[applause] >> it is my privilege to introduce our keynote speaker, admiral sandy winnefeld.dmiral winnefeld is serving as the ninth choice -- and vice chairman as the joint chiefs of staff. it is the second highest ranking military officer. admiral winnefeld graduated from georgia tech. he received his commission through the rotc program. he taught us that navies -- he taught at in navy fighters school. he commanded fighter squadron 211, the uss cleveland, the uss enterprise, leading the enterprise for combat enter -- operations in afghanistan immediately following the terrorist attack on september 11, 2001. as commander of the uss theodore roosevelt carrier, he led task forces and support operations in operation i recce freedom. he has also commanded nato allied joint command in lisbon. he has served on the joint forces command, tours and the joint staff, aid to the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, an executive assistant to the vice chairman of naval operations. he demanded the north american aerospace command, and u.s. northern command, and being selected as a vice c

please welcome the vice-chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, admiral sandy winnefeld. >> good afternooneverybody. general, to keep that introduction. distinguished guest -- thank you for that introduction. distinguished guests, what an honor it is to be with you here today and to stand in front of these world war ii veterans. as i was listening to that rendition of america the beautiful, it struck me what a wonderful idea america is and what america -- a wonderful place america is and all of you fought for her and we deeply appreciate what you did for us. we will never forget. colonel, chaplin, members of the color guard, marine band, friends of the national world war ii memorial and members of the national park service, thank you for helping us recognize this very important day in some very important people. i offer a very special welcome to all our world war ii veterans and their families and to all our pearl harbor survivors here today. many of whom have traveled so far to be here and we thank those amid that travel possible. nice shoes, by the way. we really appreciate it. we pause

[applause] >> it's now my girlish introduce our keynote speaker at admiral sandy winfield. admiral winnefeldf the joint chiefs of staff, and america's second highest ranking military officer. admiral winnefeld received his commission to enable rotc program. he flew the f-14 tomcat. he taught at the weapons at school. admiral winnefeld commanded among many commands fighter squadron to 11, uss cleveland, the uss enterprise leading the big the enterprise through combat operations in afghanistan immediately following the terrorist attack september 11, 2001. as commander of the uss theodore roosevelt carrier strike group, he led task force is in support of operation iraqi freedom. he also has commanded the u.s., united states six fleet, nato ally joint command in lisbon. is sure to was included service on the fleet forces command, joint forces command, to was on the joint staff including being a g5 aid to the joint chiefs of staff, and executive assistant to the vice chairman of enable operations. he commended the north american aerospace defense command norad and u.s. northern command before bec