Once again, today I had the honor of commissioning 27 of the finest young Americans I have ever met into the Armed Forces of the United States. Young men and women - former members of the Corps of Cadets - who are now charged with the awesome responsibility of defending our freedoms and protecting the American people against those who would do us harm. As Admiral Arleigh A. Burke once wrote: Its a responsibility that should not be taken easily...What an officer is doing when he swears to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, is pledging his means, his talent, his very life - to his country. That is an obligation that falls to very few men. I am VERY proud of our young Aggie officers, and have no doubt that they are fully prepared to fulfill that obligation - just as Aggies have been doing so for over 130 years. May God bless our newest military leaders and grant them the wisdom and courage to become the GREAT CITIZENS and LEADERS that we need them to be in todays very turbulent and volatile world. Lead well, Ags. Your Corps, your university, your state, and your country are depending on you. Thank you for your willingness to serve, and for all that you will do for all of us in the future. God Bless.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 21:31:31 +0000