President's Message: Happy birthday!

Happy 236th Birthday, United States Navy! Happy birthday to the entire Navy family, to the many Sailors and civilians serving today, the many Navy veterans and retirees who have served in the past, and to the many family members who have supported their Sailor's service. Together, your devotion, service and sacrifice have endured for over two centuries while making our Navy the best in the world, keeping our borders secure and ensuring the many freedoms that we enjoy in this great nation we call the United States of America.

I travelled to Phoenix recently to visit the NROTC unit at Arizona State University and to attend an AUSN-sponsored dinner for Admiral John Harvey from United States Fleet Forces Command. After listening to Admiral Harvey speak, I am confident that our Navy is in great hands with professionals like him at the helm making tough decisions and providing leadership to overcome the many challenges faced by the Navy today. Many thanks go out to Captain Carol Culbertson, LT Lynn Valverde and ISCS Jon Altman for making it possible for Admiral Harvey to speak to a large group of Sailors, veterans and public officials. You have set an impressive AUSN standard in Phoenix.

I had a very inspirational visit to Arizona State University where I met another impressive group of midshipmen. Captain Steven Borden and Commander Erich Schmidt have done a remarkable job standing up a new NROTC unit at ASU. They are now in their second year and have a tremendous program thanks to their leadership and vision. I spoke to the midshipmen about AUSN and the benefits of membership, and then answered their questions about my Navy journey, leadership and a host of other topics. They expressed their concern about potential changes to the military retirement system. Like midshipmen I have met at other universities, these men and women are smart, engaged, motivated and eager to learn. We are in good hands for the future!

On my flight home from Phoenix, I was fortunate to have a window seat and could see forever because it was a very clear day. I looked out and saw the diverse terrain of deserts, mountains, plateaus and plains. I saw the network of lakes, rivers, railroads, highways and roads. I saw big cities and small towns. And, finally, I saw the east coast, the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The view made me think about the words to patriotic songs like "God Bless America." How lucky we are to live in this great country, to enjoy the freedoms that we cherish, and to have so many veterans and currently serving Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Coast Guardsmen who put their lives on the line while standing the watch around the world every day. We are so blessed to be able to call the United States of America our home.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by the floods, high winds and tornadoes caused by Hurricanes Irene and Lee, and to those impacted by the fires in Texas, North Carolina and elsewhere. Add to that the magnitude 5.8 earthquake in Virginia, the oppressive heat across the country, the drought in the southwest and you can say it continues to be a difficult year in terms of natural disasters.

Happy birthday once again to the entire Navy family. Please make the time to attend one of the many Navy birthday celebrations that are being held across the nation. I have seen advertisements for Navy Balls in locations from Norfolk to Minneapolis, and for a 5K race in Omaha. The events are out there, so go out and celebrate with your shipmates.