WEBVTT 00:00:07.839 --> 00:00:09.839 Thank you all very, very much for being here at R Scottsdale Veterans Day 00:00:12.380 --> 00:00:16.947 memorial Commemoration for 2008. It's really wonderful that you're able to 00:00:16.980 --> 00:00:22.026 be here with us. Before we begin our formal ceremony, would you everyone 00:00:22.059 --> 00:00:26.747 please take a moment and just one more time. Thank the 100 8th Army 00:00:26.780 --> 00:00:34.780 National Guard band. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:41.406 Mm hmm. Yeah, 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:44.967 that's warrant Officer Gonzalez in the front. That who was waving at you 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:50.037 there. Um, they are so ever faithful and such a wonderful addition to our 00:00:50.070 --> 00:00:54.357 celebration every year. Um, in a obviously it really makes a terrific 00:00:54.390 --> 00:00:58.766 difference in our program, so we appreciate it greatly. We're gonna begin. 00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:02.936 I'm Merryman ross, the mayor. By the way, Scottsdale Welcome. We'll begin. 00:01:02.969 --> 00:01:06.117 We'll 00:01:06.150 --> 00:01:09.436 begin today's ceremony with the presentation and posting of our nation's 00:01:09.469 --> 00:01:15.007 colors. We have members of Veterans of Foreign Wars, 35 13. An american 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:19.107 legion post 40 for who will post the colors for us following the 00:01:19.140 --> 00:01:22.736 presentation of the colors, the 108th army band will lead us in the 00:01:22.769 --> 00:01:28.807 national anthem. That will be followed by the 00:01:28.840 --> 00:01:33.516 pledge of allegiance by our Chiefs Police Chief, Alan, Rod Bill and Fire 00:01:33.549 --> 00:01:37.266 Chief Willie Macdonald. Uh, and by the way, I learned something new just 00:01:37.299 --> 00:01:41.596 recently that last year congress passed some new legislation making it 00:01:41.629 --> 00:01:46.326 official that it is appropriate for veterans of the U. S. Military Service 00:01:46.359 --> 00:01:51.167 , even those in active duty uh, to use the hand salute during the national 00:01:51.200 --> 00:01:56.057 anthem and veterans just in case you hadn't heard that. This is one more 00:01:56.090 --> 00:02:00.167 opportunity really for you to identify yourselves among those who have 00:02:00.200 --> 00:02:05.247 served our nation. If you would like to do that, please rise if you can 00:02:05.280 --> 00:02:10.307 for the posting of the colors. 00:02:10.340 --> 00:02:17.006 Lord. 00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:22.106 Mhm. I don't get it. 00:02:22.139 --> 00:02:29.207 Mhm. 00:02:29.240 --> 00:02:31.506 Mhm. 00:02:31.539 --> 00:02:36.006 Yeah. Oh, 00:02:36.039 --> 00:02:44.039 holders best colors. Mhm. 00:02:57.740 --> 00:03:00.807 Hello bears post 00:03:00.840 --> 00:03:06.307 six 00:03:06.340 --> 00:03:12.406 jesu who? 00:03:12.439 --> 00:03:20.439 People with money? 00:03:23.139 --> 00:03:31.139 What's so wrong? 00:04:10.939 --> 00:04:18.939 Better. 00:04:36.540 --> 00:04:39.007 Great. 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:43.976 Join me in the play. We'll have to leave 00:04:44.009 --> 00:04:49.406 the United States. A very public 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:55.606 one Nation under God indivisible with Liberty. 00:04:55.639 --> 00:05:00.507 Mm hmm. 00:05:00.540 --> 00:05:06.606 Hi, Barry dismissed. 00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:10.906 All right. Both 00:05:10.939 --> 00:05:13.906 won't work. 00:05:13.939 --> 00:05:21.939 Mm hmm. 00:05:26.339 --> 00:05:29.106 Mhm. 00:05:29.139 --> 00:05:34.507 You may be seated. 00:05:34.540 --> 00:05:38.197 Thank you again to american legion post. And they're veterans of foreign 00:05:38.230 --> 00:05:42.947 wars who also are here every year, always here supporting us. I want to 00:05:42.980 --> 00:05:46.166 quickly before I forget. And I'll give a couple. Thank you's at the end, 00:05:46.199 --> 00:05:49.877 but I think it's we need to acknowledge right now to uh we have some 00:05:49.910 --> 00:05:52.957 students here with us. If you're wondering who they are. Many of them are 00:05:52.990 --> 00:05:57.036 with the service learning students program here in Scottsdale helping with 00:05:57.069 --> 00:06:00.387 our event. And we also have our police explorers who you may have seen, 00:06:00.420 --> 00:06:04.286 helping us park our cars here today and also a lot of young people and 00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:09.166 teens in our audience. Uh, so veterans really this is uh, this is a 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:13.556 message for you that these folks understand the importance of being here 00:06:13.589 --> 00:06:18.656 and uh acknowledging uh the commitment and the gift that you've given to 00:06:18.689 --> 00:06:21.827 our nation and the respect and love you've shown for America. So that's 00:06:21.860 --> 00:06:26.106 why they're here. So thank you veterans for that. And thank you students. 00:06:26.139 --> 00:06:29.986 Okay, I want to make some introductions now real quickly before we get 00:06:30.019 --> 00:06:34.637 started. It's important for us to do that too. Um I'd like to introduce my 00:06:34.670 --> 00:06:38.116 fellow council members that are here today. Looks like most of them over 00:06:38.149 --> 00:06:42.937 to my right. Um we have Vice Mayor robert Littlefield, councilman Jim Lane 00:06:42.970 --> 00:06:48.486 , councilman, I don't see Councilman Ron McCullough, Maybe he is somewhere 00:06:48.519 --> 00:06:56.007 here. Um, councilman Tony nelson, Councilwoman Betty drake, 00:06:56.040 --> 00:07:02.726 Thank you all for being here. Please. 00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:09.207 You. We also have Senator Jim wearing from District seven 00:07:09.240 --> 00:07:11.947 Senator 00:07:11.980 --> 00:07:18.906 John Cavanagh in District eight. 00:07:18.939 --> 00:07:23.027 And I don't believe some of the other senators and legislators were able 00:07:23.060 --> 00:07:27.356 to be here with us. But I'll let you know if I if I left anyone out of 00:07:27.389 --> 00:07:32.397 that. I also wanna acknowledge to the knights of columbus the father, 00:07:32.430 --> 00:07:37.697 Father, Michael J. McGivney Assembly 25 24 who are always here for us 00:07:37.730 --> 00:07:42.187 every year. Also, almost all of them are veterans. And I know I believe 00:07:42.220 --> 00:07:45.647 there's many of them are here with us today. So welcome gentlemen for 00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:50.306 being here too, while 00:07:50.339 --> 00:07:54.087 we're at it while we're at it, those of you who can stand or maybe even 00:07:54.120 --> 00:08:00.346 raise your hand if you are a veteran of our armed forces, no matter how 00:08:00.379 --> 00:08:05.806 long ago or currently, could you please stand or raise your hand. 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:13.839 Mhm. 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:27.707 We're here for you. So thank you very much for spending time with us here. 00:08:27.740 --> 00:08:32.927 Um You've probably heard this before if you've been to this program 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:39.626 several years in a row. But I This program is also very close to my heart 00:08:39.659 --> 00:08:43.986 because I come from a family of veterans uh including my mom who was a 00:08:44.019 --> 00:08:47.787 United States marine. And I understand we celebrated that birthday 00:08:47.820 --> 00:08:54.976 yesterday November 10. Um And so I'm very very proud of the contribution 00:08:55.009 --> 00:09:00.807 that my ancestors and my recent relatives and my my close family have made 00:09:00.840 --> 00:09:04.866 to the nation to and so I'm really proud to be here representing them. In 00:09:04.899 --> 00:09:08.106 fact my mom, 00:09:08.139 --> 00:09:13.317 my mom was at the University of Minnesota when World War two was going on 00:09:13.350 --> 00:09:17.866 and she had four brothers and I think at least three of them were in the 00:09:17.899 --> 00:09:25.899 war and her fiance died at Pearl Harbor and my mom, as you can imagine was 00:09:26.309 --> 00:09:31.557 pretty upset about that. So she left the university and took a series of 00:09:31.590 --> 00:09:36.677 tests and got a scholarship, did really well and became United States 00:09:36.710 --> 00:09:41.417 Marine in World War Two. And what a wonderful example for all women and 00:09:41.450 --> 00:09:45.986 well for all of us. And so she was really my role model for all these 00:09:46.019 --> 00:09:51.827 years and until she passed away several years ago at a young age. So in 00:09:51.860 --> 00:09:55.756 honor of my mom, I'm here too. So thank you very much. I just want to 00:09:55.789 --> 00:10:00.677 remind everyone of the significance. You know why this is so so important 00:10:00.710 --> 00:10:05.167 that we teach our youth About our history and about sacrifice and about 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:08.467 why we're all able to be here today and do what we're doing right here 00:10:08.500 --> 00:10:12.317 have total freedom. It's because of what you all did. Uh, there are more 00:10:12.350 --> 00:10:18.596 than 23.4 million living veterans in our nation And nearly three quarters 00:10:18.629 --> 00:10:22.986 of those have served during a war or at least called something called an 00:10:23.019 --> 00:10:28.246 official time of conflict. And 48 million Americans have served since our 00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:31.766 nation was founded in 1776, 00:10:31.799 --> 00:10:37.087 million of us and nearly one million have died in combat or in combat 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:40.307 related events. 00:10:40.340 --> 00:10:43.886 Okay, we're going to begin with what a wonderful way to begin. Speaking of 00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:47.726 young people and students, we're gonna begin with one of our students from 00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:51.677 Saguaro High School who is a member of our service learning program. Her 00:10:51.710 --> 00:10:57.467 name's Chloe Cutler. She's a sophomore at Saguaro High School. Uh, excuse 00:10:57.500 --> 00:11:00.837 me, She's a junior at Saguaro High School. And this program, Service 00:11:00.870 --> 00:11:03.766 learning, If you're not familiar with it, What a terrific program that I 00:11:03.799 --> 00:11:08.437 wish was in every high school throughout our nation. But the students work 00:11:08.470 --> 00:11:12.736 in collaboration with their own colleagues and their classmates and their 00:11:12.769 --> 00:11:19.126 teachers and the community and other schools and businesses and they, they 00:11:19.159 --> 00:11:25.126 combine, um, their academic time in high school with service to the 00:11:25.159 --> 00:11:28.476 community. Really giving back, really understanding the needs of the 00:11:28.509 --> 00:11:33.236 community and I have seen first hand over the years, the terrific impact 00:11:33.269 --> 00:11:36.646 they've made just here in Scottsdale. It's just a wonderful, wonderful 00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:41.807 program that I wish all Children had had the opportunity to be a part of. 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:46.486 So we're gonna get to hear from Chloe and the title of her talk is how do 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:54.519 you serve? So please give a warm welcome to Chloe Cutler. 00:11:54.830 --> 00:11:59.726 Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:04.547 country For the past 40 years. These words have defined the meeting place 00:12:04.580 --> 00:12:10.266 of altruism and Americana. On this day we honor the courageous veterans 00:12:10.299 --> 00:12:14.506 who risked their lives for this country through the generations. Today we 00:12:14.539 --> 00:12:18.856 express gratitude for their service, not only to the american cause, but 00:12:18.889 --> 00:12:22.996 to its civilians who needed their protection. You all have offered your 00:12:23.029 --> 00:12:26.337 service through the worst of times and have been a shining example of 00:12:26.370 --> 00:12:31.116 patriotism during the best of times. The service learning program in which 00:12:31.149 --> 00:12:35.746 I am currently enrolled at Saguaro holds a variation on the Mantra spoken 00:12:35.779 --> 00:12:41.396 40 years ago. We hold true to ask not what your community can do for you, 00:12:41.429 --> 00:12:45.587 Ask what you can do for your community. Through volunteering at events 00:12:45.620 --> 00:12:49.726 held throughout the greater phoenix area. My peers and I hope to exemplify 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:54.687 how service can make an indelible mark on the lives of others since 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:58.417 becoming a service learning student. My life has changed in a way that I 00:12:58.450 --> 00:13:02.626 had never expected it to. Prior to this school here, I would spend nearly 00:13:02.659 --> 00:13:07.496 every saturday morning as a typical lethargic teenager sleeping late, 00:13:07.529 --> 00:13:12.636 eating junk food and watching tv. Now, however, nearly every weekend of my 00:13:12.669 --> 00:13:16.827 life, I am volunteering at an elementary school raising money for an 00:13:16.860 --> 00:13:21.577 autism walk or attending events like youth down hall to learn more about 00:13:21.610 --> 00:13:26.136 the background of this wonderful program. This class truly is more than 00:13:26.169 --> 00:13:31.026 just a class. It holds a requirement of benevolence and responsibility 00:13:31.059 --> 00:13:35.236 that supersedes anything that I have ever been asked to do before. This 00:13:35.269 --> 00:13:39.327 program has taught me patience that while working with Children, I must be 00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:44.557 softer and kinder by raising money for those afflicted with disease and 00:13:44.590 --> 00:13:48.667 those less fortunate it is manifested the perils of the world and how they 00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:53.807 can be abated and eventually stopped by banding together those who care 00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:57.126 though, I would never attempt to speak for any of you for I could never 00:13:57.159 --> 00:14:01.016 empathize with your experiences. I am sure that your service in the 00:14:01.049 --> 00:14:04.476 military has taught you invaluable lessons that you never had the 00:14:04.509 --> 00:14:08.746 expectation of learning our methods of service. Each have an element of 00:14:08.779 --> 00:14:12.846 surprise, but what we take away from it, good or bad has affected us 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:17.837 forever. The uniform that I wear as a service learning student is simple 00:14:17.870 --> 00:14:22.677 jeans, closed toed shoes and my volunteer shirt though, it is much less 00:14:22.710 --> 00:14:25.646 involved than the garb worn by all of you who have served in the military 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:29.986 . I feel an attachment to my uniform which can be likened to the 00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:34.797 attachment that you may feel for yours now. I am not particularly drawn to 00:14:34.830 --> 00:14:39.047 the sneakers or the worn in pair of jeans I have chosen that day, but to 00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:43.457 the shirt in an unmissable shade of kelly green, branded with the word 00:14:43.490 --> 00:14:48.337 volunteer in bold white letters. This shirt allows for me to get into the 00:14:48.370 --> 00:14:53.226 mindset of service and try my best at every event to live up to the title 00:14:53.259 --> 00:14:58.226 of volunteer that rests on my back. I have gone to events before when my 00:14:58.259 --> 00:15:02.396 shirt had been in the wash and have then then been forced to choose 00:15:02.429 --> 00:15:07.006 another shirt option on route to an inventor. The philanthropic spirit 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:11.667 that had been with me on other occasions was absent from me and I felt as 00:15:11.700 --> 00:15:15.587 though I was doing a disservice to the patrons of the event as I was not 00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:20.376 clearly recognizable as someone who was there to provide help. Just as all 00:15:20.409 --> 00:15:24.297 of you would not feel fit to serve in your everyday clothes. I do not feel 00:15:24.330 --> 00:15:27.827 fit to serve unless I wear my service learning shirt, displaying for 00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:32.407 others that I am there to lend a hand. 00:15:32.440 --> 00:15:36.427 I want to thank all of you for your courage and virtue and want you to 00:15:36.460 --> 00:15:40.427 know that you serve as an inspiration to all service learning students as 00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:44.476 well as american citizens. The life lessons and the trials that you have 00:15:44.509 --> 00:15:48.317 taken away from your line of duty. Just shows that no matter how you serve 00:15:48.350 --> 00:15:56.350 , you have forever been changed. 00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:01.707 Okay. Yeah. 00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:05.567 Isn't that terrific. That's great. So tell everybody about the service 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:09.506 learning program. Chloe, thank you. Close. 00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:14.486 Okay, we have another very distinguished speaker with us here today and 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:17.386 you might not know it because she's actually sitting in the front row then 00:16:17.419 --> 00:16:23.096 up on the stage here. She's very shy for there in the front row. Um, it's 00:16:23.129 --> 00:16:27.447 such an honor for me to introduce our governor Janet napolitano, which I 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:31.967 said is down here in the front rope once you start coming up governor and 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:40.000 I, 00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:46.636 the governor was originally elected in 2002 and re elected in 2006. Uh she 00:16:46.669 --> 00:16:50.667 is Arizona's third female governor, but the first one to be uh, win a 00:16:50.700 --> 00:16:54.846 reelection in november oh five Time magazine named her one of the five 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:58.317 best governors in the United States. She also served as chair of the 00:16:58.350 --> 00:17:02.797 National Governors Association in oh six oh seven. and in February 06 00:17:02.830 --> 00:17:08.006 Napolitano was named by the By the White House project as one of the eight 00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:11.576 Of eight, you probably remember that a group of eight female public 00:17:11.609 --> 00:17:16.996 officials who could possibly run or be elected president in '08. So we 00:17:17.029 --> 00:17:21.957 missed that time, but I just because because it's kind of one of those 00:17:21.990 --> 00:17:27.006 little cute kind of stories about life 00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:31.726 under uh, the governor has always been a strong advocate for education and 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:37.657 immigration reform and health services for all our citizens. Um, she, she 00:17:37.690 --> 00:17:41.347 authored the legislation for voluntary full day kindergarten and got that 00:17:41.380 --> 00:17:45.717 through the legislature. She opened the state, the nation's first state 00:17:45.750 --> 00:17:50.207 counterterrorism center here in Arizona, uh, signed legislation for 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:55.246 prescription drug cards for seniors and obviously you probably remember to 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:59.847 signing into law, um, some legislation for property income tax cuts. So 00:17:59.880 --> 00:18:03.086 those are just a couple of things she's done and we're especially pleased 00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:07.756 she could be with us here today to spare share with us her thoughts and 00:18:07.789 --> 00:18:15.657 veterans Day. Thanks. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you to all the veterans 00:18:15.690 --> 00:18:20.637 there. This has been quite a day. I started out earlier today, we had a 00:18:20.670 --> 00:18:28.157 service at the Veterans home in phoenix. And uh, the 108 band was there as 00:18:28.190 --> 00:18:32.566 well. Thank you very much playing some similar music. Thank you very much. 00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:36.256 Uh, I always like to finish up, I spent some time there I go there a 00:18:36.289 --> 00:18:39.336 couple of times a year and I play poker with the veterans that are at the 00:18:39.369 --> 00:18:43.536 home and I'm pleased to say that I have now contributed to the veterans of 00:18:43.569 --> 00:18:51.569 America today. Thank you very much. I then went to a bridal store uh, in 00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:59.197 uh, south central phoenix on Washington where today they gave 41 bridal 00:18:59.230 --> 00:19:06.006 gowns free, two women who are engaged to young men who are serving in Iraq. 00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:12.387 So that isn't that a great thing. I 00:19:12.420 --> 00:19:16.717 got to be there with the young women as they literally hope they had a 00:19:16.750 --> 00:19:20.117 store filled with 600 bridal gowns and they just told the young women go 00:19:20.150 --> 00:19:25.276 pick the dress you want And uh, let us help you get ready for that very 00:19:25.309 --> 00:19:29.607 special day. And now I get to come to Scottsdale and celebrate with you. 00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:35.967 So, uh, to me, this is what Arizona is all about. And it reminds us, the 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:40.316 mayor said there were 23 million, some odd Veterans living right now in 00:19:40.349 --> 00:19:46.036 the United States. Well, we have 620,000 right here in Arizona. We have 00:19:46.069 --> 00:19:50.347 one of the largest percentages of veterans of any state. And that is 00:19:50.380 --> 00:19:58.306 something Arizona can and should be proud of. Don't you agree? Yeah. 00:19:58.339 --> 00:20:01.417 Now when I first heard about this event, they told me it was gonna be at 00:20:01.450 --> 00:20:06.046 the railroad park and I thought that was a little odd For veterans event 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:13.107 and then I learned why it is here today. Uh, in 1947, Americans filled 700 00:20:13.140 --> 00:20:18.657 boxcars with food, fuel and clothing and sent a friendship train. That's 00:20:18.690 --> 00:20:22.897 what it was called to France and Italy as they continue to struggle in the 00:20:22.930 --> 00:20:28.407 aftermath of World War Two. Now, two years later France sent a mayor c 00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:33.526 train uh, to deliver a boxcar of gifts to each state and to the District 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:38.566 of Columbia. Uh, and the box car behind me is the boxcar that was so 00:20:38.599 --> 00:20:45.056 delivered. Uh, and I think that's great because it really does symbolize 00:20:45.089 --> 00:20:49.996 an important and enduring way that discovering our veterans is nothing new 00:20:50.029 --> 00:20:54.907 for Arizona. We have been with our veterans for very many decades and we 00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:59.586 continue that great tradition and we also remember that honoring veterans 00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:06.347 is not just a one day activity in our state. For example, over the last 00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:10.607 several months we've had veterans round tables in phoenix and Tucson and 00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:16.877 sierra vista in Yuma uh, and uh, invited faith based organizations, 00:21:16.910 --> 00:21:21.857 community organizations to work with active duty Military Reserve Guard 00:21:21.890 --> 00:21:27.266 veterans groups throughout the state in terms of how do we better wrap our 00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:31.097 arms around the veterans and make sure that our veterans are getting every 00:21:31.130 --> 00:21:35.486 service that they deserve and that their families are being recognized as 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:38.826 well because it's the veterans who served and the families who actually 00:21:38.859 --> 00:21:44.197 served alongside. We now have in Arizona, a veteran's benefits counselor 00:21:44.230 --> 00:21:48.717 within a one hour drive of virtually every veteran who is now living in 00:21:48.750 --> 00:21:52.496 Arizona and I don't know of any other state that can meet that standard. 00:21:52.529 --> 00:21:57.296 We've started a military family relief fund. We provide tuition benefits 00:21:57.329 --> 00:22:02.026 to the sons and daughters of our veterans and on and on and on. And we're 00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:08.377 always looking for more to do because we have a very, very simple goal and 00:22:08.410 --> 00:22:14.457 that is that Arizona Is should be and should continue to be the best state 00:22:14.490 --> 00:22:22.490 in the country for a veteran to live number one. So 00:22:24.069 --> 00:22:29.647 as we stand by the mercy wagon mercy of course meaning french for thank 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:34.177 you. We all joined together from different walks of life, different age 00:22:34.210 --> 00:22:37.826 groups, different places in our lives. But we all joined together on this 00:22:37.859 --> 00:22:42.197 one day to say a profound thank you to those who have served to the 00:22:42.230 --> 00:22:46.377 families of those who have served and to those who are serving even this 00:22:46.410 --> 00:22:53.407 day. Thank you so much. Mm hmm. 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:57.907 Yeah, 00:22:57.940 --> 00:23:02.147 mm hmm. Thank you governor for being with us today and made it very 00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:06.637 special. We have another very special guest. We have so many special 00:23:06.670 --> 00:23:10.647 guests here with us today. Um, and that is U. S. Representative Harry 00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:18.680 Mitchell that you may see right right behind me here on the stage 00:23:19.130 --> 00:23:23.597 as most of you probably know Harry. Congressman Mitchell was first elected 00:23:23.630 --> 00:23:28.816 on November 7, 2006 to Congress and just recently a few days ago was re 00:23:28.849 --> 00:23:33.457 elected. He is represents our fifth district which is us, that's us right 00:23:33.490 --> 00:23:38.806 here and uh congratulations Harry and a chance to tell you that yet. Um, 00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:41.457 congressman Mitchell, I'm sorry, I keep calling him harry, I've known him 00:23:41.490 --> 00:23:46.437 so long way back in the last millennium and I forget sometimes he is a 00:23:46.470 --> 00:23:51.167 member of the house veterans Affairs Committee and through that committee 00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:54.996 he introduced his first piece of legislation called the dignity for 00:23:55.029 --> 00:23:59.957 wounded warriors act and that is designed to improve medical care and 00:23:59.990 --> 00:24:03.756 conditions for all members of the armed services who are recovering from 00:24:03.789 --> 00:24:08.397 any types of injuries. Um, Congressman Mitchell is a native Arizona and a 00:24:08.430 --> 00:24:12.467 former schoolteacher, a strong advocate for Arizona families and has a 00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:16.246 terrific family of his own. He brings to Congress his commitment to fiscal 00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:20.967 responsibility, um, securing our borders, taking care of our veterans stem 00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:25.597 cell research among many other interests and concerns of his And Harry 00:24:25.630 --> 00:24:29.476 Excuse Me. Congressman Mitchell previously served as the mayor of Tempe. 00:24:29.509 --> 00:24:35.207 You may recall, I think 16 years, correct. Um, and after that, after his 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:39.816 10 years mayor, he was elected to the Arizona state Senate. So he has, has 00:24:39.849 --> 00:24:44.127 a long record of service to our community also. So please give a warm 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:52.160 welcome. Take congressman. Listen, 00:24:52.339 --> 00:24:56.476 thank you very much and good afternoon. It's a tremendous pleasure and 00:24:56.509 --> 00:24:59.947 honor to be with all of you here today with this beautiful afternoon and 00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:04.476 one of my very favorite spots in Scottsdale. You know, I, I do have a very 00:25:04.509 --> 00:25:08.407 close connection with this because my father was a railroad engineer. So 00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:12.306 it's always great to come back here and, and uh, kind of reminisce here. 00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:16.117 But I also want to thank you for inviting me here and above all. I want to 00:25:16.150 --> 00:25:20.576 thank all the veterans who are here today for your service to our great 00:25:20.609 --> 00:25:24.457 nation. I would also like to acknowledge all the family members of 00:25:24.490 --> 00:25:28.566 veterans for the immense sacrifices that you have made. And we're talking 00:25:28.599 --> 00:25:33.756 about mothers and fathers and husbands and Children. There's no way that 00:25:33.789 --> 00:25:38.957 we can repay you for what you have given. We can only say thank you as 00:25:38.990 --> 00:25:42.447 some of you know, I have taken a special interest in veterans issues since 00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:47.147 I've been to Congress two years ago. Um the governor mentioned there are 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:51.917 over 625,000 veterans in Arizona and in the 5th congressional districts 00:25:51.950 --> 00:25:56.387 there are over 60,000 veterans and I serve on the Veterans Affairs 00:25:56.420 --> 00:26:00.256 Committee and I chair the subcommittee on oversight investigations. And 00:26:00.289 --> 00:26:04.486 this has given me an opportunity to work on some of the most rewarding and 00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:10.447 impactful issues of my entire public career. And it has been a long career. 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:16.336 As mary mentioned, I'm honored to have had the role in efforts to improve 00:26:16.369 --> 00:26:20.617 the lives of veterans and ease the transition from military service to 00:26:20.650 --> 00:26:27.976 civilian life. Things like the new and improved 21st century gi bill and 00:26:28.009 --> 00:26:32.036 an unprecedented funding increase for the V. A. In fact is the largest 00:26:32.069 --> 00:26:38.066 increase in the 77 year history of the V. A. And the reason we did that 00:26:38.099 --> 00:26:42.286 was so that the V. A. Could tackle is huge backlog of appointments that 00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:46.347 has really grown to unacceptable levels. There's a lot more work to do and 00:26:46.380 --> 00:26:50.246 I plan to continue these efforts on your behalf over the next two years. 00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:54.046 While I'm up here. I would also like to give a special thanks to a man 00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:58.746 who I think really epitomizes what it means to serve with honor. I would 00:26:58.779 --> 00:27:02.617 just like to wish a happy and fulfilling retirement to Major General. 00:27:02.650 --> 00:27:07.207 David ran to check our longtime resident General, Arizona National Guard 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:11.437 Who has given this nation 43 years of distinguished service, 00:27:11.470 --> 00:27:19.470 congratulations general. 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:29.039 And once again, thank all of you for your service. 00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:31.506 Yeah, 00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:37.246 Leads right into the major general. We were speaking beforehand and you 00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:40.306 just don't, to be honest, you don't look old enough to have served 00:27:40.339 --> 00:27:47.957 anywhere for 43 years. But again, yeah, we were talking beforehand about 00:27:47.990 --> 00:27:52.796 the fact that this will be his last time coming to this event in this 00:27:52.829 --> 00:27:56.617 position. But we may have you back anyway. You're welcome to come and 00:27:56.650 --> 00:28:01.647 you're welcome to speak also. Um, but as you know, he's been coming to 00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:05.029 this event for several years and asold