1 00:00:00,810 --> 00:00:04,010 My many thanks for that uh outstanding 2 00:00:04,019 --> 00:00:07,019 introduction . You're a tough act to 3 00:00:07,030 --> 00:00:10,369 follow madam president , 4 00:00:12,590 --> 00:00:14,646 madam president . That sounds pretty 5 00:00:14,646 --> 00:00:18,209 good . Uh I'll see you in 20 6 00:00:18,219 --> 00:00:21,840 years in Washington and 7 00:00:21,850 --> 00:00:24,180 hello , Fayetteville State University . 8 00:00:31,319 --> 00:00:33,430 It's great to be back in Fayetteville 9 00:00:34,270 --> 00:00:36,669 for years . I served just down the road 10 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:40,110 at Fort Bragg . And so for me being 11 00:00:40,119 --> 00:00:42,369 here , feels just like coming home , 12 00:00:44,549 --> 00:00:46,605 Bragg is home to some of the world's 13 00:00:46,605 --> 00:00:50,560 finest war fighters and their 14 00:00:50,569 --> 00:00:53,310 strength is a reflection of this 15 00:00:53,319 --> 00:00:56,520 community . I want to thank the people 16 00:00:56,529 --> 00:01:00,229 of Fayetteville for making this place 17 00:01:00,470 --> 00:01:02,830 such a special place for our troops and 18 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,129 their families and 19 00:01:07,519 --> 00:01:09,519 is a pretty special place for me as 20 00:01:09,519 --> 00:01:12,879 well . For more than 40 years , I've 21 00:01:12,889 --> 00:01:15,000 been happily married to a woman who I 22 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:18,019 met right here in Fayetteville . My 23 00:01:18,029 --> 00:01:20,800 favorite Bronco Charlene Austin class 24 00:01:20,809 --> 00:01:23,160 of 82 . Yeah . 25 00:01:30,379 --> 00:01:32,546 So as I was preparing for the speech , 26 00:01:32,546 --> 00:01:34,889 I , I asked Charlene for some advice 27 00:01:36,069 --> 00:01:39,569 and she suggested that I start with an 28 00:01:39,580 --> 00:01:41,636 important question and it's the same 29 00:01:41,636 --> 00:01:43,802 question that you've heard a couple of 30 00:01:43,802 --> 00:01:45,969 times this morning . But let me see if 31 00:01:45,969 --> 00:01:47,969 I can get this right . Can I get an 32 00:01:47,969 --> 00:01:48,969 attitude check . 33 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:55,809 No . Right . 34 00:01:56,970 --> 00:02:00,680 Right . You know that 35 00:02:00,690 --> 00:02:04,050 Bronco pride , it's everywhere in this 36 00:02:04,059 --> 00:02:07,650 crowd today . You can feel it from your 37 00:02:07,660 --> 00:02:10,539 professors and your deans and your 38 00:02:10,550 --> 00:02:14,179 mentors . You know , since that 39 00:02:14,190 --> 00:02:16,520 first university studies class , they 40 00:02:16,529 --> 00:02:20,240 have challenged you and mentored you 41 00:02:20,250 --> 00:02:22,679 and pushed you to be your very best . 42 00:02:23,850 --> 00:02:25,906 So let's hear it for your professors 43 00:02:25,906 --> 00:02:27,406 and the university staff . 44 00:02:33,649 --> 00:02:35,850 Really glad to be here with Chancellor 45 00:02:35,860 --> 00:02:39,839 Alison . He's a special guy and I 46 00:02:39,850 --> 00:02:42,210 want to thank him for his great work to 47 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:46,330 make the whole S U community F S U 48 00:02:46,339 --> 00:02:49,960 community stronger from 49 00:02:49,970 --> 00:02:53,229 military connected students to adult 50 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:56,360 learners to first generation students . 51 00:02:57,779 --> 00:03:00,479 And you've worked to offer free 52 00:03:00,490 --> 00:03:02,649 undergraduate tuition to military 53 00:03:02,660 --> 00:03:05,610 students and veterans . That's just 54 00:03:05,619 --> 00:03:07,839 outstanding in my view . So let's give 55 00:03:07,850 --> 00:03:08,850 him a hand . 56 00:03:14,940 --> 00:03:18,160 That's a huge day for the families and 57 00:03:18,169 --> 00:03:20,447 friends who have gathered here as well . 58 00:03:21,460 --> 00:03:24,639 They have cheered you on , they have 59 00:03:24,649 --> 00:03:28,110 sacrificed for you and they have 60 00:03:28,119 --> 00:03:30,309 encouraged you every step of the way 61 00:03:31,169 --> 00:03:34,559 because they believe in you and they 62 00:03:34,570 --> 00:03:36,860 believe in the power of education , 63 00:03:38,649 --> 00:03:41,119 even though they're pretty excited to 64 00:03:41,130 --> 00:03:43,241 be done with paying the tuition bills 65 00:03:43,241 --> 00:03:46,160 as well . But this graduation belongs 66 00:03:46,169 --> 00:03:48,225 to them as well . So let's make some 67 00:03:48,225 --> 00:03:49,502 noise for the families 68 00:03:58,050 --> 00:04:00,050 and I'm sure that you remember that 69 00:04:00,050 --> 00:04:02,580 tomorrow ? It's mother's day , right ? 70 00:04:05,759 --> 00:04:07,419 So for all the moms and the 71 00:04:07,429 --> 00:04:10,539 grandmothers and the godmothers , let's 72 00:04:10,550 --> 00:04:11,661 give it up for them 73 00:04:20,489 --> 00:04:22,656 above all graduates . And you've heard 74 00:04:22,656 --> 00:04:24,767 this a couple of times this morning . 75 00:04:24,767 --> 00:04:26,989 But I got to say it again . I hope that 76 00:04:26,989 --> 00:04:29,260 you are proud of what you've achieved 77 00:04:29,769 --> 00:04:32,579 because we are all deeply proud of you . 78 00:04:33,630 --> 00:04:35,408 You've made it through a global 79 00:04:35,408 --> 00:04:37,820 pandemic . You got through college 80 00:04:37,829 --> 00:04:41,369 algebra , you put in the 81 00:04:41,380 --> 00:04:43,820 study hours at Chestnut library . 82 00:04:45,239 --> 00:04:48,989 And if you're here today , that means 83 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:51,470 that you paid off every last parking 84 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:51,970 ticket 85 00:04:59,549 --> 00:05:01,771 you've learned from your professors and 86 00:05:01,771 --> 00:05:04,019 your coaches , you've learned from your 87 00:05:04,029 --> 00:05:06,920 classmates , you've shown fierce 88 00:05:06,929 --> 00:05:09,529 determination and some of you have held 89 00:05:09,540 --> 00:05:12,570 down full time jobs just to get here 90 00:05:12,579 --> 00:05:16,019 today . And some of you help your kids 91 00:05:16,029 --> 00:05:18,140 finish their homework before starting 92 00:05:18,140 --> 00:05:21,739 your own . You've developed 93 00:05:21,750 --> 00:05:25,089 resilience every time that you were 94 00:05:25,100 --> 00:05:27,989 almost on time for class , 95 00:05:29,089 --> 00:05:31,256 but got stuck waiting for that endless 96 00:05:31,256 --> 00:05:33,480 freight train to stand to pass by , you 97 00:05:33,489 --> 00:05:36,649 know who you are . So let's hear it for 98 00:05:36,660 --> 00:05:38,339 the class of 2023 . 99 00:05:47,250 --> 00:05:49,929 Now I'm standing , I know that I'm 100 00:05:49,940 --> 00:05:52,109 standing between you and some serious 101 00:05:52,119 --> 00:05:52,980 celebrating 102 00:05:57,779 --> 00:06:01,109 what I'd like to take a few minutes to 103 00:06:01,119 --> 00:06:03,063 talk to you this morning about the 104 00:06:03,063 --> 00:06:06,260 importance of service because one of 105 00:06:06,269 --> 00:06:08,213 the things that makes Fayetteville 106 00:06:08,213 --> 00:06:10,619 State so special is its proud tradition 107 00:06:10,630 --> 00:06:11,859 of public service . 108 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:17,061 I'm thinking today of a young man named 109 00:06:17,061 --> 00:06:19,489 Andrew Johnson who attended the school 110 00:06:19,500 --> 00:06:23,170 in the early 19 forties . His dream was 111 00:06:23,179 --> 00:06:26,920 to fly an airplane and at that time , 112 00:06:27,700 --> 00:06:30,209 that was nearly unheard of for African 113 00:06:30,220 --> 00:06:33,769 Americans like him , but he 114 00:06:33,779 --> 00:06:36,859 insisted and he persisted 115 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:39,984 and eventually he joined the elite 116 00:06:39,984 --> 00:06:42,040 group known as the Tuskegee airmen . 117 00:06:43,489 --> 00:06:45,600 And during World War II , they fought 118 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:48,380 for America from the skies even while 119 00:06:48,390 --> 00:06:50,589 being forced into segregated and 120 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:52,920 substandard quarters and dining halls 121 00:06:52,929 --> 00:06:55,380 and bathrooms . Back on the ground , 122 00:06:58,799 --> 00:07:01,021 they were often treated as second class 123 00:07:01,021 --> 00:07:04,429 citizens , but there was nothing second 124 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:06,679 class about their service . 125 00:07:08,559 --> 00:07:10,503 The Tuskegee airmen flew more than 126 00:07:10,503 --> 00:07:14,320 15,000 successful missions in 127 00:07:14,329 --> 00:07:17,959 World War II and like so many Black 128 00:07:17,970 --> 00:07:21,779 Americans . Mhm . Throughout history , 129 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:26,040 they defended our country with courage 130 00:07:26,049 --> 00:07:29,549 and discipline and honor . And after 131 00:07:29,559 --> 00:07:31,392 the defeat of Nazi Germany , the 132 00:07:31,392 --> 00:07:33,899 magnificent service of Lieutenant 133 00:07:33,910 --> 00:07:36,140 Colonel Andrew Johnson and the Tuskegee 134 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:39,630 airmen could no longer be denied . 135 00:07:42,540 --> 00:07:46,119 In 1948 President Truman ordered 136 00:07:46,130 --> 00:07:48,600 equal treatment and opportunity in the 137 00:07:48,609 --> 00:07:52,299 US military . Now that didn't break 138 00:07:52,309 --> 00:07:54,980 down every barrier , but it did open 139 00:07:54,989 --> 00:07:58,670 new horizons were Black Americans . 140 00:07:59,779 --> 00:08:03,380 And this year we celebrate the 141 00:08:03,390 --> 00:08:07,260 75th anniversary of Truman's executive 142 00:08:07,269 --> 00:08:10,760 order which led 143 00:08:10,769 --> 00:08:14,309 qualified , banking , qualified 144 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:18,070 patriots serve our country regardless 145 00:08:18,079 --> 00:08:19,760 of the color of their skin . 146 00:08:23,859 --> 00:08:26,269 And it paved the way , paved the path 147 00:08:26,279 --> 00:08:30,160 toward a US military 148 00:08:30,170 --> 00:08:32,809 where all brave Americans can rise as 149 00:08:32,820 --> 00:08:34,700 high as their talents and their 150 00:08:34,710 --> 00:08:38,299 initiative can take them . And I'm 151 00:08:38,309 --> 00:08:41,989 proud that in just a few minutes , we 152 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:45,330 will recognize 17 graduates who will 153 00:08:45,340 --> 00:08:47,609 become America's newest second 154 00:08:47,619 --> 00:08:49,730 Lieutenants . Let's give them a round 155 00:08:49,730 --> 00:08:49,340 of applause . 156 00:09:01,700 --> 00:09:04,210 So graduate service deepens our 157 00:09:04,219 --> 00:09:07,809 democracy service brings us 158 00:09:07,820 --> 00:09:10,260 closer to the full promise of America's 159 00:09:10,270 --> 00:09:14,010 founding service builds on 160 00:09:14,020 --> 00:09:17,969 itself . And long after you after you 161 00:09:17,979 --> 00:09:20,479 graduate , excuse me , 162 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:31,191 long after you graduate , I hope that 163 00:09:31,191 --> 00:09:34,510 you can carry forward the F S U legacy 164 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:37,590 of service . I I don't just mean 165 00:09:37,599 --> 00:09:41,059 serving in uniform service is 166 00:09:41,070 --> 00:09:42,903 volunteering in your community . 167 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:47,659 Making sure that every citizen gets a 168 00:09:47,669 --> 00:09:50,190 fair shot at the American dream 169 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:54,409 is doing your part to make real our 170 00:09:54,419 --> 00:09:57,479 country's highest ideals of liberty and 171 00:09:57,489 --> 00:10:00,979 justice for all . And 172 00:10:03,109 --> 00:10:05,960 it's paying $136 173 00:10:07,479 --> 00:10:10,659 or two lots on Gillespie Street to 174 00:10:10,669 --> 00:10:14,190 start a school for black Children as 175 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:16,539 this school's seven founders did back 176 00:10:16,549 --> 00:10:17,780 in 18 67 . 177 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:23,119 Now , that kind of progress has never 178 00:10:23,130 --> 00:10:26,969 been easy . And I've seen that in my 179 00:10:26,979 --> 00:10:30,710 own life . I went to 180 00:10:30,719 --> 00:10:33,520 school high school , nearly two decades 181 00:10:33,530 --> 00:10:36,599 after President Truman integrated the 182 00:10:36,609 --> 00:10:39,210 military in about 15 years after the 183 00:10:39,219 --> 00:10:41,890 Supreme Court ruled that so called 184 00:10:41,900 --> 00:10:44,359 separate but equal schools violated our 185 00:10:44,369 --> 00:10:48,229 constitution . But we still 186 00:10:48,239 --> 00:10:51,289 lived in a painfully 187 00:10:51,570 --> 00:10:55,409 segregated society . I grew up in 188 00:10:55,419 --> 00:10:59,070 Georgia in the time of Jim Crow . Our 189 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:02,260 local public high school had long been 190 00:11:02,270 --> 00:11:05,650 all white and one of my sisters and I 191 00:11:05,659 --> 00:11:08,369 were among the first black students to 192 00:11:08,380 --> 00:11:11,140 integrate it . And so those were some 193 00:11:11,150 --> 00:11:14,809 pretty ugly days and the first year was 194 00:11:14,820 --> 00:11:17,950 especially tough . But I am still 195 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:20,016 grateful to the people of goodwill , 196 00:11:20,016 --> 00:11:22,127 including the teachers and the school 197 00:11:22,127 --> 00:11:24,559 leaders and the public officials 198 00:11:26,229 --> 00:11:28,173 who made sure that my sister and I 199 00:11:28,173 --> 00:11:30,599 could get a good public education . 200 00:11:32,700 --> 00:11:36,619 I still remember their quiet resolve in 201 00:11:36,630 --> 00:11:40,580 our civic spirit and they taught 202 00:11:40,590 --> 00:11:44,400 me that service means standing firm on 203 00:11:44,409 --> 00:11:46,909 the American principle that all people 204 00:11:46,919 --> 00:11:50,640 are created equal and service 205 00:11:50,650 --> 00:11:53,570 means demanding equality of opportunity 206 00:11:53,580 --> 00:11:57,280 for all of our Children . And 207 00:11:57,289 --> 00:12:00,270 service means setting an example . 208 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:04,799 And for me that example came from one 209 00:12:04,809 --> 00:12:08,630 of my uncles , he proudly served 210 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:10,973 during the Vietnam war as a green beret . 211 00:12:12,479 --> 00:12:14,849 Now that would have been impossible . 212 00:12:14,859 --> 00:12:18,400 Just a few years earlier , I still 213 00:12:18,409 --> 00:12:20,520 remember him coming home wearing that 214 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:22,520 green beret and sporting those jump 215 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:25,280 boots . And I saw him and I thought to 216 00:12:25,289 --> 00:12:28,150 myself , you know , I've just got to do 217 00:12:28,159 --> 00:12:31,630 that . I gotta have some of that . And 218 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:35,229 so his service led to my service . 219 00:12:36,210 --> 00:12:39,580 It led me to the US Army for a brief 41 220 00:12:39,590 --> 00:12:40,580 year career . 221 00:12:43,510 --> 00:12:47,010 And today I am deeply 222 00:12:47,020 --> 00:12:50,890 honored to be with you as your 223 00:12:50,900 --> 00:12:52,750 Secretary of Defense . 224 00:13:04,580 --> 00:13:06,747 Now , I know that the road forward may 225 00:13:06,747 --> 00:13:10,590 seem steep and I know that many of you 226 00:13:10,599 --> 00:13:14,150 see the distance between where America 227 00:13:14,159 --> 00:13:17,520 is and where America should be 228 00:13:19,299 --> 00:13:21,030 and what America can be . 229 00:13:23,179 --> 00:13:26,960 But America's real promise is our 230 00:13:26,969 --> 00:13:30,929 democracy and our democracy needs you 231 00:13:32,250 --> 00:13:34,900 each and every one of you 232 00:13:37,330 --> 00:13:39,869 as a poet , Archibald MacLeish once 233 00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:43,659 said , democracy is never a 234 00:13:43,669 --> 00:13:47,479 thing done . Democracy 235 00:13:47,489 --> 00:13:50,809 is something that a nation must be 236 00:13:50,820 --> 00:13:54,799 doing . So you've got 237 00:13:54,809 --> 00:13:57,929 careers to start , you have 238 00:13:57,940 --> 00:14:00,900 obligations to meet , you've got 239 00:14:00,909 --> 00:14:04,469 mountains to climb and I know that many 240 00:14:04,479 --> 00:14:08,070 of you and your families had to already 241 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:10,320 dig deep just to make it here today . 242 00:14:12,929 --> 00:14:14,707 But I hope that you will always 243 00:14:14,707 --> 00:14:17,669 remember your duty to help those who 244 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:20,510 are less fortunate . And I hope that 245 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:23,210 you will always remember the words of 246 00:14:23,219 --> 00:14:25,380 the great civil rights leader , Benny 247 00:14:25,390 --> 00:14:28,630 Lou Hamer , who once said nobody is 248 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:30,859 free until everybody's free . 249 00:14:39,989 --> 00:14:42,950 A degree from an H BC U means lifelong 250 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:45,599 pride and lifelong responsibility . 251 00:14:47,950 --> 00:14:50,172 With all that this university has given 252 00:14:50,172 --> 00:14:53,789 you , we need for you to give something 253 00:14:53,799 --> 00:14:57,309 back in whatever way you choose , 254 00:14:58,650 --> 00:15:00,761 we need for you to become doctors and 255 00:15:00,761 --> 00:15:04,000 nurses who will heal the sick . We need 256 00:15:04,010 --> 00:15:06,320 you to become lawyers who will always 257 00:15:06,330 --> 00:15:09,549 fight for change . We need you to 258 00:15:09,559 --> 00:15:11,726 become entrepreneurs who will make our 259 00:15:11,726 --> 00:15:14,719 economy work for all Americans . 260 00:15:16,969 --> 00:15:19,929 We need you to become teachers will 261 00:15:19,940 --> 00:15:22,107 pass on the mighty gift of education . 262 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:27,090 And yes , we need some of you 263 00:15:27,830 --> 00:15:31,479 to stand up and salute and to defend 264 00:15:31,489 --> 00:15:33,580 the United States by joining the 265 00:15:33,590 --> 00:15:35,757 greatest fighting force in the history 266 00:15:35,757 --> 00:15:36,757 of the world . 267 00:15:47,820 --> 00:15:51,390 And so you'll do it your way and you 268 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:53,400 will contribute to something bigger 269 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:56,429 than yourself . You know , 270 00:15:57,409 --> 00:15:59,631 whenever I think about what it means to 271 00:15:59,631 --> 00:16:02,489 serve , I think about one of my 272 00:16:02,500 --> 00:16:03,739 greatest mentors . 273 00:16:06,380 --> 00:16:09,469 Her name was Francis Hesselberg 274 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:13,496 and she died last year at the age of 275 00:16:13,496 --> 00:16:16,989 107 . She led and 276 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:19,167 transformed the Girl Scouts of America 277 00:16:20,809 --> 00:16:23,031 Fortune magazine named her , one of the 278 00:16:23,031 --> 00:16:25,500 world's 50 greatest leaders 279 00:16:27,109 --> 00:16:30,599 and Francis would always say to 280 00:16:30,609 --> 00:16:33,039 serve is to live . 281 00:16:35,039 --> 00:16:37,261 Now as you graduate today , I know that 282 00:16:37,261 --> 00:16:39,317 some of you are worried about what's 283 00:16:39,317 --> 00:16:43,299 next . That's normal . Absolutely 284 00:16:43,309 --> 00:16:47,000 normal . And chances are at some point 285 00:16:47,010 --> 00:16:48,899 in your life , you might question 286 00:16:48,899 --> 00:16:51,232 whether or not you're on the right path . 287 00:16:52,369 --> 00:16:55,609 But in those moments I'd ask that you 288 00:16:55,619 --> 00:16:58,890 think about serving others and you'll 289 00:16:58,900 --> 00:17:00,380 always have plenty to do 290 00:17:02,750 --> 00:17:05,280 and you'll feel deep and lasting pride 291 00:17:05,290 --> 00:17:09,109 as you do it . Because service 292 00:17:09,348 --> 00:17:12,839 nourishes the soul because to 293 00:17:12,849 --> 00:17:15,569 serve is to live 294 00:17:17,598 --> 00:17:20,788 in class of 2023 . You have inherited 295 00:17:20,798 --> 00:17:24,380 the legacy of those seven founders on 296 00:17:24,390 --> 00:17:27,890 Gillespie Street . You have inherited 297 00:17:27,900 --> 00:17:30,319 the freedom of Lieutenant Colonel that 298 00:17:30,329 --> 00:17:32,530 Lieutenant Colonel Johnson and so many 299 00:17:32,540 --> 00:17:36,469 others fought for and now it's 300 00:17:36,479 --> 00:17:40,170 your turn and it's your 301 00:17:40,180 --> 00:17:43,410 time . The spirit of 302 00:17:43,420 --> 00:17:45,810 service is right here in your school 303 00:17:45,819 --> 00:17:48,729 model race , non verbal , which 304 00:17:48,739 --> 00:17:51,170 translates into deeds , not words . 305 00:17:52,660 --> 00:17:54,827 And so you're about to walk across the 306 00:17:54,827 --> 00:17:57,410 stage to get your degree . Your 307 00:17:57,420 --> 00:18:01,270 challenge is to make it mean more much 308 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:03,502 more than the words on that parchment . 309 00:18:04,660 --> 00:18:06,771 Your challenge is to match the word , 310 00:18:06,771 --> 00:18:10,050 those , those words of promise with 311 00:18:10,060 --> 00:18:13,339 deeds of service , to put your shoulder 312 00:18:13,349 --> 00:18:15,939 to the wheel and to answer the call to 313 00:18:15,949 --> 00:18:19,390 serve and to make America a 314 00:18:19,430 --> 00:18:21,060 more perfect union . 315 00:18:23,319 --> 00:18:26,050 Congratulations . Class of 2023 . 316 00:18:33,239 --> 00:18:35,510 May God bless you . May God bless your 317 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:37,687 families and may God continue to bless 318 00:18:37,687 --> 00:18:38,869 the United States of America .