 I believe it is reasonable to conclude that had it not been for Lieutenant Gary's extraordinary efforts, there would not have been enough men available to accomplish all of these tasks. The USS Franklin has a motto, the ship that wouldn't die. The reason it didn't, in large member measure, was Lieutenant Gary. That's why. Thank you. I want you to take a look at this beautiful ship. She's as gorgeous today as she was when I first saw her in Bunbury, Australia in 1986 in December. So today we're saying goodbye to an old friend. We're saying goodbye to a ship that served this country with great honor and dedication during her 31-year history in the Navy and to this great nation. Gary even took first place from bases all over California, Arizona, Nevada. And we did it with a bunch of sailors who marched up during this engagement. The largest naval battle since a battle of Lady Gulf during World War II. The U.S. Navy destroyed almost 35% of the Iranian Navy in nine hours. The way the boys of Gary engaged those silkworms that came roaring in on us at the speed of sound, 30 to 50 feet off the ocean. Only armed with an 1,100-pound high-explosive warhead is the proudest memory of my naval career. Minutes after the attack failed and the silkworm missiles splashed seven and a half miles from us, the Iranian fighters decided to return to base, unwilling to take on a single ship, unwilling to take on USS Gary, because they knew that she had a bone in her teeth and they weren't about to strap her on. And I'm telling you, we were ready for them. So I come today not to mourn USS Gary, I come to celebrate her. When I enter the December of my years and I think back to the fading memories of my 32 years in the Navy, my last conscious thoughts will be of this courageous ship and the gallant lads who manned her, the boys of Gary. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the USS Gary. This is the fighting frigate. And don't you ever forget it. The movie Missing in Action starring Chuck Norris with none. Although much has changed since then, one thing remains the same. The crew of the Gary started out strong and ended just as strong.