterans by 47
percent -- nearly half.
(applause)
We have just about cut
veterans' homelessness in half.
We've helped bring tens of
thousands of veterans off
the streets.
But we're not slowing down.
We're going to keep
up the momentum.
This fall, Michelle will
bring our partners from
across the country together
at the White House to share
best practices to figure out
what has worked, what
hasn't worked.
Because we will not stop
until every veteran who
fought for America
has a home in America.
This is something
we've got to get done.
(applause)
And finally, we've got to
keep fighting to give our
troops and veterans and your
families every opportunity
to live the American Dream
that you helped defend.
With our overhaul of the
transition assistance
program, hundreds of
thousands of departing
servicemembers and their
spouses have received
training to plan their next
career, and find a job or
start a business.
We expanded the
Post-9/11 G.I.
Bill to reservists and
National Guard members and
families, including Gold
Star spouses and children.
And then we expanded it to
vocational training
and apprenticeships.
We've empowered veterans
with new tools to find the
schools that are right for
you, or to get the support
you need to succeed on
campus; to make sure you
don't get ripped off; to cap
your student loans; to make
sure you and your families
get in-state tuition-now,
which is true now
in all 50 states.
(applause)
And so far, we have helped
more than 1.6 million
veterans and their families
realize their dream of an
education, an investment in
you and America that will
help keep us strong and keep
paying off for generations
to come.
(applause)
So we're doing more to help
you find jobs worthy of your
incredible talents.
Because if you could lead a
team, and run logistics and
manage a budget, or save a
life in a warzone, you can
sure as heck can do it
right back here at home.
(applause)
I called for states to
recognize the training and
skills of veterans when
issuing credentials for
civilian jobs, licensing.
Now all 50 states do it.
Before, less than half the
states made it easy for
military spouses to get
credentials and licenses.
Today, all 50 states do it.
(applause)
Starting this fall, we'll
close loopholes to protect
our troops and military
families from predatory
pay-day lenders.
(applause)
So, today, all across
America, more veterans are
at work, on the job,
beginning the next chapter
of your service
to our country.
Veterans who are physicians
and nurses have been hired
by community health centers.
Cities and towns are hiring
veterans as teachers and
police officers,
firefighters and
first responders.
Because we made it a
priority in the federal
government -- hiring
hundreds of thousands of
veterans, including disabled
veterans -- nearly one in
three federal workers
is now a veteran.
I challenged America's
companies to hire veterans.
And then, in case they
weren't listening to me, I
sicced Jill and
Michelle on them --
(laughter and applause)
-- through Joining Forces,
and companies now have hired
or trained more than 1.2
million veterans and
military spouses.
(applause)
So, all told, we've cut
veterans unemployment by
more than half, down to 4.2
percent, which is actually
lower than the already
low national average.
(applause)
And it's way down for
Post-9/11 veterans, too.
(applause)
It's one of the reasons
we've been able to help more
than 3.6 million veterans
buy or refinance a home of
their own.
So I'm going to keep saying
to every company in America,
if you want talent, if you
want dedication, if you want
to get the job done,
then hire a vet!
(applause)
Hire a military spouse!
(applause)
They know how to
get the job done.
They don't fool around!
(applause)
So, DAV, we've made
a lot of progress.
It's not always focused on
-- because, understandably,
the news a lot of the time
focuses on what's
still not working.
That's okay.
That keeps us on our
toes, keeps us working.
But every once in a while,
it's good to remember the
progress we've made, because
that tells us when we focus
on it, we can do
right by our veterans.
And as this new generation
of veterans joins your
ranks, we've got to keep on
stepping up our game, giving
veterans the resources you
need, transforming the VA,
delivering the health care
you've earned, reducing the
backlog, reforming appeals,
standing up for your
dignity, and helping you
share the American dream.
And I know we can -- because
over the past eight years,
I've seen the spirit of
America, and I have seen
time and time and time
again the strength of our
veterans, the unbreakable
will of our disabled vets.
You teach us better than
anybody that we may take a
hit sometimes, we may get
knocked down, but we get
back up.
We carry on.
(applause)
And when we take care of
each other and uphold that
sacred covenant, there
is nothing we cannot do.
Like that soldier I've told
you before -- Army Ranger
Veteran Cory Remsburg,
nearly killed in
Afghanistan, who learned to
talk again and walk again,
and who recently stood up
and walked into the Oval
Office and shook my hand.
(applause)
We all have to
keep on rising.
Like Medal of Honor
Recipient Staff Sergeant Ty
Carter, who struggled with
post-traumatic stress, and
who's now helping
others stay strong.
Troops, veterans, civilians
-- we all have to
keep on healing.
Like the wounded warriors
and disabled vets who are
out there running and
jumping and swimming and
biking and climbing,
including Marine Corps
Veteran Charlie Linville,
who just became the first
combat amputee to reach
the top of Mount Everest.
We all have to
keep striving.
(applause)
Like the veterans taking
care of each other,
including here at the DAV --
Army Veteran Oscar Olguin;
Navy Reserve Veteran Charity
Edgar; Marine Corps Veteran
Carmen McGinnis -- who says
helping veterans "gives me a
sense of purpose."
That's something we
all have to recognize.
We all have to
keep on serving.
Like Air Force Technical
Sergeant Jason Miller, who
considered taking his own
life, but who wrote me a
letter -- and after I put
him in touch with Team
Rubicon, went to work
rebuilding communities after
disasters, found a new
purpose in life -- well, we
all have to keep building
this country we love.
And like the ranks of our
military and our veterans --
whether they are black or
white, or Latino or Asian or
Native American, or they are
young or old, whether they
are gay or straight,
whatever their faith, men,
women, Americans with
disabilities -- we have to
keep on uniting as one team.
As one people.
As one nation.
(applause)
That's what you
have taught us.
That's what you
are an example of.
The Disabled Veterans of
America know what it means
to be one team.
We draw inspiration
from you.
I am grateful for everything
that you have done for
this country.
I am grateful for having had
the opportunity to
work with you.
God bless you.
Thank you for your service.
(applause)
Thank you for
your sacrifice.
Thank you for
your patriotism.
We honor and appreciate you.
God bless our veterans and
God bless the United States
of America.
Thank you very much.
(applause)
