WEBVTT 00:02.713 --> 00:06.031 (drumming) 00:53.311 --> 00:55.949 - [Announcer] We begin this evening with a pre-ceremony concert 00:55.949 --> 00:59.516 performed by the President's Own, United States Marine Band. 00:59.516 --> 01:04.551 The band will open with Irving Berlin's inspiring tribute to this great nation, 01:04.551 --> 01:07.350 "God Bless America". 01:10.716 --> 01:13.800 ("God Bless America") 03:15.328 --> 03:19.652 (applause) 03:27.517 --> 03:31.694 The Marine Band traces its roots back to July 11th, 1798, 03:31.694 --> 03:34.728 when an act of Congress authorized the Marine Corps to employ 03:34.728 --> 03:38.272 a drum major, a fife major, and 32 fifers and drummers. 03:38.272 --> 03:42.242 Today, over 150 musicians serve in the Marine Band, 03:42.242 --> 03:45.013 proudly carrying out its mission of providing music for the 03:45.013 --> 03:49.100 president of the United States and the commandant of the Marine Corps. 03:49.100 --> 03:51.926 The band continues its program with a stirring, patriotic 03:51.926 --> 03:56.609 song written by Al Jacobs, "This Is My Country". 03:59.240 --> 04:01.924 ("This Is My Country") 06:17.558 --> 06:20.230 (applause) 06:29.363 --> 06:32.448 The Marine Band's most famous director was John Philip Sousa, 06:32.448 --> 06:37.803 who was born in 1854 on Capitol Hill, just a block and a half from the barracks. 06:37.803 --> 06:41.419 Sousa led the band from 1880 to 1892, 06:41.419 --> 06:44.320 during which time he began composing the marches that would earn him 06:44.320 --> 06:46.894 the title "The March King". 06:46.894 --> 06:49.675 Of all his marches, one so embodied our American spirit 06:49.675 --> 06:55.574 that in 1987, an act of Congress proclaimed it the national march of the United States. 06:55.574 --> 06:59.392 Ladies and gentlemen, celebrating over 213 years of 06:59.392 --> 07:02.581 serving as the guardian of American musical tradition, 07:02.581 --> 07:05.728 the Marine Band will now perform Sousa's most famous march, 07:05.728 --> 07:08.827 "The Stars and Stripes Forever". 07:10.284 --> 07:13.496 ("The Stars and Stripes Forever") 10:32.902 --> 10:36.354 (applause) 10:44.271 --> 10:47.190 (drumming) 11:12.879 --> 11:16.136 (applause) 18:02.692 --> 18:04.216 Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. 18:04.216 --> 18:06.679 Welcome to Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. and this 18:06.679 --> 18:10.098 unique ceremony in honor of Sergeant Dakota Meyer, 18:10.098 --> 18:12.266 United States Marine Corps. 18:12.266 --> 18:15.416 In a ceremony conducted yesterday at the White House, 18:15.416 --> 18:18.540 the president of the United States presented Sergeant Meyer 18:18.540 --> 18:22.614 with our nation's highest and most prestigious military award for valor, 18:22.614 --> 18:24.665 the Medal of Honor. 18:24.665 --> 18:29.115 Earlier today, he was inducted into the most sacred place of the Pentagon, 18:29.115 --> 18:31.260 the Hall of Heroes. 18:31.260 --> 18:35.555 This evening, we are privileged to pay tribute to this bravest of warriors 18:35.555 --> 18:40.215 by presenting Sergeant Meyer with his official Medal of Honor flag. 18:45.137 --> 18:47.864 Ladies and gentlemen, please rise and join in welcoming 18:47.864 --> 18:50.720 the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James F. Amos, 18:50.720 --> 18:56.150 and Medal of Honor recipient, Sergeant Dakota Meyer, United States Marine Corps. 18:59.514 --> 19:01.645 (applause) 19:10.261 --> 19:14.385 (band music) 19:42.716 --> 19:45.053 Please remain standing for the invocation, 19:45.053 --> 19:47.306 which will be delivered by the Chaplain of the Marine Corps, 19:47.306 --> 19:49.459 Rear Admiral Margaret G. Kibben, 19:49.459 --> 19:52.252 Chaplain Corps, United States Navy. 19:52.252 --> 19:56.501 - [Kibben] If you would, please pray with me. 19:59.808 --> 20:04.296 Almighty God, we pause to rightly acknowledge that we 20:04.296 --> 20:07.754 are gathered here by Your immeasurable grace. 20:07.754 --> 20:10.430 And we ask for Your presence with us 20:10.430 --> 20:14.264 as we attempt to show our gratitude as a Corps 20:14.264 --> 20:17.520 and as a country for Your abundant mercies. 20:17.520 --> 20:21.013 For servants like Sgt. Dakota Meyer, 20:21.013 --> 20:24.540 who yielded himself over and over again 20:24.540 --> 20:28.030 to seemingly insurmountable odds 20:28.030 --> 20:31.469 in order to uphold the Marine Corps' highest values 20:31.469 --> 20:33.881 of valor and service, 20:33.881 --> 20:38.359 for the memory and sacrifice of 1st Lieutenant Michael Johnson, 20:38.359 --> 20:40.842 Sergeant Aaron Kenefick, 20:40.842 --> 20:43.329 Gunnery Sergeant Edwin Johnson, 20:43.329 --> 20:46.107 and HM3 James Layton. 20:46.107 --> 20:49.537 For our country, as it seeks to uphold 20:49.537 --> 20:52.050 the virtues of courage and faith 20:52.050 --> 20:54.633 on which it was founded. 20:54.633 --> 20:57.553 And for Marines throughout the globe, 20:57.553 --> 20:59.397 who, even when no one is looking, 20:59.397 --> 21:03.361 demonstrate the highest standards etched in the Marine Corps' 21:03.361 --> 21:06.890 rich legacy of courage and valor. 21:06.890 --> 21:12.066 God, may this evening serve to transform the worst day of one man's life 21:12.066 --> 21:15.802 into a poignant catalyst for each of us 21:15.802 --> 21:20.311 to rededicate ourselves to Corps, country, 21:20.311 --> 21:23.410 our fellow Marines, and You. 21:23.410 --> 21:27.642 And it's in Your holy name we pray, amen. 21:28.956 --> 21:31.872 - [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. 21:50.699 --> 21:53.743 (trumpet flourish) 22:48.035 --> 22:51.287 - Sound attention. 22:51.287 --> 22:54.011 (trumpet flourish) 23:07.098 --> 23:10.323 Right shoulder, arms. 23:21.646 --> 23:25.231 Sound Officer's Call. 23:26.125 --> 23:29.229 ("Officer's Call") 26:06.919 --> 26:10.713 - Battalion, fix bayonets. 26:14.061 --> 26:17.197 ("Fix Bayonets") 26:27.187 --> 26:30.947 - [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the presentation of the colors. 26:37.290 --> 26:40.798 (horn flourish) 26:48.329 --> 26:50.622 ("Grand Old Flag") 27:42.381 --> 27:45.604 - [Marine] Present arms. 27:50.060 --> 27:54.375 ("The Star-Spangled Banner') 29:01.108 --> 29:04.043 Order arms. 29:11.106 --> 29:14.594 ("Trio, National Emblem") 29:50.270 --> 29:53.026 - [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. 29:54.784 --> 29:58.283 - [Marine] Present arms. 30:26.790 --> 30:30.179 Order arms. 30:33.969 --> 30:36.894 Port arms. 30:39.629 --> 30:43.352 Right shoulder arms. 30:47.293 --> 30:50.008 Port arms. 30:53.552 --> 30:57.072 Right shoulder arms. 31:00.438 --> 31:02.677 Port arms. 31:06.922 --> 31:10.553 Order arms. 31:20.841 --> 31:25.357 (drumming) 32:07.775 --> 32:09.511 - [Announcer] The United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps will open 32:09.511 --> 32:11.901 its concert this evening with a stirring tribute to 32:11.901 --> 32:16.337 our Statue of Liberty, written by legendary film composer John Williams, 32:16.337 --> 32:18.491 "Liberty Fanfare". 32:18.491 --> 32:20.521 The concert will continue with a march composed in honor of 32:20.521 --> 32:24.522 the dedicated naval service personnel with whom we proudly serve, 32:24.522 --> 32:26.328 "Corpsman Up". 32:26.328 --> 32:29.427 Ladies and gentlemen, Marine Barrack Washington, D.C. is proud to present 32:29.427 --> 32:34.005 the Commandant's Own, the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps. 32:34.005 --> 32:37.562 (drumming) (applause) 32:44.227 --> 32:47.694 ("Liberty Fanfare") 35:29.588 --> 35:32.198 (applause) 35:39.158 --> 35:41.900 ("Corpsman Up") 39:03.154 --> 39:06.440 (applause) 39:10.598 --> 39:13.031 Formed in 1934, the Commandant's Own performs for 39:13.031 --> 39:16.435 thousands of spectators throughout the United States and abroad, 39:16.435 --> 39:19.574 travelling in excess of 50,000 miles and appearing 39:19.574 --> 39:22.525 in more than 400 ceremonies annually. 39:22.525 --> 39:25.736 In addition, they have the distinction of being the only active duty 39:25.736 --> 39:29.459 drum and bugle corps currently serving in the United States armed forces. 39:29.459 --> 39:33.065 This evening's concert will close with music from the finale of 39:33.065 --> 39:37.170 Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and its inspiring theme of hope and freedom, 39:37.170 --> 39:39.155 "Ode to Joy". 39:39.155 --> 39:42.094 Tonight's performance will feature the saluting battery of the barracks 39:42.094 --> 39:46.146 which will be fired by the Body Bearer section of the Oldest Post. 39:46.146 --> 39:49.729 Ladies and gentlemen, celebrating over 75 years of 39:49.729 --> 39:53.086 marching and musical excellence, here is, once again, 39:53.086 --> 39:55.769 the Commandant's Own. 39:55.769 --> 39:59.954 ("Ode to Joy") 44:15.196 --> 44:18.227 (cannons blasting) 45:18.928 --> 45:22.334 (applause) 45:54.192 --> 45:59.034 - [Marine] Battalion, attention. 46:08.701 --> 46:12.455 (drumming) 47:16.667 --> 47:20.278 (applause) 47:48.413 --> 47:50.473 - [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, we are privileged to have as our 47:50.473 --> 47:53.479 presiding official this evening the Commandant of the Marine Corps, 47:53.479 --> 47:55.669 General James F. Amos. 47:55.669 --> 47:59.185 Please rise for honors to General Amos. 48:05.439 --> 48:08.604 - [Marine] Present arms. 48:14.422 --> 48:17.457 (horn flourish) 48:38.198 --> 48:41.545 Order arms. 48:57.207 --> 48:59.353 - [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. 49:11.266 --> 49:12.798 - Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. 49:12.798 --> 49:16.117 We had hoped for a 49:16.117 --> 49:19.448 sell-out crowd and it is clear to me 49:19.448 --> 49:22.575 that we are not to be disappointed tonight. 49:22.575 --> 49:24.500 Thank you for coming tonight. 49:24.500 --> 49:26.883 Secretary Mabus, his wife Lynn, 49:26.883 --> 49:28.733 thank you for being here, sir. 49:28.733 --> 49:30.721 Our 75th secretary of the Navy. 49:30.721 --> 49:32.575 I had the privilege of introducing you today 49:32.575 --> 49:39.889 when we inducted Sergeant Dakota Meyer into the Pentagon Hall of Heroes. 49:39.889 --> 49:42.031 So, sir, thank you for being a part of this today. 49:42.031 --> 49:45.924 Pete Chiarelli, thank you for being here, brother. 49:45.924 --> 49:49.071 Vice chief of staff of the Army, a good friend of the Marine Corps. 49:49.071 --> 49:52.736 He's commanded Marines in Iraq 49:52.736 --> 49:55.285 and he's a personal good friend of mine. 49:55.285 --> 49:58.549 So Pete, thank you for being here and thank you for being brothers in arms. 49:58.549 --> 50:00.324 I appreciate that. 50:00.324 --> 50:03.950 We have a host of Medal of Honor recipients. 50:03.950 --> 50:05.922 They're right over here. 50:05.922 --> 50:08.958 They have been with us for the last two days. 50:10.779 --> 50:13.371 Men, thank you for honoring Dakota. 50:13.371 --> 50:16.617 Thank you for your faithfulness for these years 50:16.617 --> 50:20.733 and for sustaining that unique brotherhood 50:20.733 --> 50:24.923 that comes from those few remaining Americans that we have alive 50:24.923 --> 50:26.212 that wear that Medal of Honor. 50:26.212 --> 50:27.187 Thank you for being here. 50:27.187 --> 50:30.385 For my fellow general officers and flag officers, 50:30.385 --> 50:33.096 both active duty and retired, 50:33.096 --> 50:37.178 our soldiers, our brothers from the other services, 50:37.178 --> 50:39.632 our sisters, thank you for being here. 50:39.632 --> 50:46.699 Today, we talked in the, really, the Pentagon auditorium, 50:46.699 --> 50:50.109 only because the Hall of Heroes was too small. 50:50.109 --> 50:54.697 We couldn't fit everybody in there that wanted to come 50:54.697 --> 50:58.910 to the ceremony to unveil Sergeant Dakota Meyer's name 50:58.910 --> 51:02.138 on the wall of the Hall of Heroes. 51:02.138 --> 51:06.352 Secretary Mabus talked at length as he described 51:06.352 --> 51:10.241 the actions that took place in the early morning hours 51:10.241 --> 51:12.747 and lasted well past noon 51:12.747 --> 51:18.002 that ended up bringing Dakota Meyers to Marine Barracks Washington tonight. 51:18.002 --> 51:23.715 The last two days have been almost magic. 51:23.715 --> 51:27.842 Magic is almost...It sounds too shallow a term. 51:27.842 --> 51:32.873 But yesterday we went to the White House. 51:32.873 --> 51:35.880 There's a big portion of Dakota's family here. 51:35.880 --> 51:38.738 His dad, his grandmother, 51:38.738 --> 51:42.573 Meemaw, his grandfather, Peepaw. 51:42.573 --> 51:45.411 His daddy, Big Mike. 51:45.411 --> 51:49.168 His cousins, his high school panos. 51:49.168 --> 51:53.259 Friends who have served with him in 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines. 51:53.259 --> 51:58.409 Marines that have known him for his entire time he was on active duty 51:58.409 --> 52:01.514 and that have been good friends of his. 52:01.514 --> 52:05.180 His high school counselor who kind of got him through high school, 52:05.180 --> 52:08.808 much like, probably, our high school counselors 52:08.808 --> 52:12.157 that managed to get guys like (inaudible) and Jim Amos 52:12.157 --> 52:15.592 mystically through high school. 52:15.592 --> 52:16.550 They came. 52:16.550 --> 52:19.795 And we were at the White House yesterday 52:19.795 --> 52:23.152 and we knew it was going to be special. 52:23.152 --> 52:27.721 I mean, any time you go to the White House, it's unique. 52:27.721 --> 52:30.506 None of us go there routinely. 52:30.506 --> 52:34.251 So when we go, there's high expectations. 52:34.251 --> 52:37.976 But I will tell you, even though we knew the President 52:37.976 --> 52:42.844 was going to award and drape that medal around 52:42.844 --> 52:45.186 Dakota Meyer's neck, 52:45.186 --> 52:48.010 even though we knew he was more than likely going to 52:48.010 --> 52:51.841 spend some time talking about that action, 52:51.841 --> 52:55.267 on that morning, that autumn morning, 52:55.267 --> 52:59.374 none of us expected to have the feeling 52:59.374 --> 53:03.070 that we had yesterday at the White House. 53:03.070 --> 53:05.523 When the President was done 53:05.523 --> 53:09.464 and Dakota turned about 45 degrees to the right, 53:09.464 --> 53:12.245 the President came up behind him 53:12.245 --> 53:15.578 and draped that medal around his neck. 53:17.223 --> 53:20.035 It took our breath away. 53:20.035 --> 53:24.093 I've been in the Marine Corps, I've been privileged to serve and wear this uniform 53:24.093 --> 53:26.331 for four decades. 53:26.331 --> 53:32.104 And where I've been to the ceremony for Staff Sergeant Giunta 53:32.104 --> 53:35.042 when he was awarded, United States Army, 53:35.042 --> 53:37.330 awarded the Medal of Honor. 53:37.330 --> 53:42.716 And where I was privileged to go to the posthumous Medal of Honor ceremony 53:42.716 --> 53:46.968 for Jason Dunham, United States Marine Corps, 53:46.968 --> 53:51.464 in four decades, I have never been privileged enough 53:51.464 --> 53:55.820 to attend a living United States Marine Corps 53:55.820 --> 53:59.020 Medal of Honor induction ceremony. 53:59.020 --> 54:02.972 I don't think any of us in there, with the exception of our 54:02.972 --> 54:05.712 Medal of Honor recipients that were with us, 54:05.712 --> 54:08.103 had ever been to one either. 54:08.103 --> 54:11.953 It was unbelievable 54:11.953 --> 54:16.352 speaks almost in shallow terms. 54:16.352 --> 54:20.664 We came out of there, we had the ceremony today, 54:20.664 --> 54:24.285 and as we were planning this event, 54:24.285 --> 54:27.686 really the last couple of months, 54:27.686 --> 54:32.948 we knew that we wanted it to end at a capstone event. 54:32.948 --> 54:38.409 We knew we wanted Sergeant Dakota Meyers, 54:38.409 --> 54:40.758 United States Marine Corps, 54:40.758 --> 54:45.234 and his family to get a sense of appreciation 54:45.234 --> 54:50.410 from a grateful nation and a grateful Marine Corps 54:50.410 --> 54:54.805 and a grateful fellow service men and women and families. 54:54.805 --> 54:58.017 And we knew we also wanted 54:58.017 --> 55:00.379 these young Marines behind me, 55:00.379 --> 55:04.459 most of whom are probably 19 and 20 years old, 55:04.459 --> 55:09.643 all of them, for the most part in the two companies 55:09.643 --> 55:14.237 are young infantrymen, fresh out of the School of Infantry. 55:14.237 --> 55:16.907 Maybe they've been here for the summer. 55:16.907 --> 55:19.441 But they're itching to go to the fight. 55:19.441 --> 55:22.637 And we knew we wanted to give them an opportunity 55:22.637 --> 55:26.808 to look at a fellow Marine and say, 55:26.808 --> 55:29.870 I want to be just like him. 55:29.870 --> 55:33.226 I may be at Marine Barracks Washington right now, 55:33.226 --> 55:38.340 but someday, I want to be as faithful 55:38.340 --> 55:42.717 and I want to live to the standard that Sergeant Dakota Meyer 55:42.717 --> 55:45.833 has set for me. 55:45.833 --> 55:49.769 So when we built the plan this week, 55:49.769 --> 55:53.644 we wanted to end at Marine Barracks Washington. 55:53.644 --> 55:56.684 Now the parade season here at the barracks ended 55:58.952 --> 56:01.165 about three or four weeks ago. 56:01.165 --> 56:03.838 And it's been a wonderful summer. 56:03.838 --> 56:07.809 But we cranked it back up again 56:07.809 --> 56:12.467 for you and for the Marines out here. 56:12.467 --> 56:17.311 We cranked it up for the Marines that drove up from Camp Lejeune 56:19.308 --> 56:21.903 to see you tonight, Dakota. 56:21.903 --> 56:25.525 We've got men and women here, Marines, 56:25.525 --> 56:29.877 that are deploying to Afghanistan imminently. 56:29.877 --> 56:32.628 And they came up. 56:32.628 --> 56:34.570 And we've got Marines from Quantico. 56:34.570 --> 56:37.804 We've got brand spanking new 2nd lieutenants 56:37.804 --> 56:40.883 from The Basic School at Quantico. 56:40.883 --> 56:43.340 We've got Marines from Henderson Hall. 56:43.340 --> 56:48.946 General Halik brought Marines from MARFOR Atlantic in Norfolk. 56:48.946 --> 56:52.306 And we came to honor you, my friend. 56:52.306 --> 56:54.824 This is your evening. 56:54.824 --> 56:56.506 But selfishly, it's our evening. 56:56.506 --> 57:00.804 It's our evening for those of us that wear this uniform 57:00.804 --> 57:04.086 those of us who have worn this uniform, 57:04.086 --> 57:09.327 and take great pride in the rich legacy and heritage 57:09.327 --> 57:13.007 of our United States Marine Corps. 57:13.007 --> 57:17.369 Marines, you have done us proud tonight. 57:17.369 --> 57:21.327 Marines of Company A and Company B 57:21.327 --> 57:26.489 and the band and the Commandant's Own and the staff. 57:26.489 --> 57:31.723 Thank you for honoring our fellow United States Marine. 57:31.723 --> 57:35.145 As you talk to Dakota, 57:35.145 --> 57:39.298 and I've had an opportunity for the last week to spend 57:39.298 --> 57:42.914 some prime, quality time with him. 57:42.914 --> 57:44.394 The kind of time that doesn't happen 57:44.394 --> 57:46.957 when someone visits your office. 57:46.957 --> 57:48.813 It's the kind of time that happens only when you're together, 57:48.813 --> 57:51.928 relaxing. 57:53.873 --> 57:59.543 And the single adjective that I can describe this young Marine 57:59.543 --> 58:03.274 is humility. 58:03.274 --> 58:06.324 He is a humble young man. 58:06.324 --> 58:10.979 He bristles at anybody that calls him a hero. 58:10.979 --> 58:13.375 It's not false. 58:13.375 --> 58:18.699 He thinks of those four, those three Marines and and that young Corpsman 58:18.699 --> 58:25.721 that died, who he found on his fifth trip into that fire trap. 58:25.721 --> 58:28.371 He thinks of them. 58:28.371 --> 58:31.468 He doesn't call himself a hero. 58:31.468 --> 58:33.573 He was with his fellow teammates 58:33.573 --> 58:36.379 and they went in five times 58:36.379 --> 58:39.750 under hellacious fire. 58:39.750 --> 58:43.966 He made the comment in his interview, you probably saw it on TV, 58:43.966 --> 58:48.182 he said, "it wasn't a function of did I think I was going to die, 58:49.882 --> 58:52.486 "I knew I was going to die." 58:52.486 --> 58:54.817 Now you think about that. 58:54.817 --> 58:59.032 You think about the fact that you looked at your fellow Marines 58:59.032 --> 59:02.729 going in on your fifth trip, 59:02.729 --> 59:06.751 and you said words to the effect 59:06.751 --> 59:11.902 we'll all die together, but we're going to try to bring them back. 59:11.902 --> 59:15.601 Ladies and gentlemen, our motto is semper fidelis, you know that. 59:15.601 --> 59:19.024 Those of you that know us, those of you that are Marines, 59:19.024 --> 59:21.823 it means always faithful. 59:21.823 --> 59:25.066 That last word, fidelity, 59:25.066 --> 59:29.392 means faithful almost to a fault. 59:29.392 --> 59:32.525 And Dakota, that's what you were. 59:32.525 --> 59:37.346 You were faithful to those Marines that you brought out. 59:37.346 --> 59:41.247 You were faithful to those Afghan soldiers 59:41.247 --> 59:47.034 who are alive today because you and your team 59:47.034 --> 59:52.351 decided that you were willing to sacrifice your lives 59:52.351 --> 59:58.705 not if, but you were willing to sacrifice your lives.