 Since 2001, our soldiers have been awarded over 15,000 medals of valor, 11 medals of honor, 30 distinguished service crosses, and over 650 silver stars. The service of our men and women in today's Army has been unwavering. Today, soldiers come from varying backgrounds and perhaps different cultures, and they share many common goals. This includes commitment, sacrifice, and adaptability, but our soldiers do not stand alone. Our Army would not be successful without the 278,000 Army civilians who are committed to serving them and our nation. Our civilians equip our soldiers, feed and transport them. Not only do they serve at home when soldiers deploy, but they're also on the front lines, ensuring our soldiers have what they need to accomplish every mission. And of course, no soldier would be successful without his or her family. Millions of husbands and wives, sons and daughters, and moms and dads have seen their loved ones deploy. These families endure the same hardships as the deployed soldiers. You can't say enough about our Army families. They do everything their country asks of them and more. The strength of our nation is our Army. The strength of our Army is our soldiers, and the strength of our soldiers is our families. This is what makes us Army strong.