WEBVTT

00:00.481 --> 00:05.390
(A cappella "Star-Spangled Banner")
- Were so gallantly streaming

00:08.396 --> 00:12.350
And the rockets' red glare

00:12.812 --> 00:16.617
The bombs bursting in air

00:17.577 --> 00:21.897
Gave proof through the night

00:22.254 --> 00:27.365
That our flag was still there

00:30.203 --> 00:33.939
O say does that star-spangled

00:33.939 --> 00:37.752
Banner yet wave

00:41.164 --> 00:46.090
O'er the land of the free

00:48.302 --> 00:52.694
And the home of the brave

00:57.163 --> 00:59.290
(service member giving commands)

01:11.656 --> 01:13.787
- The Armed Forces stamps we're about to unveil

01:13.787 --> 01:15.874
are designed as an enduring tribute.

01:15.874 --> 01:18.831
A tribute to some of our country's 
most important institutions

01:18.831 --> 01:20.903
and those who have served in it.

01:20.903 --> 01:22.614
Each stamp features the name,

01:22.614 --> 01:24.701
the service, and its representative symbol

01:24.701 --> 01:26.381
on a white background.

01:27.221 --> 01:30.979
The words "250 Years of Service, Since 1775"

01:30.979 --> 01:32.548
are inscribed along the bottom

01:32.548 --> 01:34.300
in red and blue letters.

01:34.300 --> 01:37.965
Designed by Postal Service art director Antonio Alcala,

01:37.965 --> 01:40.646
their simplicity symbolizes more than

01:40.646 --> 01:43.203
any words or flourish could ever convey.

01:43.203 --> 01:45.960
They represent the American traditions

01:45.960 --> 01:47.458
of service,

01:47.458 --> 01:49.207
sacrifice,

01:49.207 --> 01:50.789
and of freedom.

01:52.478 --> 01:55.606
So at this time, I'd like to invite all 
of today's program participants

01:55.606 --> 01:58.080
to join me for the stamp unveiling.

02:02.626 --> 02:05.152
(audience applauding and cheering)

02:09.785 --> 02:12.322
This moment holds personal meaning for me.

02:12.322 --> 02:14.770
I am a proud Army veteran.

02:14.770 --> 02:16.811
I wore that uniform, too,

02:16.811 --> 02:18.993
as a military photojournalist.

02:19.651 --> 02:22.500
It's one of the most important things we 
can do as citizens of the United States,

02:22.500 --> 02:24.792
because it doesn't just benefit the country.

02:24.792 --> 02:27.316
It shapes our own lives.

02:28.016 --> 02:30.337
- Acting Postmaster General Tulino,

02:30.337 --> 02:32.953
Jeff Adams, and Laura McLucas,

02:32.953 --> 02:34.420
distinguished guests.

02:34.420 --> 02:36.770
On behalf of the Secretary of the Army,

02:36.770 --> 02:38.866
the Honorable Dan Driscoll,

02:38.866 --> 02:41.854
and the Army Chief of Staff, General Randy George,

02:41.854 --> 02:43.667
it is truly an honor

02:43.667 --> 02:45.581
to represent the men and women

02:45.581 --> 02:47.569
of the United States Army

02:47.569 --> 02:49.000
here today.

02:49.000 --> 02:51.278
(audience applause)

02:51.278 --> 02:53.326
Today is such a special opportunity.

02:53.326 --> 02:56.134
Being in the heart of our nation's capital,

02:56.134 --> 02:58.481
gathered on Freedom Plaza,

02:58.481 --> 03:01.181
to commemorate a momentous occasion.

03:01.181 --> 03:04.455
Warrior ethos and unwavering dedication

03:04.455 --> 03:06.491
embodied by every Soldier,

03:06.491 --> 03:08.470
Sailor and Marine

03:08.470 --> 03:10.474
who has worn the uniform.

03:10.474 --> 03:12.911
From the battlefields of the American Revolution

03:12.911 --> 03:14.805
to the mountains of Afghanistan,

03:14.805 --> 03:17.611
these brave men and women

03:17.611 --> 03:20.199
have answered our nation's call

03:20.199 --> 03:23.540
with unwavering courage and selflessness.

03:23.540 --> 03:26.739
As we honor 250 years of history,

03:26.739 --> 03:29.130
we also look forward to the future

03:29.130 --> 03:32.622
and American military's impact in national security.

03:32.622 --> 03:34.527
A recent example is the

03:34.527 --> 03:36.704
Army's Transformation Initiative,

03:36.704 --> 03:39.260
that will transform the Army faster

03:39.260 --> 03:42.939
than ever to deliver critical warfighting capabilities,

03:42.939 --> 03:45.275
optimize our force structure,

03:45.275 --> 03:47.822
and eliminate waste and obsolete programs.

03:47.822 --> 03:50.160
This transformation will ensure

03:50.160 --> 03:52.465
your Army continues to be the most lethal

03:52.465 --> 03:55.850
landforce the world has ever seen.

03:55.850 --> 03:58.089
- I want to thank the United States Postal Service

03:58.089 --> 04:00.135
for honoring this legacy

04:00.135 --> 04:02.388
with the release of the Armed Forces

04:02.388 --> 04:04.433
250th Anniversary

04:04.433 --> 04:06.016
Forever Stamps.

04:06.524 --> 04:08.783
These stamps are more than just symbols.

04:08.783 --> 04:11.145
They are a salute to the generations

04:11.145 --> 04:13.399
of Americans who have defended

04:13.399 --> 04:15.197
our nation's freedom,

04:15.197 --> 04:17.071
a tribute to those who

04:17.071 --> 04:19.530
continue to do so today,

04:19.530 --> 04:21.649
and a recognition of those

04:21.649 --> 04:23.626
who will do so tomorrow.

04:24.450 --> 04:26.737
These stamps you see before you today

04:26.737 --> 04:28.721
do more than commemorate our histories.

04:28.721 --> 04:30.160
They tell a tale.

04:30.160 --> 04:33.006
Each one represents a chapter and the story

04:33.006 --> 04:34.762
of America's armed forces,

04:34.762 --> 04:37.929
and a reminder of how we've grown as a nation.

04:38.719 --> 04:40.852
For our Navy, that story began in

04:40.852 --> 04:42.956
October of 1775,

04:42.956 --> 04:45.283
when the Continental Congress authorized

04:45.283 --> 04:46.697
our first two vessels

04:46.697 --> 04:49.453
to intercept British supplies.

04:50.083 --> 04:53.202
Early victories helped us define who we were.

04:53.202 --> 04:55.538
When the USS Constitution

04:55.538 --> 04:57.891
defeated HMS Guerriere

04:57.891 --> 04:59.897
during the War of 1812,

04:59.897 --> 05:02.812
it wasn't just a tactical victory.

05:02.812 --> 05:04.888
It was a thunderous declaration

05:04.888 --> 05:07.729
that America would not back down.

05:08.383 --> 05:10.895
Our Navy and nation's 250 celebration

05:10.895 --> 05:13.161
is about more than looking back.

05:13.161 --> 05:15.592
It's about telling the American people,

05:15.592 --> 05:17.621
especially the next generation,

05:17.621 --> 05:20.762
who we are and why we serve.

05:20.762 --> 05:23.342
It's about conveying that fighting spirit.

05:23.342 --> 05:25.114
It's about showing them

05:25.114 --> 05:28.255
that America is, and always has been,

05:28.255 --> 05:30.153
a maritime nation.

05:30.153 --> 05:32.321
That 90% of global commerce

05:32.321 --> 05:34.154
travels the seas.

05:34.154 --> 05:36.057
And the presence of our Navy

05:36.057 --> 05:39.057
is what ensures it arrives safely.

05:39.057 --> 05:41.892
That from the Artic to the South China Sea,

05:41.892 --> 05:43.464
from the seabeds of space,

05:43.464 --> 05:45.456
nearly 100 ships and submarines

05:45.456 --> 05:47.512
are underway on any given day,

05:47.512 --> 05:50.897
defending freedom and deterring aggression.

05:51.206 --> 05:54.108
To our brothers and sisters in the Army and Marine Corps,

05:54.108 --> 05:56.462
congratulations on your 250th.

05:56.462 --> 05:58.848
It's an honor to serve beside you,

05:58.848 --> 06:01.975
as we have since the very beginning.

06:01.975 --> 06:04.238
To the United States Postal Service,

06:04.238 --> 06:06.980
thank you for honoring that service,

06:06.980 --> 06:09.373
for always standing with our Sailors,

06:09.373 --> 06:12.799
and for ensuring that even across oceans

06:12.799 --> 06:15.625
our troops have a connection to home.

06:15.625 --> 06:18.628
And to all who are here today,

06:18.628 --> 06:21.153
may these stamps remind us not only of the

06:21.153 --> 06:23.334
past 250 years,

06:23.334 --> 06:26.525
but of the promise we carry forward.

06:26.525 --> 06:28.892
The promise to defend freedom,

06:28.892 --> 06:30.406
to deliver peace,

06:30.406 --> 06:33.337
and to be ready to fight and win at sea.

06:33.337 --> 06:34.868
Thank you very much.

06:34.868 --> 06:37.085
(audience applauding)

06:38.131 --> 06:39.678
- Please join me in welcoming

06:39.678 --> 06:42.070
Lieutenant General Paul Rock.

06:42.070 --> 06:44.807
(audience applauding)

06:47.251 --> 06:49.381
- All right, good morning, everybody. Oorah.

06:49.381 --> 06:50.666
(audience members responding)

06:51.018 --> 06:53.973
Mr. Adams, thank you for the invitation.

06:53.973 --> 06:56.817
And congratulations to you and 
the United States Postal Service

06:56.817 --> 06:59.997
on making this terrific commemorative 
event happen. Thank you.

07:00.881 --> 07:03.446
Happy 250th to my fellow speakers,

07:03.954 --> 07:05.948
who, again, are tough to follow,

07:05.948 --> 07:08.225
and all the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines,

07:08.225 --> 07:10.157
current and former, in the audience.

07:10.444 --> 07:12.479
It is a distinct honor to join

07:12.479 --> 07:15.570
the United States Postal Service in
unveiling these commemorative stamps

07:15.570 --> 07:18.516
honoring the Army, Navy and Marine Corps.

07:18.516 --> 07:21.638
This is a special moment in a special year.

07:21.638 --> 07:23.886
And while the services celebrate their

07:23.886 --> 07:25.856
individual and shared history,

07:25.856 --> 07:27.971
what makes this event even more powerful

07:27.971 --> 07:30.176
is the connection between the American Armed Forces

07:30.176 --> 07:32.469
and the American people.

07:32.469 --> 07:34.062
After two and a half centuries,

07:34.062 --> 07:36.223
the Army, Navy and Marine Corps

07:36.223 --> 07:38.524
continue to stand as guardians of our nation,

07:38.524 --> 07:40.513
protectors of our freedom,

07:40.513 --> 07:43.044
and symbols of American resolve.

07:44.076 --> 07:47.165
We served side by side in countless conflicts,

07:47.165 --> 07:49.966
safeguarding our interests and upholding the values

07:49.966 --> 07:51.733
that define us as a nation.

07:52.154 --> 07:54.658
For the Marine Corps, this anniversary is both

07:54.658 --> 07:57.250
a celebration and a time for reflection.

07:57.250 --> 08:00.131
Born on 10 November 1775

08:00.131 --> 08:02.687
at the infamous Tun Tavern,

08:02.687 --> 08:04.428
a bar in Philadelphia,

08:04.428 --> 08:06.968
the Marine Corps has a rich and storied history

08:06.968 --> 08:09.689
that's woven into the very fabric of the American identity.

08:10.483 --> 08:12.362
From the shores of Tripoli,

08:12.362 --> 08:14.774
to the sands of Iwo Jima,

08:14.774 --> 08:17.685
to the frozen battlefield at the Chosin Reservoir,

08:17.685 --> 08:19.888
to the arid deserts

08:19.888 --> 08:22.232
and mountains of Iraq and Afghanistan,

08:22.232 --> 08:25.028
Marines have consistently answered the call to duty

08:25.028 --> 08:27.975
with honor, courage, and unwavering commitment.

08:29.342 --> 08:32.385
Our mission remains to be the nation's force in readiness,

08:32.385 --> 08:35.232
ready to respond to crises around the globe

08:35.232 --> 08:38.338
in order to protect our nation, its people and interests,

08:38.338 --> 08:40.399
and our friends and allies.

08:40.399 --> 08:43.966
We take our responsibility to be the first to fight

08:43.966 --> 08:45.454
with the utmost seriousness.

08:45.454 --> 08:48.528
Our traditions, which today's ceremony highlights,

08:48.528 --> 08:50.344
are forged in battle,

08:50.344 --> 08:53.324
they define who we are, and they inspire us to be

08:53.324 --> 08:55.494
semper fidelis, always faithful.

08:56.388 --> 08:59.317
The Postal Service's decision to honor these anniversaries

08:59.317 --> 09:01.615
is both a testament to the enduring legacy

09:01.615 --> 09:03.439
and unwavering dedication

09:03.439 --> 09:05.211
of the American military,

09:05.211 --> 09:07.287
and a reminder of the special relationship

09:07.287 --> 09:10.389
the Postal Service has with our armed forces.

09:10.389 --> 09:13.882
If you want, as was mentioned by General Brady,

09:13.882 --> 09:16.433
there's no better way to lift immediately

09:16.433 --> 09:18.860
the spirits of a deployed Marine

09:18.860 --> 09:20.601
than to holler "mail call".

09:20.601 --> 09:23.197
And God help you if you're not telling the truth.

09:23.197 --> 09:25.083
(audience laughing)

09:25.083 --> 09:28.024
I still have letters that my wife wrote me

09:28.024 --> 09:29.783
when I was a young 1st lieutenant

09:29.783 --> 09:32.326
overseas on my first shipboard deployment.

09:32.326 --> 09:35.281
And I cherished the pictures that came through the mail

09:35.281 --> 09:38.395
of my children, the first time I went to war.

09:38.395 --> 09:40.732
Precious memories made possible

09:40.732 --> 09:42.670
by the United States Postal Service.

09:43.279 --> 09:45.327
That connection remains strong to this day,

09:45.327 --> 09:48.172
and I thank the USPS for helping us share

09:48.172 --> 09:50.858
this great milestone with all Americans.

09:51.310 --> 09:54.003
These stamps will travel around the world

09:54.003 --> 09:56.642
and across our nation, carrying with them

09:56.642 --> 09:59.032
the message of patriotism,

09:59.032 --> 10:01.637
service, and unwavering dedication.

10:01.637 --> 10:04.172
Thanks again for the opportunity to be a part of this

10:04.172 --> 10:06.805
special and historic event.

10:06.805 --> 10:08.353
To the Army, the Navy,

10:08.353 --> 10:10.553
the Marine Corps, and those gathered here today,

10:10.553 --> 10:12.485
semper fidelis, oorah.

10:12.485 --> 10:14.766
(audience applauding)

10:17.999 --> 10:19.842
- Thank you, Lieutenant General Rock.

10:20.884 --> 10:23.275
- For 250 years,

10:23.275 --> 10:25.440
these military branches have fostered

10:25.440 --> 10:28.276
a legacy of service.

10:29.232 --> 10:31.497
During this time, millions of men and women

10:31.497 --> 10:33.398
have left their families and homes.

10:33.398 --> 10:35.762
Not for recognition,

10:35.762 --> 10:37.501
not for fame,

10:38.334 --> 10:40.770
but rather to serve.

10:41.272 --> 10:43.799
They became Soldiers,

10:43.799 --> 10:46.004
Sailors and Marines,

10:46.004 --> 10:48.317
and helped to provide our country

10:48.317 --> 10:51.278
with the security we enjoy today.

10:52.511 --> 10:54.948
Nearly 73,000 veterans

10:54.948 --> 10:57.379
have continued their service

10:57.379 --> 10:59.435
with the United States Postal Service.

10:59.435 --> 11:01.754
This includes veterans of the Army,

11:01.754 --> 11:03.469
Navy, Marines,

11:03.469 --> 11:05.565
as well as our veterans of

11:05.565 --> 11:07.825
the United States Air Force, the Space Force,

11:07.825 --> 11:09.308
and our Coast Guard.

11:09.764 --> 11:11.622
The legacy of service I spoke of

11:11.622 --> 11:14.193
doesn't end when the servicemember comes home

11:14.193 --> 11:16.057
and hangs up their uniform.

11:16.769 --> 11:19.836
That's because the legacy doesn't belong

11:19.836 --> 11:21.902
only to them.

11:22.612 --> 11:24.471
We must take it upon ourselves

11:24.471 --> 11:26.229
to continue the legacy

11:26.229 --> 11:28.424
by supporting those struggling

11:28.424 --> 11:31.702
with physical and mental challenges.

11:31.702 --> 11:34.787
Sometimes just sitting down to talk with a veteran

11:34.787 --> 11:37.521
or their family members can go a long way.

11:37.521 --> 11:39.131
Let them know

11:39.131 --> 11:41.830
they are not alone.

11:42.663 --> 11:44.459
Because like the Army,

11:44.459 --> 11:46.413
the Navy, the Marines,

11:46.413 --> 11:48.906
and even the United States Postal Service,

11:48.906 --> 11:50.682
they deserve

11:50.682 --> 11:53.702
a legacy that endures.

11:54.652 --> 11:56.638
Thank you all for your attention today.

11:56.638 --> 11:59.195
Thank you for coming and have a great day.

11:59.195 --> 12:01.410
Thank you for your service. Hooah!

12:01.410 --> 12:03.852
(audience applauding)

12:05.796 --> 12:07.774
- Thank you, Marty. Yes, Postal--