Out of an abundance of caution during the covid19 pandemic, there is no in person audience today and certain ceremonial elements have been prerecorded. Please welcome the official party to the stage the secretary of the army, the honorable ryan b mccarthy. Chief of staff of the army, general james c mcconville. Sergeant major of the army, michael a grinstead. Director of the National Museum of the United States army, ms. Tammy call. Accompanied by acting secretary of defense, the honorable christopher c miller. And chairman to the joint chiefs of staff, general mark a. Millie. Now presenting the colors is the third United States infantry regiment the old guard, accompanied by the old guard fife and drum corps. The National Anthem will be performed by Sergeant First Class jesse meeks from the United States army band, pershings own. Present. O say can you see by the dawns early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilights last gleaming . Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight oer the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming . And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there o say, does that starspangled banner yet wave oer the land of the free and the home of the brave . Pull, right shoulder. Delivering the invocation today is chief of chaplains of the army, chaplain Major General thomas l. Soldien. Ladies and gentlemen, i ask that you please join me as we mark this occasion in a word of prayer. Almighty and everlasting god, as we dedicate the opening of the National Museum of the United States army, we humbly request your divine presence. We pray you will fulfill the hope we have for this place, that it is a fitting tribute to americans soldiers throughout our nations history. May it be a sacred memorial for the men and women who sacrifice themselves to make and keep america free. It is our hope, father, that those who walk the museums halls and gaze upon its exhibits will reflect on our nations great accomplishments and sacrifices, that we may be inspired and challenged to sustain our countrys freedom and greatness with our own service to others. Lord, thank you for the countless volunteers, historians, veterans, and leaders whose tireless efforts made this phenomenal museum the gift it is today. May you shower them with blessings. May this museum shine brightly, be a beacon of the american love of liberty, a monument honoring the strength of our nation, and a shrine to those who answer the nations call to serve. It is in your holy and most righteous name that i pray. Amen. The National Museum of the United States army is a joint effort between the United States army and the Army Historical foundation. The mission of the Army Historical foundation is to honor the american soldier by preserving the history and heritage of the United States army. From his home in massachusetts, please welcome the chairman of the Army Historical foundation, general retired gordon r sullivan. Distinguished guests and friends and supporters of the army museum, welcome to the Opening Ceremony of the National Museum of the United States army. This museum is a giant tribute to over 30 million soldiers who have served throughout our history as a country. I think it is important we take a moment to remember one soldier in particular. General bill herzog, whose recent passing has saddened us all. He was a dedicated soldier who served as chairman of the board for 15 years. Trying to keep the campaign to build this impressive museum alive. We are grateful for his enormous effort and offer the deepest condolences to his wife and family. Bill, rest in peace. It is my honor to introduce the chief of staff, 40th chief of staff of the army, general jim mcconville. Combat aviator, 36 chief of staff of the army, cg of the 101st air division air assault, u. S. Army deputy chief of staff. A great soldier of whom we are very proud. General jim mcconville, over to you, chief. Thank you, sir, and our sincere thanks to general herzog for what he did for this great museum. Good afternoon to all. It may be raining outside and we continue to battle covid, but every day is a great day to be in the United States army because we serve with the worlds greatest soldiers, both past and present. Their stories are represented here at the National Museum of the United States army. To everyone watching, thank you for being a part of this important event and we are sorry you could not be here in person. Acting secretary of defense miller, general milley and mrs. Milley, secretary mccarthy, and our soldier of the year, im honored to be part of this great and grand opening with you all. General sullivan, thank you for everything you have done to make this day possible. All of us from the army and all of us from quincy, massachusetts, are extremely proud with what you have done for the museum and what you have done for the nation. The armys history is americas history. The army has been here since before the birth of our nation. Our Founding Fathers recognized the need for an army to protect our freedoms and our way of life and we have been doing that for over 245 years. The army exists to protect a nation. That is our job, and that is what we work hard to do every single day. We are very proud to serve the american people. The National Museum of the United States army is a special place because it honors the accomplishments, the sacrifices and the commitment of our american soldiers throughout the nations history. The army museum has done an incredible job of bringing to life the inspirational stories of service and sacrifice of american soldiers. Every soldier has a story, and the army museum is the home of those stories. This museum makes me feel incredibly proud to be a member of the United States army. We stand on the shoulders of the heroes and strive to live up to their legacy every single day. We are blessed to have men and women who have been willing to raise their right hand and say , send me. They are willing to sacrifice their lives to make this the greatest country in the world. The sacrifices will inspire everyone who visits the museum. I want to thank the hard work of the Army Historical foundation and everyone who helped make this day possible. You and your team have done an incredible job. Happy veterans day. Thank you all for being here to celebrate the opening with us. It is about people first. Winning matters. And we remain army strong. Thank you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please ofcome the 24th secretary the army, the honorable ryan d mccarthy. Distinguished guests, secretary miller, chairman millie, thank you for being here. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us as we open the doors to the National Museum of the United States army. There have been thousands of hands who worked tirelessly over the course of years to bring this dream into reality. I want to recognize general gordon sullivan, the 32nd chief of staff of the army for his leadership in making this possible. Thanks to the department of army, the Army Historical foundation, miss tammy call, and countless others for their dogged determination that this american treasure now lives. Noty is a momentous day, just for the army, but the nation at large. As we share our history, educate and inspire the next generation of patriots and honor the extraordinary contributions made to preserve freedom and safeguard america. This grand opening is particularly fitting to occur on veterans day where we salute the sacrifice of those who served. We are honored and humbled to be part of today, so this is a homecoming of sorts. Under one roof, we have the army story safeguarded and preserved for our childrens children and generations to follow. In doing so, we have the nations story captured as well, as they are inextricably linked. In times of great peril, it is the u. S. Army who responds to the nations call, from fighting in our infancy, preserving a union during the civil war, storming the beaches of normandy and against an entrenched people, stopping the spread of communism in the dense jungles of vietnam, to pursuing terrorists in the mountains of afghanistan, a fight that is still ongoing today. This museum captures how the army corps of engineers helped map, connect, and build america. This museum shows how the work of Army Scientists help save untold numbers across the world with development and distribution of vaccines against deadly viruses such as malaria, ebola, zika, and most recently, the work toward a cure for covid19. This museum also shows the battles the army has faced inside our ranks as each new generation challenges the perception of decency and improves the organization from within. Heroic actions are detailed inside from units like the all africanamerican 54th massachusetts infantry regiment to the desegregation of the armed forces in 1948. From the Womens Army Corps to the expansion of army women into combat operations. This museum helps capture these stories amplified by pictures, artifacts, and personal accounts from the people who live them, linking these heroic deeds with the ordinary citizens who perform them. This is not just the armys museum, but americas museum. Year after year, totaling two and a half centuries, ordinary men and women from every corner of the country and every walk of life achieve the extraordinary. This Living Museum will help their sacrifice endure for the ages and serves as a repository to honor our heroes and inspire the next generation of free men and women to serve. Thanks to our men and women who serve and continue to serve. Welcome home. [applause] we need something to cut the ribbon with. Any suggestions . I have a knife. Ive got this. Anybody else . Ive got a hatchet. Ive got a saber. I think we should use this. That is the one right there. [laughter] ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the 20th chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, mark a. Millie. What a great day for the United States army to be celebrating the opening of this museum and there are thousands of hands who put this together. I want to say a thanks to acting secretary chris miller for being here today. Tracy, you are here somewhere, but thank you so much for what you have done pulling all of it together. And of course, general sullivan, who we just saw on the screen, he was the chief in our early years when we were lieutenants and captains. Chief, you are still our chief. You are a great chief then and you are a great chief now. Thank you for your inspiration and vision to bring this all to fruition. Also on the passing of general hartzog, another great general. Thanks for your leadership and putting all of this together. I do want to thank sergeant canola for being soldier of the year. Thanks for being a great example of all that is great about a soldier. Thank you to all of those watching, thank you so much for participating in todays events. Today is veterans day and on the 11th day, the 11th month, of the 11th hour in 1918, the war to end all wars came to an end. It was the final day of 47 brutal days of fighting enemies are gone, stopping only because of the armistice declared two to end the great war. That offensive was the largest battle in u. S. History with 1. 2 million americans fighting and dying and 26,000 of them paid the ultimate sacrifice in only 47 days. And it was made much worse by a global pandemic, the spanish flu. We cannot truly appreciate the sacrifice of our soldiers from the Continental Army to today or comprehend what they went through unless we see the weapons they use, feel the uniforms they wear, hear the stories they told or read the letters they wrote. You and i will never fight through the haze and mustard gas, we will not hear the whiz and the snap of rounds while assaulting the last 100 yards of omaha beach and we are not going to suffer the blistering cold of the chosen reservoir or smell the smoke. But we can come here and see the relics and hear the stories, the eyes and voices of individual soldiers who endured so much for the cause of freedom and their unrelenting devotion to the constitution of the United States. The moral northstar for all of us in uniform. It is that document that gives purpose to our service, that document that gives purpose to this museum. And we in uniform are willing to die to pass it on to the next generation. In it are the ideas and values that make up this experiment called the United States of america. The motto of the United States army for over 200 years since 14 june 1775, the motto has been this, we will defend, and this refers to the constitution and to protect the liberty of the american people. We are unique among armies. We are unique among militaries. We do not take an oath to a king or queen, tyrant or dictator. We do not take an oath to an individual. Todo not take an oath country, pride or religion. We take an oath to the constitution. And every soldier represented in this museum, every sailor, coast guardsman will protect that document regardless of personal price. That has been true across generations on display in this building, in this great museum. It allows all of us to connect and be forever tied to those who came before us. We will never turn our back on her duty to protect and defend the idea that in america, the constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. When our army was first formed, 18 months later, thomas payne wrote some famous words in an essay entitled the prices. He wrote, these are the times that try mens souls, the summer soldier and sunshine patriot will in this crisis shrink from the service of their country. But he who stands by it deserves the love of men and women. , like hell, is not easily conquered. From 1775 to today, the United States army has stood there, has stood on the wall, stood in the breach and defended the liberty of americans. Thank you, happy veterans day, and may god bless the United States army and may god bless america. [applause] gentlemen, please welcome the acting secretary of defense, the honorable christopher c miller. Chairman, thank you for setting the bar very high for the new guy to come in and make a few words. I think all i would say to your done. Ents is amen, well this is a great day for the army. Its a perfect day, veterans day, to celebrate this unbelievable accomplishment. I know this day is not about me, but i hope you will humor me for a few moments and allow me to reflect on the powerful ideal of our army. And how it has been a force for profound good in our world for over 245 years. I want to tell you this in one small story, mine, that i think is emblematic of so many others, on june 6, 1983, private Christopher Miller enlisted in camp dodge, iowa. I did not come from a long line of military service. The only Family Tradition was my father, who was drafted into the army and earned this combat infantryman badge during the korean war. My only desire was to serve my nation. This morning, i have the indescribable privilege and honor to stand with chairman millie, army chief of staff mcconnell, chief of the Army National guard im sorry, chief of the National Guard have to get that right. And the other members to participate in the wreathlaying ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier at Arlington National cemetery. My heart swelled with pride as i saw the sergeant of the guard in the platoon i once led perform her duties. You are force is magnificent. Well done. Other than marrying my wife, the best thing i ever did, like tens of millions of americans before me, was join in our army. I would not be standing here today if not for the values, courage, and spirit our army instilled in me. It is a privilege to be here on this historic occasion as we commemorate the grand opening of the National Museum of the United States army. It is quite fitting that this museum would open its doors on veterans day, a time we recognize the Selfless Service and sacrifice of all those who have answered the nations call. Speaking of call, tammy call, well done, maam. Thank you for leaning into this and taking this thing on. Secretary mccarthy, battle buddy from the fields of strife in southern afghanistan. Its an extraordinary honor to be here beside you today. Who would have thunk it. Thank you for your leadership. A grateful country thanks you today and every day for your commitment to protect our homeland and our way of life. Im glad to be joined by my fellow veterans here today to celebrate the story of the american soldier. On a personal note, i look forward to seeing the path of remembrance comprised of roughly 8000 commemorative bricks, each dedicated to an army supporter, civilian, or soldier, including one from my father, a proud korean war veteran. Within these walls lies the most collection of u. S. Army artifacts, documents, and images collected in one place. Only here can you immerse yourself in revolutionary war memorabilia, experience the sights of trench warfare of world war i and see one of the six remaining dday landing craft. Around each corner are compelling exhibits that trace the evolution of