 It's flying at half mass because of the losses we have suffered this week. And one of the things that brings into sharper leaf is why we need the skill, the professionalism, the duty and honor of United States Marines and sailors that we recognize here today. And so I'm honored to be here. I'm honored to be here on behalf of the president to present the presidential unit citation to 2MAP, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan. I'm really happy to be here with the incredibly good commandant of the Marine Corps, Jim Amos, with whom I am privileged to serve every single day. And his lady, Bonnie, who spends her days worrying about families of Marine young and old here in Farfield, the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps and General Larry Nicholson, who commanded 2MAP Brigade General Love, who now commands to General Fox and to all our distinguished visitors, guests, Marines, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you so much for being here today. One of my first trips when I took the job as secretary was here at Camp Lejeune. And I've been secretary about two weeks. I had the opportunity to get a good look at the camp and also to meet with some of the Marines and sailors that were stationed here. I've seen Lejeune Marines literally all over the world, but particularly in Afghanistan. Major General Fox said I've been to Afghanistan nine times and I've had a chance to see our Marines in the words of the Marine Helm, the first to fight for right and freedom. I'm so proud of 2MAP for earning the Presidential Unit Citation, the nation's highest award given to any unit, but I have to tell you, I'm not surprised. General Excellence is absolutely nothing new to the Second Marine Expeditionary Brigade. His command was awarded his first Presidential Unit Citation for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, and now we add a Second Ribbon and Streamer to that proud legacy. Major Former Commander of 2MAP is with us today, Jim Amos. Today this Brigade of almost 28,000 US and coalition forces will again be recognized or has been recognized in ranks of other stored units that have received this award from World War II in the Pacific to Korea to Vietnam to Iraq. The professionalism, the skill, the resolve of these Marines behind me and of their brothers and sisters have been tested and they have met every single trial. You've established forward operating bases, expeditionary airfields, combat outposts, patrol bases across Helmut Province in the heart of the Taliban insurgency and all the while bringing the fight to that insurgency wherever they happen to be. 2MAP is capable of overwhelming force as they demonstrate an operation can jar or strike the sword with nearly 4,000 US forces joined by over 650 Afghan police and soldiers. It was the biggest offensive airlift of Marines since Vietnam. But 2MAP is also very capable of using other skills, skills to train Afghan soldiers and the more subtle but equally important ones of carrying out counterinsurgency like building communities, making the place safe and protecting innocents and children. The accomplishments of 2MAP set the example for our NATO ISAF forces and our own military deploying to Afghanistan. 2MAP effectively manage very different types of security operations from developing the Afghan security force to assisting in the creating of the rule of law, improving local governance, creating key leader engagement, female engagement teams and open scoops. You made 58,000 square miles of battle space, 10,000 square miles more than North Carolina, a more stable and secure place in the world.