Good day and Happy 4th of July! Welcome aboard USS ELROD! I hope you find our accommodations satisfactory. We are an older ship and a smaller ship but we are very much a dedicated and determined ship like our namesake. Again thank you for being here today.
Michael F. Gallagher, Charge d'Affaires, , Consul General, Ms Marjorie Ames, thanks for supporting this event and to all our distinguished guests welcome.
It is amazing to be here in Amsterdam today. Being in another country celebrating a truly American event. I’m from a small town in Pennsylvania. I look around this flight deck at the people in the white uniforms and they come from many small towns, throughout America. They come from places within the same country yet can be very far apart in terms of distance. In fact we have some people on the ship that have come from other countries and are now US citizens. Yet we are here on this ship as one unit as one group supporting the ideals that gave birth to our nation over 230 years ago. The ideals of life, liberty, justice, and freedom. And today’s celebration is a time to reflect on those ideals.
Usually we would be back home celebrating and reflecting on those ideas with our families. Although I’m not home today, I consider myself very fortunate to be celebrating here on our National Day with our extended family. So I’m extremely glad to be here today, to be on this ship, to be with all of you celebrating our Independence Day and celebrating those ideals that we truly believe.
So on behalf of my Officers and crew, we are truly honored to have you aboard this evening.
I only hope this is the beginning of a wonderful evening. I hope you enjoy our celebration and again thank you for your friendship and hospitality! Thank you!
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