 President of the United States of America. Well, I think that the Secretary of State should be noticed there. The Marine Corps colors on that vest. And you're too far away to see that the buttons are Marine Corps buttons. This is, of course, but McFarlane, their Marines. And now some of you others, I think you ought to know that George offered to let me wear that vest, but I felt it'd be a little out of keeping since I was in the horse cavalry. And I didn't want to be untrue to them, although when World War II came along, I was called to active duty. The horses weren't called to active duty, and I wound up flying a desk for the Air Force. I brought every desk in at 5 o'clock. Perfect landing. This is a special day, and I'm pleased to spend a part of it with you. The back home millions of Americans are observing Veterans Day, the day set aside to honor you and those who served before you. America honors its veterans because it's their dedicated service and sacrifice that preserves our freedom and keeps us free. And on this Veterans Day, there's a particularly important reason to think about the price of freedom. And the struggle for freedom and peace is an honorable but difficult challenge to proclaim it's easy to win it is hard. Our most recent heroes, those still serving and those just back from Beirut and Grenada, gave America the same dedication and valor as the millions of veterans before them. And one week ago today, I had the privilege to visit Camp Lejeune. It was a day of profound sorrow, but also intense pride. Your country and the core paid tribute to those who stood in harm's way and gave their last full measure of devotion so that others might have the chance to find freedom. Words could never express what the patriotism of those young Americans means to the soul of America. It's these brave heroes, generation after generation of them who've kept America free, protected our heritage of liberty. Thanks to them, America remains the brightest star of hope to the rest of the world. Vietnamese boat people call out, hello, freedom men to our sailors. I received a letter, a copy of a letter that a boy had sent to his parents in one of our carriers that had picked up a boat about to sink with the Vietnamese refugees. And that's what they were trying to say, even though they could not speak our language was, they had mastered that much, calling them freedom men. The Grenadian villager shouts, now we're free. I don't know whether you've heard that 91% of the people on Grenada, according to a poll that has now been taken, and not by us, but by the press when they got in there, that 91% of them declare, yes, ours was a rescue mission. And they were the people that were rescued, and they were glad we were there. And people more than America celebrates this Veterans Day, freedom-loving people everywhere, here in Japan, in Lebanon, and on the frontiers of freedom around the world understand the value of what our veterans willingly and unselfishly have given and continue to give. And today is also the first day of the 209th year of the Marine Corps. Now, it isn't true that I was present at that first birthday. It is true, however, that I was around when it was Armistice Day and for the first Armistice Day. But on behalf of 230 million Americans, I can say from the bottom of my heart, happy birthday to the Corps. And by the way, I want you to know another reason that this gives me so much pleasure. The Marine Corps is one of the few groups left that has been around longer than I have. When our founding fathers authorized the four service branches, they understood that freedom isn't free. And they knew that freedom can't flourish with people unable and unwilling to defend it. The armed forces do defend it and always have. And born as a commitment to freedom, they've honored that commitment every single day. You do it the hard way, on lonely outposts, in bloody battles far from home and many times against the odds, but always with the dedication and spirit of the armed services. Spirit like when the 22nd Marine Amphibious Unit left the beaches of Grenada. And after a magnificent operation, I might add, the last words on their battle report were on to Beirut. And that's where they are and possibly arriving, if they have not already in the next day or so, as a rotation for the men that have been there. More than 200 years have passed since we became a nation. The world has changed in a million ways. But some things thank the good Lord have not, and courage and honor have not. You, our men and women in uniform, have always kept the faith to God, country, and family. And today, on behalf of every American, may I raise a glass high symbolically, now not having one in my hand, but to raise a glass in toast to all of you, to our armed forces, wherever you may be in the world. When doing your duty offers others the chances to find peace and freedom into the greatest country this world has ever known, the United States of America. And the day before we left to come here on this trip, I can remember some other things. I remember 10 years ago when young people your age on campuses all over America sneered at anyone in uniform and considered you the enemy. Well, we had 490 of the young students who were rescued from St. George's University on Grenada and brought back to America. They were on the South lawn of the White House. And we were able to get 40 men, 10 from each branch of the service that participated, in that rescue mission on Grenada. And believe me, America is a different America. Those 490 young people made it very plain that they owed their lives to those 40 men and their companions who couldn't be there, weren't there. And they made it very plain that as far as they're concerned, you in uniform are their heroes from here on out. And it was a wonderful thing to see. So now I understand that I'm supposed to make dent in that cake. And I understand also the tradition.