here's the thing about deanie.he's a better leader than i am. she has far more energy than einstein predicted could be packed into a 5'2" body, and she has shown an amazing patience during the trials that accompany a military life. in every way, she's made me a better person. because this has been her career, just as much as mine, it's fitting and proper to say that we are both retiring today. congratulations, deanie sullivan dempsey. [ applause ]

here's the thing about deanie.'s a better leader than i am. she has far more energy than einstein predicted could be packed into a 5'2" body, and she has shown an amazing patience during the trials that accompany a military life. in every way, she's made me a better person. because this has been her career, just as much as mine, it's fitting and proper to say that we are both retiring today. congratulations, deanie sullivan dempsey. [ applause ] so i'm almost out of water to choke back the emotion, which means i must be near the end. what we're really doing today is transferring our passion for the standard u.s. army nine-man infantry squad to our own squad of nine adorable talented and exceptional grandchildren. they are kayla, mckenna, luke, alexander, hunter, finley, braden, samuel and david. now, if you want to know what our principle goal in retirement will be? it's to be the best grand parents we can be. now unless they think we've forgotten them, we have our own grandchildren. we have made 20 moves, most of

marty and deanie make a wonderful team.mpseys there are truly no strangers in our military family. to quote yates yet again, they are only friends they haven't yet. so deanie, we thank you for finding marty during your days at goshen high school and sharing with him the blessings of three children, all of whom answered the call to serve, and no fewer than nine grandchildren. an irishman indeed. now on to the other irishman joe dunford. since not a lot of you were able to be present yesterday at the marine barracks when we retired joe dunford from the job, every marine considers the best job in the military commandant of the marine corps, it bears repeating. but first, and foremost to ellen. ellen has been joe's rock-solid foundation for more than three decades. her support for military families and wounded warriors is much more than dutiful. it's personal. the rest of joe's family, three children, joseph, pat and kathleen and parents mr. and mrs. dunford, have supported joe and ellen in providing that support. and i want to

here's the thing about deanie.better leader than i am. she is far more energy than einstein predicted could be packed into a five 2'" body and she shown an amazing patience during the trials that accompany a military life. in every way she has made me a better person. because this has been her career just as much as mine, it's fitting and proper to say that we are both retiring today. congratulations, deanie sullivan dempsey. [applause] so i'm almost out of water to choke back the motion which means i must be near the end. what we are really doing today is transferring our passion for the standard u.s. army nine an infantry squad to our own squad of nine adorable talented and exceptional grandchildren. they are in order of seniority, kayla, mckenna, luke, alexander, hunter, braden, samuel and david. if you want to know what our principal goal in retirement will be cut is to be the best grandparents we can be. less they think we've forgotten them, i should note that we do our own children and their spouses. they hav

soldier ♪ i'm an american soldier ♪ ♪ i'm an american soldier [ applause ] >>> general dempsey and deanieperform their wedding song, "close to you." ♪ ♪ why do birds ♪ suddenly appear ♪ every time ♪ you are near ♪ just like me ♪ they long to be ♪ close to you ♪ why do stars ♪ fall down from the sky ♪ every time ♪ you walk by ♪ just like me ♪ they long to be ♪ close to you ♪ on the day that you were born ♪ ♪ the angels got together ♪ and decided to create a dream come true ♪ ♪ so they sprinkled moon dust in your hair ♪ ♪ and golden starlight in your eyes of blue ♪ ♪ that is why ♪ all the boys in town ♪ follow you ♪ all around ♪ just like me ♪ they long to be ♪ close to you ♪ [ applause ] >>> it has been a journey of four decades for the general and deanie, a family first. then again, if you've served with them, you are part of their family. this irish balance add, titled "the voyage", puts it all in perspective. ♪ ♪ i am a sailor ♪ you're my first mate ♪ we signed on together ♪ we coupled our fate ♪ we hauled off the anchor ♪ determined not to fail ♪ for the heart's treasure ♪ together we

deanie and i said goodbye to them privately but i would just add one more thank you.our hearts. in the audience today our friends from elementary school and high school, a great west point class of 1974, pride of the core. [applause] from the national war college and even for my capstone class, apparently i made the right decision when i decided not to study to our collective make a lot of friends. i have both mentors and protÉges here. as i become older i realized that the distinction between them blurs. we've learned from each other. i'll take this, deanie and i came into the military for each other, but we stayed in the military because of you. i admire you all. they are our friends here from the storied fighting 69th new york army national guard and from u.s.a. basketball, stars from the worlds of entertainment in professional sports who have traveled with us around the world, and superstars from the many private organizations dedicated to support our military, their families, the wounded and our veterans. evolved touched our hearts, fill our souls, inspired us an