NEW LONDON, Conn. — President Joe Biden delivered the keynote address during Wednesday's graduation ceremonies at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
The address will be the second time Biden has addressed a graduating class at the academy. He also served as the keynote speaker in 2013 while serving as vice president.
This is Biden’s first commencement address to a military service academy and his first official visit to Connecticut as president. Lyndon Johnson was the first president to speak at a Coast Guard graduation, addressing cadets in 1964.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Biden saluted as he began to walk through the cordon of cadets stretched across nearly half of the field to get to the stage. Soon after he took his place on the unshaded stage, cannons were fired 21 times.
The motto of the class of 2021 is “We are the future.”
Cadet First Class Sean Edward Seyller, who gave the cadet commencement address, said his class may not have all the answers. “But we have the passion, courage, perseverance to find them,” Seyller said, before ending his address: “Go class of ’21 and go Bears.”
Early in his remarks, Biden told the cadets to stand up, turn around and salute your parents. “Up, up up,” Biden said.
Biden said there is no doubt that the class was ready to lead no what the mission might be.
Biden said we have to be ready to meet threats where ever we find them and the Coast Guard was uniquely qualified to respond to them.
Biden listed the cadets’ accomplishments, including the following: You got a hair cut that showed every damn bump on your head.
“Is the sun getting to you?” Biden asked at one point when he expected applause for a reference to the Navy.
Biden continued the long-standing tradition of absolving any midshipmen on restriction for minor conduct offense.
“You have no idea how much I wish I had been able to do that at my graduation,” said Biden, a graduate of the University of Delaware.
Of the class motto, “We are the future,” Biden said: “I don’t think you have any idea how profound that assertion is. The world is changing. We’re at a significant inflection point.”
Biden said the U.S. has to take an active role to set the norms of conduct, shaping them around Democratic values and not autocrats.
“Your mission will become even more global and even more important.”
“The world is changing. We need you even more.”
“We need you badly. It’s time to get underway.”
Biden echoed President Barack Obama's commencement speech in 2015 when he talked the changing environment and the challenges that brought to the Coast Guard's mission.
Biden spoke about on sexual assault and harassment in the U.S. military, saying, "Every member of our armed forces should feel safe and respected in the ranks. That's why my administration is committed to taking on the scourge of sexual assault and harassment in the military."
He praised the growing number of women graduating, "There's a saying...'Women hold up half the world.' It's an absolutely stupid position not to make sure they represent at least half of what we do."
Biden said, "It's time for you to go out and be the future."
After Biden had awarded diplomas and shaken hands during the lengthy presentation of commissions and degrees, the class gave Biden a gift: a mounted ceremonial sword, like those given out when someone becomes a commissioned officer in the Coast Guard.
Graduates roared when Biden lifted it over his head.
“I hope I won’t need this anytime soon,” Biden said.
The graduates tossed their hats in the air when told they could divest themselves of all symbols of cadet life.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said, "You also have the opportunity, in fact, the responsibility, to build a better Coast Guard for each other and for those whom you will lead in the future. You are the leaders who will lead with honor, and honor will be the reward."
Rear Admiral William Kelly, Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy said many colleges were honoring both the class of 2020 and 2021 during their ceremonies as graduations were canceled due to the pandemic. He said that wasn't possible for the USCGA graduates last year, as those officers were currently standing duty.
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