WEBVTT 00:17.160 --> 00:17.550 Mhm . 00:26.110 --> 00:28.310 Welcome to the promotion ceremony in 00:28.320 --> 00:31.060 honor of Brigadier General paul A . C . 00:31.180 --> 00:33.870 O . D . We think General Lodi's family 00:33.870 --> 00:36.210 and friends attending both virtually 00:36.210 --> 00:38.530 and in person and extend a sincere 00:38.530 --> 00:40.641 welcome to our distinguished guests . 00:40.641 --> 00:43.890 Among them are General Charles a Flynn . 00:43.940 --> 00:46.620 Commander , United States Army pacific 00:46.630 --> 00:49.280 and mrs Kathleen Flynn . Command 00:49.280 --> 00:51.820 Sergeant Major Scott A Barzak , Command , 00:51.820 --> 00:53.931 Sergeant , Major , United States Army 00:53.931 --> 00:56.460 pacific fellow general officers and 00:56.460 --> 01:00.400 command Sergeant Major Welcome Our host 01:00.410 --> 01:02.299 and presiding officer for today's 01:02.299 --> 01:04.630 ceremony is the commanding general for 01:04.750 --> 01:07.060 the United States Army Pacific General 01:07.060 --> 01:10.200 Charles A . Flynn . Today's ceremonial 01:10.200 --> 01:13.090 music is provided by the Makani Wind 01:13.100 --> 01:15.800 Quintet from the 25th Infantry Division 01:15.800 --> 01:18.920 band led by Sergeant Ethan Miller . 01:20.340 --> 01:22.860 Ladies and gentlemen , please stand for 01:22.860 --> 01:25.090 the arrival of the official party and 01:25.090 --> 01:27.146 remain standing for the rendering of 01:27.146 --> 01:28.979 honors and the national anthem . 01:29.220 --> 01:32.280 General Flynn has deferred honors today 01:32.290 --> 01:35.030 to General Brigadier Brigadier General 01:35.030 --> 01:35.550 Lodi 01:50.930 --> 01:51.490 14 . 01:54.990 --> 01:55.590 So that 03:25.410 --> 03:29.050 please continue to stand for the 03:29.050 --> 03:31.720 traditional Hawaiian oli Aloha or 03:31.720 --> 03:34.180 ceremonial welcome performed by the 03:34.180 --> 03:37.170 chaplain , Affleck Utley followed by 03:37.170 --> 03:39.460 the invocation delivered by chaplain , 03:39.470 --> 03:42.200 young men . The 18th medical command 03:42.210 --> 03:46.190 chaplain . Aloha ayacko , Good 03:46.190 --> 03:48.380 morning receive the blessings . 03:50.970 --> 03:52.760 Oh no oh no 03:55.230 --> 03:57.080 who 04:01.730 --> 04:03.210 no 04:04.830 --> 04:05.860 oh 04:14.990 --> 04:18.030 no bye . 04:18.810 --> 04:20.190 He keeps 04:21.180 --> 04:24.940 Aloha Aloha , I 04:24.960 --> 04:27.690 aloha , I aloha 04:27.690 --> 04:29.390 High . 04:35.040 --> 04:38.500 Let us pray our gracious heavenly 04:38.500 --> 04:41.670 father . It come to you in humble 04:41.680 --> 04:44.960 gratitude for your grace and love that 04:44.970 --> 04:48.800 enriches our lives as you gather to 04:48.800 --> 04:52.630 celebrate the promotion of to the rank 04:52.630 --> 04:56.430 of a major general . We offer our 04:56.430 --> 04:58.830 thanks for the blessings you have 04:58.840 --> 05:01.630 bestowed upon her and her family . 05:02.820 --> 05:05.610 We recognize that this day has been 05:05.610 --> 05:09.480 appointed by you and we trust in 05:09.480 --> 05:12.770 your divine plan for her life . 05:14.170 --> 05:16.880 We are so grateful for the leaders , 05:16.890 --> 05:20.350 mentors , peers and the family 05:20.350 --> 05:23.490 members who have supported and guided 05:23.500 --> 05:27.340 her along her journey . And we thank 05:27.340 --> 05:30.440 you for your protection and provision 05:30.450 --> 05:33.240 during the challenges she has faced . 05:33.250 --> 05:37.090 We ask that you continue to 05:37.090 --> 05:40.790 guide brigade , your General Lawdy as 05:40.790 --> 05:43.370 she takes on the mantle of a major 05:43.380 --> 05:46.940 general . Father granted the wisdom to 05:46.940 --> 05:50.920 lead well , courage to always do 05:50.930 --> 05:54.260 what is right and the strength to 05:54.260 --> 05:58.040 fulfill her duty with honor and merit . 05:58.050 --> 06:01.600 Father unite us in the spirit of 06:01.600 --> 06:04.930 service and guide us all towards peace 06:04.940 --> 06:08.740 nourish and sustain us in our vocations 06:08.750 --> 06:11.540 and allow your light to shine through 06:11.540 --> 06:14.980 us as we serve you and this 06:14.990 --> 06:18.900 great nation . We pray all of this 06:18.910 --> 06:21.810 in your holy name . A men 06:24.180 --> 06:27.910 please be seated . It is my honor and 06:27.910 --> 06:30.100 pleasure to introduce our host for 06:30.100 --> 06:33.050 today's ceremony . General Charles a 06:33.060 --> 06:36.510 Flynn aloha , 06:36.520 --> 06:39.720 can you hear me ? Great ! Hey listen , 06:39.730 --> 06:42.580 uh let me just express my thanks to 06:42.580 --> 06:45.470 everyone for being here and being part 06:45.470 --> 06:48.830 of this uh incredibly important day in 06:48.830 --> 06:51.690 the life of a soon to be Major General 06:51.700 --> 06:54.590 Paul . Elodie and her husband Henry and 06:54.590 --> 06:57.840 their family . Um let me also 06:57.850 --> 07:01.100 uh express my thanks to those that are 07:01.100 --> 07:04.530 here in person And those in Paul's 07:04.530 --> 07:07.850 extended family that are on um watching 07:07.850 --> 07:11.540 on Facebook live or in uh in a digital 07:11.550 --> 07:15.410 environment . So uh here with us today 07:15.410 --> 07:17.466 obviously is Paula and her husband , 07:17.466 --> 07:21.300 Henry , 32 years as a cavalry 07:21.300 --> 07:23.522 soldier , retired as a sergeant major , 07:23.522 --> 07:26.500 commands are major . And uh Henry , I 07:26.500 --> 07:29.280 just want to express my thanks um to 07:29.280 --> 07:32.990 you for being by Paula and your 07:32.990 --> 07:36.660 family for those years that you 07:36.660 --> 07:40.070 were a dual military couple uh for the 07:40.070 --> 07:43.300 leadership demands on you as an 07:43.310 --> 07:45.710 individual and as a soldier for the 07:45.710 --> 07:48.730 leadership demands on you and Paula as 07:48.730 --> 07:52.070 a as an army uh senior leader 07:52.080 --> 07:55.760 couple uh today as a as an army 07:55.760 --> 07:59.210 spouse . And uh really just the 07:59.210 --> 08:02.450 example that you set uh to so many 08:02.450 --> 08:05.980 soldiers over decades and the example 08:05.980 --> 08:08.910 that you set for Paula , your family 08:08.910 --> 08:11.310 and really for everybody that has had a 08:11.310 --> 08:13.230 personal touch with you . So I'd 08:13.230 --> 08:15.174 actually like to extend a round of 08:15.174 --> 08:17.450 applause to Henry for his contributions 08:17.450 --> 08:18.430 to all of this 08:22.840 --> 08:25.650 to . Uh and and just by by way of 08:25.650 --> 08:28.980 example , right , so you have a second 08:28.980 --> 08:31.780 lieutenant McKenzie Vance who's at 08:31.780 --> 08:34.870 Bullock and then specialist and advance 08:34.870 --> 08:38.490 here an ROTC cadet . So um I guess 08:38.490 --> 08:41.660 she's the ROTC cadet is on on on 08:41.670 --> 08:45.500 facebook live and and uh um and 08:45.500 --> 08:47.780 Mackenzie's here . So I I just and and 08:47.780 --> 08:51.180 then of course her sister Maria , the 08:51.190 --> 08:53.690 commander of of army cyber 08:54.860 --> 08:58.460 again , Paula yours and Henry's 08:58.470 --> 09:02.030 example to just that glimpse 09:02.540 --> 09:05.940 inside the sort of the life of the 09:05.950 --> 09:09.250 loads advances is an example of what 09:10.080 --> 09:13.340 you represent , what you illustrate and 09:13.340 --> 09:15.562 actually what you're giving back to the 09:15.562 --> 09:19.320 nation . So it's not surprising 09:19.320 --> 09:23.240 on on to me or to many , many people 09:23.240 --> 09:26.110 that have been touched by your , your 09:26.110 --> 09:28.332 leadership and your presence that we're 09:28.332 --> 09:30.960 actually gonna do this today . So again 09:30.960 --> 09:34.480 to uh to their Children and to your 09:34.480 --> 09:37.280 sister uh a round of applause for them 09:37.280 --> 09:39.447 for all the things that they represent 09:39.447 --> 09:41.169 just by way of their example , 09:46.130 --> 09:49.010 uh john dwindle and his wife pam and so 09:49.010 --> 09:51.000 many others that I just met on the 09:51.000 --> 09:53.680 first row for coming all this way to be 09:53.680 --> 09:56.160 part of this important day uh in the 09:56.160 --> 09:58.850 life of Paula and Henry just thank you 09:58.850 --> 10:02.000 for for your friendship , your grace , 10:02.010 --> 10:04.800 your kindness , um your outreach to , 10:04.810 --> 10:07.280 to Paula and Henry through the years 10:07.290 --> 10:09.750 and really your example as well because 10:09.760 --> 10:12.460 it's I know these days are incredibly 10:12.460 --> 10:15.530 special and they only happen once and 10:15.530 --> 10:17.586 so for you to be here and be part of 10:17.586 --> 10:19.752 that is really important . I know to , 10:19.752 --> 10:21.697 to Paula and Henry , so a round of 10:21.697 --> 10:23.970 applause for you making that trip out 10:23.970 --> 10:25.303 here to be part of this 10:27.890 --> 10:31.100 and then virtually is uh Russ and Carla , 10:31.110 --> 10:34.400 uh Carlo loti and then her 10:34.400 --> 10:37.300 sister pia Silbert , so thank you as 10:37.300 --> 10:39.680 well . Um I know that you know the 10:39.680 --> 10:42.930 demands of life , keep others away and 10:42.940 --> 10:44.996 at great distance out here in hawaii 10:44.996 --> 10:47.400 it's uh it's it's difficult to always 10:47.410 --> 10:50.330 be part of it in person , but the fact 10:50.330 --> 10:52.330 that you're taking time out of your 10:52.330 --> 10:54.552 busy schedules today to be part of this 10:54.552 --> 10:56.719 virtually . I know that both Paula and 10:56.719 --> 10:59.052 Henry are very , very thankful for that . 10:59.052 --> 11:01.108 Let me express my thanks to everyone 11:01.108 --> 11:04.620 else that's here physically . Uh senior 11:04.620 --> 11:07.140 officers , former commander user pack 11:07.140 --> 11:09.362 frank Radzinsky . I mean I just , and I 11:09.362 --> 11:12.070 see a whole host of friendly faces in 11:12.070 --> 11:14.181 the crowd and I just want to tell all 11:14.181 --> 11:17.180 of you uh thank you very much for being 11:17.180 --> 11:19.260 here . I know it means a lot to paul 11:19.260 --> 11:22.030 and Henry . I am concerned a little bit 11:22.040 --> 11:24.151 with the high winds . If somebody get 11:24.151 --> 11:26.318 hit by a royal palm today , you're not 11:26.318 --> 11:28.484 gonna be able to be treated at Tripler 11:28.484 --> 11:30.707 because all the medical people are down 11:30.707 --> 11:29.870 here today . So don't look for an 11:29.870 --> 11:32.550 appointment at Tripler have one of the 11:32.550 --> 11:35.130 clinics . So uh but thank you all for 11:35.130 --> 11:38.140 being here today . And uh and last but 11:38.140 --> 11:40.029 certainly not least , let me just 11:40.029 --> 11:43.280 express um uh my thanks to 11:43.290 --> 11:46.850 uh to rust in Lodi uh Paula's dad , 11:46.860 --> 11:49.530 a veteran and served in the Second 11:49.530 --> 11:52.400 World War . Um not with us today 11:52.410 --> 11:54.530 physically , but certainly here in 11:54.540 --> 11:57.870 spirit and presence . So thank you um 11:58.280 --> 12:00.630 two again to Paula , your family and 12:00.640 --> 12:02.807 and uh and what they represent because 12:02.807 --> 12:05.420 you and your sister and then of course 12:05.430 --> 12:07.780 your entire extended family that I just 12:07.780 --> 12:10.410 talked about are really a symbol of 12:10.410 --> 12:14.390 service . So um okay , now 12:14.390 --> 12:16.480 that I've uh I've actually gotten 12:16.480 --> 12:19.690 through the you know welcome and and uh 12:19.700 --> 12:22.550 and and thanks to all the folks in the 12:22.560 --> 12:25.830 in the uh Paulo de orbit . Let me just 12:25.830 --> 12:27.997 say a few things . There's a wonderful 12:27.997 --> 12:31.970 quote , a wonderful quote that I use 12:31.980 --> 12:35.270 at all promotions because I I just it I 12:35.270 --> 12:37.600 don't know it uh I think I saw this 12:37.600 --> 12:39.544 quote when I was a major and I was 12:39.544 --> 12:41.656 given a promotion to a bunch of young 12:41.656 --> 12:44.070 folks but and I've used it ever since 12:44.070 --> 12:47.370 then . It's um it's from general 12:47.370 --> 12:50.850 Maxwell taylor and he said this is the 12:50.860 --> 12:54.200 badge of rank is a symbol of servitude , 12:54.210 --> 12:57.210 servitude to soldiers . And so if you 12:57.210 --> 13:00.170 think about what that means , we're 13:00.170 --> 13:02.800 going to put a different badge today on 13:03.590 --> 13:05.534 brigadier general soon to be Major 13:05.534 --> 13:09.140 General Lodi . And it is a 13:09.140 --> 13:12.980 symbol , it's a symbol that she gets 13:12.990 --> 13:15.101 as part of the honor of being a major 13:15.101 --> 13:18.250 general to serve more soldiers . 13:19.980 --> 13:23.800 And um I think that it 13:23.800 --> 13:26.980 should be a stark reminder to everyone . 13:26.990 --> 13:30.020 The gravity of the responsibilities , 13:30.030 --> 13:33.300 the gravity and the magnitude of what 13:33.300 --> 13:36.740 that that badge in two stars 13:36.750 --> 13:40.600 represents . Um And that the demands 13:40.610 --> 13:42.940 are not less but they are far far 13:42.940 --> 13:46.520 greater . And so 13:46.530 --> 13:49.490 this also this rank for those that are 13:49.490 --> 13:53.330 not aware um much like being 13:53.330 --> 13:56.050 promoted from staff sergeant . I'm 13:56.050 --> 13:58.050 sorry . Yeah from staff sergeant to 13:58.050 --> 14:00.272 sergeant first class in the N . C . O . 14:00.272 --> 14:02.550 Corps where you're actually promoted 14:02.560 --> 14:04.920 not locally but you're promoted because 14:04.920 --> 14:07.087 you competed against all of your peers 14:07.087 --> 14:10.810 across the service . This rank in the 14:10.810 --> 14:13.420 officer ranks . This is the highest 14:13.430 --> 14:17.150 rank that you will be promoted under a 14:17.150 --> 14:19.380 promotion board . There are no more 14:19.380 --> 14:21.324 promotion boards after the rank of 14:21.324 --> 14:23.380 major general . So from the time you 14:23.380 --> 14:25.547 get promoted from colonel to brigadier 14:25.547 --> 14:27.658 general to major general , there's no 14:27.658 --> 14:29.880 more promotion boards after that . It's 14:29.880 --> 14:32.102 all appointments . Not that this is not 14:32.102 --> 14:34.213 an appointment because you are senate 14:34.213 --> 14:36.213 confirmed but that is significant . 14:36.213 --> 14:38.430 That is significant because as some of 14:38.430 --> 14:40.700 you have also heard me say , I often 14:40.700 --> 14:44.230 refer to majors in the army is the rank 14:44.230 --> 14:47.070 that runs units and colonels in the 14:47.070 --> 14:50.110 army run the army and generals ought to 14:50.110 --> 14:53.170 make decisions about the army . 14:53.190 --> 14:56.410 But for major general soon to be Major 14:56.410 --> 14:59.260 general Lottie , she is actually at the 14:59.260 --> 15:01.371 rank where you're running the general 15:01.371 --> 15:03.204 officer ranks and you are making 15:03.204 --> 15:05.720 decisions based on those things that 15:05.720 --> 15:07.664 are coming up through the chain of 15:07.664 --> 15:11.610 command . So um Paula I 15:11.620 --> 15:14.860 have you know sort of born witness to 15:14.860 --> 15:17.082 working with you from the time you were 15:17.082 --> 15:19.138 a colonel to a brigadier general and 15:19.138 --> 15:21.600 now major general . And uh for those in 15:21.600 --> 15:23.767 the audience that are not where when I 15:23.767 --> 15:27.610 was the army G 357 Paula was the same 15:27.620 --> 15:31.180 for med com and the office of the 15:31.180 --> 15:34.700 surgeon general and every day during 15:34.710 --> 15:38.050 uh the unknown of the unknown with a 15:38.050 --> 15:40.161 global pandemic . And I thought there 15:40.161 --> 15:42.328 were , I used to say , I thought there 15:42.328 --> 15:42.130 were a lot of things that were gonna 15:42.130 --> 15:44.360 happen across the world when I was the 15:44.360 --> 15:46.860 G 357 . But a global pandemic wasn't 15:46.860 --> 15:50.620 one of them and she and her team and 15:50.620 --> 15:53.410 her leadership during that during the 15:53.410 --> 15:55.299 medical reform that we were going 15:55.299 --> 15:59.160 through uh as as we birth D . H . A . 15:59.160 --> 16:01.690 And as we had to reconstruct basically 16:02.650 --> 16:05.300 uh the medical enterprise across not 16:05.300 --> 16:07.411 just all the services or not just the 16:07.411 --> 16:10.020 army but all the services Paula played 16:10.020 --> 16:12.850 a central role in that . So when it was 16:14.130 --> 16:16.241 When I could be involved in decisions 16:16.241 --> 16:18.380 about where senior leaders were gonna 16:18.380 --> 16:22.070 be going it was uh we are 16:22.070 --> 16:24.990 blessed literally blessed to have 16:25.000 --> 16:28.060 um brigadier general load command 16:28.070 --> 16:31.410 18th uh medical command and be the 16:31.410 --> 16:34.490 operational medical commander for this 16:34.490 --> 16:37.820 theater because I have seen her uh in 16:37.820 --> 16:39.542 some of the most demanding and 16:39.542 --> 16:43.390 stressful uh periods and in 16:43.400 --> 16:46.420 periods where it was absolutely we were 16:46.420 --> 16:49.720 not uh doing something that we had done 16:49.720 --> 16:51.700 before . We had to react basically 16:51.700 --> 16:53.867 every day to everything that was going 16:53.867 --> 16:57.710 on globally . Um So paul 16:57.720 --> 17:01.060 you know this this promotion to major 17:01.060 --> 17:04.040 general is hard earned and it's well 17:04.040 --> 17:06.690 deserved and the army absolutely got it 17:06.690 --> 17:10.530 right . And I guess the um 17:10.540 --> 17:12.930 the last thing I point out is that 17:12.940 --> 17:16.700 um and this is maybe a statement the 17:16.700 --> 17:18.930 obvious but it's it's worth repeating 17:18.930 --> 17:22.350 at promotions . Today is not a day 17:22.360 --> 17:26.150 uh about what has happened . 17:26.780 --> 17:30.320 It is a day about what will happen and 17:30.320 --> 17:32.750 the effect that you will have on the 17:32.750 --> 17:35.810 army , on leaders , on the medical 17:35.810 --> 17:39.610 enterprise , on our ability 17:39.620 --> 17:42.150 to maintain a state of readiness , real 17:42.150 --> 17:45.290 readiness that can be responsive to the 17:45.290 --> 17:48.680 needs of the nation . 17:48.870 --> 17:52.600 And for my almost four 17:52.600 --> 17:55.740 decades in uniform , there's been , I 17:55.740 --> 17:57.907 think some very challenging periods of 17:57.907 --> 18:01.120 time , but I don't think there's one 18:01.120 --> 18:05.120 more challenging than right now from 18:05.120 --> 18:08.400 a security standpoint . And 18:09.420 --> 18:13.190 we are uh , we are a great army , but 18:13.190 --> 18:15.301 we're going to be a better army today 18:15.890 --> 18:18.270 because we're about to put two stars on 18:18.270 --> 18:21.900 the shoulders of Paula Lodi , make her 18:21.900 --> 18:25.500 a major general and we the army , 18:25.510 --> 18:28.020 uh the Department of Defense and the 18:28.020 --> 18:31.640 nation are gonna be the recipient of a 18:31.640 --> 18:32.540 strong , 18:34.670 --> 18:36.940 thoughtful , caring , 18:37.910 --> 18:41.750 hard working and dedicated leader and 18:41.750 --> 18:44.560 that's the most important element of 18:44.560 --> 18:48.140 combat power , leadership . So the fact 18:48.140 --> 18:50.420 that we're gonna do this today , Paula 18:50.430 --> 18:53.960 gives me great hope and 18:53.970 --> 18:56.490 I'm encouraged and profoundly thankful 18:56.490 --> 18:59.120 and honored to be even recommended or 18:59.120 --> 19:02.050 asked to be part of this . And it's uh 19:02.770 --> 19:05.980 um I'm just thankful that you asked me 19:05.980 --> 19:08.202 to do this because in some small way if 19:08.202 --> 19:10.740 I've touched your path to day and then 19:10.740 --> 19:14.650 your path beyond then , uh I'll uh 19:14.660 --> 19:16.660 I'll have been blessed by that . So 19:16.660 --> 19:19.010 thanks thanks for that . Um 19:19.020 --> 19:22.880 so those are my remarks today . So 19:22.890 --> 19:24.946 what are we doing next here we bring 19:24.946 --> 19:27.168 paul up is that ? Yeah , come on paul . 19:27.168 --> 19:29.279 I don't know the sequence of events . 19:29.279 --> 19:31.223 That's why I love these promotions 19:31.223 --> 19:33.334 because it can just be so they can be 19:33.334 --> 19:35.668 formal but very informal . So all right , 19:35.668 --> 19:37.446 what's next here at this time ? 19:37.446 --> 19:39.501 Brigadier general and her family and 19:39.501 --> 19:42.840 guests will join General Flynn at the 19:42.840 --> 19:44.940 center of the field . 20:05.630 --> 20:08.100 General Flynn will now conduct the 20:08.100 --> 20:10.990 promotion published . 20:12.670 --> 20:14.920 Ladies and gentlemen , please stand 20:17.960 --> 20:20.440 attention to orders . The President of 20:20.440 --> 20:22.690 the United States has reposed special 20:22.690 --> 20:25.270 trust and confidence in the patriotism , 20:25.280 --> 20:29.260 valor fidelity and abilities of Paula C 20:29.320 --> 20:31.940 loaded in view of these qualities and 20:31.940 --> 20:33.662 her demonstrated potential for 20:33.662 --> 20:36.000 increased responsibility . She is 20:36.010 --> 20:38.400 therefore promoted in the United States 20:38.400 --> 20:40.590 Army from Brigadier general to major 20:40.590 --> 20:43.190 general with an effective date of three 20:43.200 --> 20:46.700 february 2023 by the order of the 20:46.700 --> 20:50.250 Secretary of Army signed Christine e 20:50.260 --> 20:53.340 war meth . Mhm 20:54.470 --> 20:55.020 Yeah . 21:06.810 --> 21:07.180 Mhm . 21:11.710 --> 21:14.230 Parents and teachers are invaluable to 21:14.230 --> 21:17.030 all of us . General Od and her siblings 21:17.030 --> 21:19.141 were blessed to have one and the same 21:19.141 --> 21:21.141 in both . Rustin and Clara loaded . 21:21.450 --> 21:24.410 They are both with us in spirit in 21:24.410 --> 21:26.450 honor of all of the teachers , 21:26.460 --> 21:29.480 instructors , mentors and coaches . 21:29.580 --> 21:32.430 Colonel , retired Allen mosher General 21:32.430 --> 21:35.300 Lodi's sam seminar leader and dr Olinda 21:35.300 --> 21:37.370 johnson , her naval war college 21:37.370 --> 21:40.890 professor will change the ability on 21:40.890 --> 21:42.490 General Lodi's shirt . 21:45.710 --> 21:46.710 Mhm . 21:52.790 --> 21:54.720 Among the many lessons from two 21:54.720 --> 21:57.230 Depression era parents who raised five 21:57.240 --> 21:59.590 kids on the single income of an 21:59.600 --> 22:02.570 elementary school principal one was the 22:02.570 --> 22:05.400 importance of frugality , illustrating 22:05.400 --> 22:07.567 that you are never too old to get hand 22:07.567 --> 22:09.980 me downs . General Od is proud to use 22:09.980 --> 22:12.202 her sister Maria's shoulder boards . In 22:12.202 --> 22:15.230 today's ceremony her jacket shoulder 22:15.230 --> 22:17.290 boards are being changed out by her 22:17.290 --> 22:19.700 brother Carlo and her cousin john 22:19.710 --> 22:20.370 Dwinell . 22:35.110 --> 22:38.300 Mhm . Great . 22:39.350 --> 22:40.040 Mhm . 22:40.710 --> 22:46.350 Her 22:46.350 --> 22:48.190 husband , Command Sergeant Major 22:48.190 --> 22:50.600 Retired Henry Vance will present her 22:50.600 --> 22:51.840 beret with the new 22:51.840 --> 22:54.690 rank . 23:01.760 --> 23:02.180 Okay , 23:06.330 --> 23:07.386 please be seated . 23:25.690 --> 23:27.910 Each General officer is issued a 23:27.910 --> 23:30.320 general officers flag embroidered with 23:30.330 --> 23:33.270 his or her rank differing from the 23:33.270 --> 23:36.070 standard scarlet flag . Major General 23:36.070 --> 23:39.020 Lodi's flag is maroon , a color of 23:39.020 --> 23:41.120 symbolic of the United States Army 23:41.130 --> 23:43.690 Medical Department . When displayed 23:43.700 --> 23:46.550 both indoors and outdoors , this flag 23:46.560 --> 23:48.616 signifies the general's presence and 23:48.616 --> 23:51.310 the respect and courtesy afforded to 23:51.310 --> 23:55.170 their rank at this time . Major 23:55.170 --> 23:56.948 General Lodi and her daughter . 23:56.948 --> 23:59.690 Specialist MEREDITH Vance will uncased 23:59.700 --> 24:02.480 and unfurl the flag displaying two 24:02.480 --> 24:05.270 stars . Representative of an army . 24:05.280 --> 24:09.220 Major General as an army 24:09.220 --> 24:11.370 specialist . Annie Vance connects the 24:11.370 --> 24:13.648 enlisted soldier to both the N . C . O . 24:13.648 --> 24:15.920 Who is the keeper of the colors and the 24:15.930 --> 24:18.380 officer responsible and accountable for 24:18.380 --> 24:20.150 what the colors represent . 24:50.570 --> 24:54.000 Yeah . Whenever a soldier takes an oath 24:54.010 --> 24:55.843 they do so only with the support 24:55.843 --> 24:58.320 sacrifice and grace of their family . 24:58.520 --> 25:01.110 With General Lodi's family rejoin her 25:01.170 --> 25:03.430 and stand behind paul . And today as 25:03.430 --> 25:05.800 you and Oliver family has throughout 25:05.800 --> 25:09.690 her career . General 25:09.690 --> 25:12.220 Flynn will now administer the oath . 25:56.280 --> 25:58.790 Ladies and gentlemen , I now present to 25:58.790 --> 26:01.980 you . Major General paul . A . C . O . 26:01.980 --> 26:02.430 D . 26:22.480 --> 26:24.920 Sir . Thank you very much . Thank you 26:24.920 --> 26:27.031 for hosting . Thank you for your kind 26:27.031 --> 26:30.340 words . Thank you for your presence and 26:30.340 --> 26:33.620 your constant leadership . Um I felt 26:33.620 --> 26:35.540 that strong gust of wind as I was 26:35.540 --> 26:38.410 reaffirming the oath and that'll 26:38.420 --> 26:41.230 that'll that'll stay with me . Um 26:41.240 --> 26:43.407 General Flynn Kathleen . Distinguished 26:43.407 --> 26:45.750 guests , family friends . Thank you for 26:45.750 --> 26:48.840 joining us today . Um This day truly is 26:48.850 --> 26:52.190 about all of you . Um And I wanted to 26:52.190 --> 26:55.680 share it with all of you because it 26:55.690 --> 26:58.650 truly took a village to get me where 26:58.650 --> 27:02.650 I'm at today . Um I also 27:02.650 --> 27:04.872 want to thank the soldiers , the band , 27:04.872 --> 27:06.872 the soldiers who worked hard to put 27:06.872 --> 27:09.460 this ceremony together . Um despite the 27:09.470 --> 27:12.210 windy conditions . Uh there's I was 27:12.220 --> 27:14.400 adamant that we do this outdoors here 27:14.400 --> 27:17.220 on Palm circle . Um I thought my 27:17.220 --> 27:19.164 promotion to brigadier general was 27:19.164 --> 27:22.100 perfect . But today here on historic 27:22.100 --> 27:24.350 Palm Circle in command of an 27:24.360 --> 27:28.250 operational medical unit , part of U . 27:28.250 --> 27:31.360 N . Kathleen's team sir . Um at this 27:31.360 --> 27:33.930 particularly important time I simply 27:33.930 --> 27:37.190 could not ask for more . Uh I do want 27:37.190 --> 27:39.412 to recognize and thank General Dingle , 27:39.412 --> 27:41.720 our surgeon general uh for so many 27:41.720 --> 27:44.620 opportunities to serve army medicine in 27:44.620 --> 27:46.610 key billets at critical times and 27:46.610 --> 27:49.090 General Flynn referenced some of that 27:49.100 --> 27:53.100 uh slugging it out at the pentagon . Um 27:53.110 --> 27:55.770 I am humbled to continue to represent 27:55.780 --> 27:58.220 army medicine and support senior 27:58.220 --> 28:00.498 mission commanders and the war Fighter . 28:00.498 --> 28:03.420 And sir I do not take this rank and the 28:03.430 --> 28:06.780 additional responsibility lightly . I 28:06.780 --> 28:09.060 cherish every opportunity to establish 28:09.070 --> 28:11.130 first as an a met officer and as a 28:11.130 --> 28:13.810 woman . And while today it is notable 28:13.810 --> 28:16.032 that I become the first Medical Service 28:16.032 --> 28:19.140 corps active duty two star general . 28:19.150 --> 28:22.170 Even more remarkable is that in doing 28:22.170 --> 28:25.150 so I joined two phenomenal leaders and 28:25.150 --> 28:27.570 friends . Major General Jill ferris who 28:27.570 --> 28:29.626 is the first Medical Service Corps , 28:29.630 --> 28:32.750 Major General in the National Guard and 28:32.940 --> 28:36.910 Tracy Smith who represents the Medical 28:36.910 --> 28:38.854 Service Corps as a two star in the 28:38.854 --> 28:42.550 reserve . This is just a testament to 28:42.550 --> 28:45.250 the groundbreaking diversity that comes 28:45.250 --> 28:48.710 from opportunity in the amen . Like I 28:48.710 --> 28:51.100 said , I owe today too so many too many 28:51.100 --> 28:53.860 to mention . So today I am going to 28:53.860 --> 28:57.200 focus on family uh , and being that 28:57.200 --> 29:00.150 we're in Hawaii Ohana and I'll start 29:00.150 --> 29:02.860 with my extended Hawaiian family , the 29:02.860 --> 29:06.080 guy Vegas family . Ed I looked , I 29:06.080 --> 29:08.400 looked up on the internet and I saw an 29:08.410 --> 29:10.400 article that was done on you a few 29:10.400 --> 29:12.400 years back that said your secret to 29:12.400 --> 29:14.620 success is to find something you're 29:14.620 --> 29:16.676 passionate about and stick with it . 29:16.790 --> 29:19.620 And that pretty much sums up my career . 29:19.630 --> 29:22.690 Ed norma chrissy and Doug you all have 29:22.700 --> 29:25.150 been cherished friends to our family 29:25.150 --> 29:28.450 for over 20 years and I am so happy 29:28.460 --> 29:30.600 that we are able to do this here in 29:30.600 --> 29:34.560 Hawaii with you present . I do 29:34.560 --> 29:36.671 want to acknowledge all that traveled 29:36.671 --> 29:39.090 from the mainland , their connection to 29:39.100 --> 29:41.780 my family and all that they represent . 29:41.790 --> 29:44.540 Uh we did consider this a destination 29:44.540 --> 29:48.210 promotion . Uh , and I'll at least 29:48.210 --> 29:51.520 consider that 49% of your presence has 29:51.530 --> 29:54.840 something to do with me and 51% 29:54.850 --> 29:58.030 the location , especially those that 29:58.030 --> 29:59.752 came from San Antonio that was 29:59.752 --> 30:01.990 literally shut down last week due to 30:01.990 --> 30:04.740 freezing temperatures . But more 30:04.740 --> 30:06.840 notable is the demographics of those 30:06.840 --> 30:09.640 who traveled . I have two family 30:09.640 --> 30:12.670 members here . I have three former aide 30:12.670 --> 30:15.170 de camps , one former subordinate 30:15.170 --> 30:17.830 commander and her Jag lawyer husband , 30:17.840 --> 30:20.620 my legal advisor from brigade command . 30:20.630 --> 30:22.797 And so this is like the beginning of a 30:22.797 --> 30:25.280 really horrible joke where three former 30:25.290 --> 30:27.650 aides to jag lawyers and a veterinarian 30:27.650 --> 30:30.980 walk into a bar . But um 30:30.980 --> 30:34.900 seriously every one of you , especially 30:34.910 --> 30:37.600 the former aide to camps make a 30:37.600 --> 30:40.060 conscious decision Once you're done 30:40.060 --> 30:43.360 working for me whether you ever want 30:43.370 --> 30:47.230 anything to do with me again , um you 30:47.230 --> 30:49.690 all had a choice and you all go to 30:49.690 --> 30:52.460 great lengths to stay connected to me 30:52.460 --> 30:55.590 and my family and to be here today . 30:55.600 --> 30:59.280 And so I simply thank you The 30:59.280 --> 31:02.640 fact that two , two of you brought your 31:02.640 --> 31:05.690 Children and two of you brought your 31:05.690 --> 31:09.320 parents as a special dimension . 31:10.080 --> 31:12.460 It adds a generational , multi 31:12.460 --> 31:14.970 generational aspect to our relationship 31:14.970 --> 31:18.610 and our connection with you . And as I 31:18.610 --> 31:21.550 think about my own parents , as 31:21.560 --> 31:23.610 educators , teachers , community 31:23.610 --> 31:25.880 leaders . They themselves had 31:25.880 --> 31:29.590 multigenerational effects on those 31:29.600 --> 31:32.160 whose lives they touched . So I'm 31:32.160 --> 31:34.216 hopeful that the presence of parents 31:34.216 --> 31:36.382 and Children today appropriately honor 31:36.460 --> 31:39.000 my own parents . I did want to make 31:39.000 --> 31:41.620 sure my parents were acknowledged in 31:41.620 --> 31:44.510 general , but as teachers in particular . 31:44.520 --> 31:47.270 So thank you Alan Olinda for 31:47.270 --> 31:50.470 representing that after my promotion to 31:50.470 --> 31:52.692 brigadier general . My sister and I did 31:52.692 --> 31:54.859 a series of media days where there was 31:54.859 --> 31:57.250 an incredible amount of attention on 31:57.250 --> 31:59.306 the question of our upbringing , our 31:59.306 --> 32:02.260 hometown , our teachers and coaches the 32:02.260 --> 32:04.482 role of church and the influence of our 32:04.482 --> 32:06.860 three older siblings . It did cause me 32:06.860 --> 32:09.440 to reflect and realize where I had 32:09.440 --> 32:12.050 previously thought of my life as a 32:12.060 --> 32:15.110 sequence of events and chapters opening 32:15.110 --> 32:18.450 and closing . I hadn't given just 32:18.450 --> 32:20.630 credit to how much influence matters 32:20.730 --> 32:22.970 and how much life is more of a full 32:22.970 --> 32:26.280 circle than a straight line as general 32:26.280 --> 32:28.420 Flynn reference , our dad was a 32:28.430 --> 32:30.652 decorated World War two veteran awarded 32:30.652 --> 32:33.190 the Silver Star for gallantry in action 32:33.200 --> 32:37.100 in april 1945 in modern Italy . He was 32:37.100 --> 32:39.550 a corporal driving for a general who 32:39.550 --> 32:41.606 was in charge of establishing allied 32:41.606 --> 32:44.880 military government in the 5th 5th Army 32:44.880 --> 32:48.850 area of responsibility , he played a 32:48.850 --> 32:50.870 vital role in dissuading an italian 32:50.870 --> 32:53.300 partisan mob from executing german 32:53.300 --> 32:55.270 prisoners and under direct fire of 32:55.280 --> 32:58.050 german infantry . Established an allied 32:58.050 --> 33:00.290 military government in the city hall . 33:00.310 --> 33:03.210 While my dad never spoke of his service , 33:03.220 --> 33:05.660 his influence and his encouragement of 33:05.660 --> 33:07.860 my goal to join the army was key 33:08.440 --> 33:10.880 Coincidentally at the time of his 33:10.880 --> 33:14.400 general death in 1952 , General 33:14.400 --> 33:16.750 Hume was arguably the most highly 33:16.750 --> 33:19.050 regarded and highly decorated Medical 33:19.050 --> 33:21.490 Corps officer in history . So I'm 33:21.490 --> 33:23.490 extremely honored to have pursued a 33:23.490 --> 33:25.730 career in the a med to further connect 33:25.730 --> 33:29.000 me back to my dad's service . My father 33:29.000 --> 33:31.167 was an elementary school principal and 33:31.167 --> 33:33.222 one of his hallmarks was that he was 33:33.222 --> 33:35.389 out every morning greeting the kids as 33:35.389 --> 33:37.667 they got off the busses in the morning . 33:37.667 --> 33:39.778 I remember having a conversation with 33:39.778 --> 33:42.000 the former command sergeant major years 33:42.000 --> 33:44.111 ago about my passion for being around 33:44.111 --> 33:46.370 soldiers and he asked me who taught me 33:46.370 --> 33:49.930 that and we always joked and had some 33:49.930 --> 33:52.097 theories over whether I married an N . 33:52.097 --> 33:54.041 C . O . Because I love soldiers or 33:54.041 --> 33:56.208 whether I love soldiers because I have 33:56.208 --> 33:58.319 the insights of a , of an N . C . O . 33:58.319 --> 34:01.000 In my , in my head all the time . Um , 34:01.690 --> 34:03.746 but all that brought to mind a black 34:03.746 --> 34:06.130 and white picture we have of my dad out 34:06.130 --> 34:09.180 greeting busses at the Robinson Hill 34:09.180 --> 34:12.240 School in Foxboro , helping kids make 34:12.240 --> 34:14.280 that last step off the bus and and 34:14.280 --> 34:16.336 stride confidently into their school 34:16.336 --> 34:18.520 day . And then I thought about how I 34:18.520 --> 34:21.000 feel about soldiers and the countless 34:21.000 --> 34:23.000 deployment and redeployment flights 34:23.000 --> 34:24.889 that I've met at Fort Hood , Fort 34:24.889 --> 34:27.056 Benning , Fort Campbell and Fort Bragg 34:27.440 --> 34:30.360 and how today really is rooted in the 34:30.360 --> 34:33.220 service loyalty and accomplishment of 34:33.220 --> 34:35.220 the soldiers . I've been blessed to 34:35.220 --> 34:37.990 lead since becoming a general officer . 34:37.990 --> 34:41.470 I have , I have a moniker from a select 34:41.470 --> 34:43.303 group of soldiers . I've had the 34:43.303 --> 34:47.080 privilege to lead TPC or TPG and if you 34:47.080 --> 34:50.640 know , you know it is that title and 34:50.640 --> 34:52.751 the meaning behind it , that gives me 34:52.751 --> 34:54.973 hope that I am living up to the example 34:54.973 --> 34:57.730 of my parents at my brigadier general 34:57.730 --> 35:00.410 promotion , those U N 18th Med com . No , 35:00.410 --> 35:02.580 I love a good walk up song and my 35:02.580 --> 35:04.691 brigadier general promotion . My walk 35:04.691 --> 35:07.010 up song was panic at the disco's . Hey 35:07.010 --> 35:09.740 look ma , I made it as a nod to the 35:09.740 --> 35:11.796 fact that as the last of five kids , 35:11.796 --> 35:14.360 I'm a little bit underdog and maybe a 35:14.360 --> 35:17.320 little bit more rebel . I could stick 35:17.320 --> 35:19.431 with this one because there is a line 35:19.431 --> 35:21.653 in it that asks if you're ready for the 35:21.653 --> 35:23.876 sequel . So this could very well be the 35:23.876 --> 35:26.200 sequel to that . But with the new rank , 35:26.210 --> 35:28.210 I probably should show a modicum of 35:28.210 --> 35:31.260 maturity and refinement maybe . 35:32.550 --> 35:35.110 Um , But the , I thought you should 35:35.110 --> 35:37.510 know struck a chord in a song to his 35:37.510 --> 35:39.732 mother , country singer , Morgan Whalen 35:39.732 --> 35:41.850 says , I know , I know you've been 35:41.850 --> 35:44.050 worrying about me , you've been losing 35:44.050 --> 35:46.960 sleep since 93 . I thought you should 35:46.960 --> 35:50.280 know all those prayers you thought you 35:50.280 --> 35:52.440 wasted on me must have finally made 35:52.440 --> 35:55.200 their way on through so of all the 35:55.200 --> 35:57.256 things my mother instilled in us was 35:57.256 --> 36:00.630 faith and there is no doubt that 36:00.640 --> 36:02.710 raising me , I caused her a lot of 36:02.710 --> 36:05.120 sleep loss and generated a lot of 36:05.120 --> 36:07.830 prayer and when she passed away , she 36:07.830 --> 36:09.830 officially handed the reins over to 36:09.830 --> 36:13.390 Henry and Henry since being selected 36:13.390 --> 36:15.501 for brigadier general , I've had four 36:15.501 --> 36:17.760 jobs in four years , three moves in 36:17.760 --> 36:21.090 three years and two commands . Words 36:21.090 --> 36:23.940 can't describe your resilience . I 36:23.940 --> 36:25.551 thought about not having you 36:25.551 --> 36:27.780 participate in the official pinning 36:27.780 --> 36:30.002 part of the ceremony because you get to 36:30.002 --> 36:32.280 mess around with my uniforms every day . 36:33.770 --> 36:36.630 But I'm glad we settled on the beret my 36:36.630 --> 36:39.250 headgear because while it goes without 36:39.250 --> 36:41.890 saying you have my whole heart more 36:41.890 --> 36:44.330 importantly and perhaps fitting for 36:44.330 --> 36:46.400 today's ceremony is that you have my 36:46.400 --> 36:49.230 head , you have my voice of reason when 36:49.230 --> 36:51.452 I'm overthinking things when I'm trying 36:51.452 --> 36:54.280 to shove £10 of in a £5 bag 36:55.140 --> 36:57.590 or when I'm about to embark on another , 36:57.590 --> 37:00.790 hold my beer , watch this moment . You 37:00.790 --> 37:02.957 bring me back to reality , you keep me 37:02.957 --> 37:05.140 grounded , I love you and I literally 37:05.140 --> 37:07.560 would not be here without you . I'm so 37:07.560 --> 37:10.610 proud of you , I'm so proud of our 37:10.610 --> 37:12.554 daughters and I'm so glad that our 37:12.554 --> 37:15.080 daughters have your steadfast example 37:15.080 --> 37:17.247 to venture into their own army careers 37:17.247 --> 37:20.000 with and with that in my remarks . 37:20.010 --> 37:23.870 Um , and just simply say , thank you , 37:23.870 --> 37:26.230 I'm overwhelmed with everyone's 37:26.230 --> 37:29.550 presence and I , I hope that everybody 37:29.550 --> 37:31.717 knows that this ceremony is less about 37:31.717 --> 37:34.660 me than the celebration of all the all 37:34.660 --> 37:37.480 that was poured into me um to make this 37:37.480 --> 37:39.780 day possible . So sir , thank you 37:50.270 --> 37:52.492 ladies and gentlemen , please stand for 37:52.492 --> 37:54.350 the playing of the Army song . 39:00.330 --> 39:02.520 Ladies and gentlemen , this concludes 39:02.520 --> 39:04.510 today's ceremony . Thank you for 39:04.510 --> 39:06.510 sharing this special day with Major 39:06.510 --> 39:08.850 General Lodi and her family . Please 39:08.850 --> 39:10.810 come forward to the gazebo and 39:10.810 --> 39:13.260 congratulate Major General Lodi and 39:13.260 --> 39:15.680 then join us for a reception located 39:15.690 --> 39:17.610 here at the gazebo .