WEBVTT 00:00.839 --> 00:03.061 And at this time , we express gratitude 00:03.061 --> 00:05.579 for this great great nation in which we 00:05.590 --> 00:09.100 live for the freedoms and principles of 00:09.109 --> 00:12.720 freedom that established it , freedom 00:12.729 --> 00:15.659 of speech , freedom of assembly , 00:16.840 --> 00:20.010 freedom of religion , for its 00:20.020 --> 00:22.049 principles of , of liberty and 00:22.059 --> 00:23.892 responsibility . And we are most 00:23.892 --> 00:27.750 grateful at this time as we gather for 00:27.770 --> 00:30.159 General David Mendelsohn and for his 00:30.170 --> 00:33.830 family , Maria Aaron and Gabriel , 00:34.169 --> 00:37.060 for his parents , Marvin and Judy . We 00:37.069 --> 00:40.069 are thankful for the sacrifice that 00:40.080 --> 00:42.136 General Mendelsohn has given and his 00:42.136 --> 00:45.889 family has given these 30 years in 00:46.689 --> 00:50.150 defending this nation and serving it 00:50.159 --> 00:53.180 and its army and the jag corps . We're 00:53.189 --> 00:55.022 grateful for General Mendelson's 00:55.022 --> 00:57.189 generosity of spirit , for his ever 00:57.200 --> 00:59.830 present care for 01:00.580 --> 01:04.480 every person he interacts with and for 01:04.489 --> 01:07.230 looking out for those who are less 01:07.239 --> 01:10.160 fortunate and may not be noticed and 01:10.169 --> 01:12.639 helping to develop and mentor and raise 01:12.650 --> 01:15.589 them up . We ask a blessing at this 01:15.599 --> 01:18.059 time upon the Mendelssohn family as 01:18.069 --> 01:20.236 they go forward in the next chapter of 01:20.236 --> 01:22.919 their life that they may be preserved 01:23.169 --> 01:27.150 and blessed with health and safety and 01:27.160 --> 01:29.327 the opportunities to continue to serve 01:29.327 --> 01:32.010 and mentor and love others . And we say 01:32.019 --> 01:34.241 these things in your holy name . Amen . 01:38.849 --> 01:39.905 Please be seated , 01:46.400 --> 01:48.819 distinguished guests , service members , 01:48.830 --> 01:50.719 family members and friends . Good 01:50.719 --> 01:52.941 afternoon . It is my distinct honor and 01:52.941 --> 01:55.108 privilege to welcome each of you today 01:55.690 --> 01:57.980 for the retirement of New Jersey's own 01:57.989 --> 02:00.267 brigadier general , David E Mendelsohn . 02:08.429 --> 02:10.651 I'm Lieutenant Colonel Greg Isham , the 02:10.651 --> 02:12.873 narrator for today's ceremony . Today , 02:12.873 --> 02:14.929 the United States Army and the Judge 02:14.929 --> 02:16.929 Advocate General Corps . In keeping 02:16.929 --> 02:18.985 with one of the oldest traditions in 02:18.985 --> 02:21.096 military service will honor Brigadier 02:21.096 --> 02:22.985 General Mendelsohn , the People's 02:22.985 --> 02:24.762 Attorney on the occasion of his 02:24.762 --> 02:26.850 retirement after over 30 years of 02:26.860 --> 02:28.860 commission service to our country , 02:29.320 --> 02:31.209 United States Army Judge Advocate 02:31.209 --> 02:33.098 General's Corps extends a special 02:33.098 --> 02:34.987 welcome to our many distinguished 02:34.987 --> 02:36.876 guests attending today's ceremony 02:36.876 --> 02:39.098 including Brigadier General Mendelson's 02:39.098 --> 02:40.764 family and friends . We would 02:40.764 --> 02:42.931 especially like to recognize Mrs Maria 02:43.130 --> 02:45.130 Elena Mendelson . Brigadier General 02:45.130 --> 02:47.639 Men's wife , Mr Aaron and Mr Gabriel 02:47.649 --> 02:50.419 Mendelson . His sons , Mr Marvin and 02:50.429 --> 02:53.529 Judy Mendelson , his parents , Mr 02:53.539 --> 02:55.509 Steven and Kathy Mendelson , his 02:55.520 --> 02:58.229 brother and spouse Mr Ignacio Esteban 02:58.240 --> 03:00.639 and MS Julie Falk and the entire 03:00.649 --> 03:03.339 Mendelsohn Medley and Radler families 03:03.350 --> 03:05.628 here with us today and watching online , 03:07.360 --> 03:09.582 we would also like to recognize some of 03:09.582 --> 03:11.416 our distinguished visitors , the 03:11.416 --> 03:13.304 honorable Kerri Ritchie , General 03:13.304 --> 03:15.527 Counsel of the United States Army , the 03:15.527 --> 03:17.360 honorable Robert Sander , former 03:17.360 --> 03:19.416 General Counsel of the United States 03:19.416 --> 03:21.416 Navy . Mr Jacob Friedman , chief of 03:21.416 --> 03:23.360 staff to the Secretary of the Army 03:23.360 --> 03:25.471 Lieutenant General Donna Martin , the 03:25.471 --> 03:27.638 Inspector general of the United States 03:27.638 --> 03:29.804 Army Lieutenant General Anthony Hale , 03:29.804 --> 03:31.804 deputy chief of staff United States 03:31.804 --> 03:33.809 Army G , two lieutenant general , 03:33.820 --> 03:36.330 retired Charles PD and a spouse , Miss 03:36.339 --> 03:38.630 Anne Py , lieutenant and Lieutenant 03:38.639 --> 03:41.050 general , retired Stu Risch and the 03:41.059 --> 03:43.003 combined leadership of the US Army 03:43.003 --> 03:45.337 Judge Advocate General Score here today . 03:46.110 --> 03:48.770 And finally , our presiding officer for 03:48.779 --> 03:50.890 today's ceremony , Lieutenant General 03:50.890 --> 03:52.835 Joe Berger and his spouse Brenna , 03:53.089 --> 03:54.978 ladies and gentlemen , Lieutenant 03:54.978 --> 03:56.978 General Berger , the Judge Advocate 03:56.978 --> 03:56.610 General 04:06.199 --> 04:09.830 Greg . Thank you , Warren . Thank you 04:09.839 --> 04:12.061 for putting us in the right place as we 04:12.070 --> 04:13.903 begin this afternoon's journey , 04:14.289 --> 04:16.511 another milestone in a bigger journey , 04:16.511 --> 04:18.733 but a journey in and of itself as David 04:18.733 --> 04:20.900 and I have talked about welcome to all 04:20.900 --> 04:22.733 of you who've gathered today . I 04:22.733 --> 04:24.890 started to say you've gathered to say 04:24.899 --> 04:27.500 farewell , but I had to cross the head 04:27.510 --> 04:29.399 in my notes and just write to say 04:29.399 --> 04:31.619 thanks because if you've been part of 04:31.630 --> 04:33.852 David's life at any point in time , you 04:33.852 --> 04:36.019 know , you will never get rid of him , 04:36.369 --> 04:38.591 whether that's good or bad . I leave to 04:38.591 --> 04:40.702 you . Uh But we are here to thank him 04:40.702 --> 04:42.869 and to a certain degree to roast him , 04:42.869 --> 04:45.589 our teammate and my good friend Brier , 04:45.600 --> 04:47.769 General Dave Mendelsohn . He goes by 04:47.779 --> 04:49.835 many names , some of which have been 04:49.835 --> 04:52.179 alluded to uh already uh the people's 04:52.190 --> 04:55.790 SJ , the People's MLO , the last 04:56.149 --> 04:58.700 of the ML Os and simply coach 04:58.709 --> 05:00.950 Mendelsohn and whether that's been to 05:00.959 --> 05:02.903 football players or wrestlers he's 05:02.903 --> 05:05.126 coached , it has also been to the teams 05:05.126 --> 05:08.320 that he has led and those whom he has 05:08.329 --> 05:11.950 brought up behind him . He is an ice 05:11.959 --> 05:14.399 cream aficionado , aficionado . He's a 05:14.410 --> 05:17.140 doughnut enthusiast . He is the 05:17.149 --> 05:21.029 honorary Fort Sill fire warden . He 05:21.040 --> 05:24.940 is a rabid WWE fan . He's a connoisseur 05:24.950 --> 05:27.309 of eighties music , a beloved son of 05:27.320 --> 05:30.059 New Jersey . Creator of the Mendel 05:30.070 --> 05:32.559 sends . And if you missed it on your 05:32.570 --> 05:34.730 walk into the room on your way out , 05:34.739 --> 05:37.040 please take note one of the most in 05:37.049 --> 05:40.709 demand ays models of the nineties 05:41.670 --> 05:43.781 to quote another famous prince of New 05:43.781 --> 05:45.929 Jersey . David was never going to be 05:46.100 --> 05:48.329 just another face in the crowd as 05:48.339 --> 05:50.450 you've been hard as you would be hard 05:50.450 --> 05:52.561 pressed not to hear his voice , which 05:52.561 --> 05:54.561 is exactly David . What we're gonna 05:54.561 --> 05:56.728 miss the most that is your larger than 05:56.728 --> 05:58.950 life personality and your gift for team 05:58.950 --> 06:02.799 building . You are a mensch with the 06:02.809 --> 06:05.950 fair amount of chutzpah because I in 06:05.959 --> 06:07.792 fact , in a foot but to steal my 06:07.792 --> 06:09.681 assignment coming out of the grad 06:09.681 --> 06:11.903 course . Uh So I challenge those of you 06:11.903 --> 06:13.959 in this room to think back to either 06:13.959 --> 06:16.399 your own experience with the artist , 06:16.410 --> 06:20.160 formerly known as PPTO um or another's 06:20.170 --> 06:23.410 experience to have your close friend 06:23.820 --> 06:26.042 put your dream assignment as number two 06:26.042 --> 06:29.269 on his list and get it . So 06:30.480 --> 06:34.109 now made sense because David's first 06:34.119 --> 06:37.100 choice was CJ A shades of green , 06:39.429 --> 06:42.380 which while farcical and uh somewhat 06:42.390 --> 06:45.089 fanciful as an aspiration , um also 06:45.100 --> 06:47.399 greatly frustrated then Lieutenant 06:47.410 --> 06:49.243 Colonel Kevin Lovejoy because it 06:49.243 --> 06:51.299 screwed up his statistics because he 06:51.299 --> 06:53.354 did not claim that he gave David his 06:53.354 --> 06:55.410 first choice . Um but in that job in 06:55.410 --> 06:57.410 Hanna , as he took great care of my 06:57.410 --> 06:59.632 team , like any job and every job David 06:59.632 --> 07:02.190 excelled throughout his career . David 07:02.200 --> 07:04.200 has been building and inspiring and 07:04.200 --> 07:06.422 empowering his teammates to reach their 07:06.422 --> 07:08.644 potential all while creating workplaces 07:08.644 --> 07:11.890 of and for families . David's well 07:11.899 --> 07:13.899 known for reminding us of the basic 07:13.899 --> 07:15.788 reality . If you take care of the 07:15.788 --> 07:17.899 people , the people will take care of 07:17.899 --> 07:19.899 the mission to quote one of David's 07:19.899 --> 07:21.899 friends and a colleague . And quite 07:21.899 --> 07:21.579 frankly , if you've ever been in 07:21.589 --> 07:23.645 David's orbit , you're both a friend 07:23.645 --> 07:25.589 and a colleague . No other service 07:25.589 --> 07:27.533 member I've encountered in over 20 07:27.533 --> 07:29.645 years of service has consistently put 07:29.645 --> 07:31.756 the people and people first including 07:31.756 --> 07:33.978 well before that freeze even existed as 07:33.978 --> 07:36.089 part of the army's official lexicon . 07:36.089 --> 07:38.429 More authentically , more caring for 07:38.440 --> 07:41.190 more service members with more verve 07:41.369 --> 07:44.380 than David Mendelsohn . Dave's natural 07:44.390 --> 07:46.390 people . First coaching ability was 07:46.390 --> 07:48.557 apparent from his earliest days in the 07:48.557 --> 07:50.557 jag court . When a young lawyer , a 07:50.557 --> 07:52.668 direct commissioning straight off the 07:52.668 --> 07:54.612 streets of New Jersey received the 07:54.612 --> 07:56.668 following evaluation upon graduating 07:56.668 --> 07:59.149 from O BC . And I quote , David was 07:59.160 --> 08:01.271 instrumental in the rapid development 08:01.271 --> 08:03.271 of 24 inexperienced officers into a 08:03.271 --> 08:05.600 cohesive , efficient unit , loyal , 08:05.609 --> 08:07.799 hard working and dedicated to mission 08:07.809 --> 08:10.260 accomplishment . He was a team player 08:10.269 --> 08:12.380 who always ensured the welfare of his 08:12.380 --> 08:14.602 fellow soldiers . So let's start at the 08:14.602 --> 08:18.410 very beginning . Thanks for not leaving 08:18.420 --> 08:20.698 me . Thanks for not leaving me hanging . 08:20.698 --> 08:23.529 David . Now before David's teambuilding 08:23.540 --> 08:25.484 talent could shine through at O BC 08:25.484 --> 08:27.484 first , he had to get a little help 08:27.484 --> 08:29.151 from his friends . Lieutenant 08:29.151 --> 08:31.373 Mendelsohn showed up at Fort Lee on his 08:31.373 --> 08:33.596 first day in the army proudly strutting 08:33.596 --> 08:35.596 down the hotel hallway to his first 08:35.596 --> 08:37.484 formation . He had his BDU blouse 08:37.484 --> 08:39.373 tucked firmly into his belt . His 08:39.373 --> 08:41.330 blouse sleeves were cuffed , his 08:41.340 --> 08:43.989 trousers were rolled up . It was a kind 08:44.000 --> 08:46.222 of eighties kid off the block joins the 08:46.222 --> 08:48.389 army . Look , you can take the kid out 08:48.389 --> 08:50.556 of New Jersey , but you can't take the 08:50.556 --> 08:52.833 New Jersey swagger out of the kid . Oh , 08:52.833 --> 08:54.944 Andy was wearing his headgear indoors 08:54.944 --> 08:57.760 at a nice 45 degree angle . Three 08:57.770 --> 09:00.099 captains promptly pulled him in to 09:00.109 --> 09:01.942 their room . Of course , David's 09:01.942 --> 09:04.053 reaction being from New Jersey is I'm 09:04.053 --> 09:06.220 being jumped . This can't be good . Um 09:06.229 --> 09:08.659 But these kindhearted captains took 09:08.669 --> 09:10.891 David under their wing , they fixed his 09:10.891 --> 09:13.219 uniform , they set him on his way and 09:13.229 --> 09:15.320 this was David's first real army 09:15.330 --> 09:17.497 leadership lesson about taking care of 09:17.497 --> 09:19.719 people , showing them what wright looks 09:19.719 --> 09:21.886 like . And then once he was trusted to 09:21.886 --> 09:24.108 dress himself on his own , becoming one 09:24.108 --> 09:26.441 of our core's most valued leaders . Now , 09:26.441 --> 09:28.552 the rest of the story , which most of 09:28.552 --> 09:30.774 you don't know requires we jump forward 09:30.774 --> 09:32.941 to the graduate course about 7.5 years 09:32.941 --> 09:35.020 later , back in those days , O BC 09:35.030 --> 09:37.030 students had to sit at the security 09:37.030 --> 09:40.830 desk during off hours and so a class 09:40.840 --> 09:44.119 had just arrived from DC C brand new 09:44.409 --> 09:46.929 Lieutenant seated at the desk , just 09:46.940 --> 09:49.429 arrived at the L CS in Charlottesville . 09:49.440 --> 09:51.607 David proceeds to make small talk with 09:51.607 --> 09:53.607 him . And through the course of the 09:53.607 --> 09:55.760 conversation , David asks him so any 09:55.770 --> 09:59.299 memorable stories from the first phase 09:59.309 --> 10:01.380 of your basic course ? And the kid 10:01.390 --> 10:04.229 looks at him and says now , but there 10:04.239 --> 10:06.630 is this one legendary story and 10:06.640 --> 10:09.150 proceeds in explicit graphic and 10:09.159 --> 10:11.239 frighteningly accurate detail to 10:11.250 --> 10:13.250 recount the story . I just told you 10:13.250 --> 10:15.361 about David's first day in the Jaguar 10:17.390 --> 10:19.900 to which David simply looked at him and 10:19.909 --> 10:22.169 said , fascinating and walked away . 10:24.510 --> 10:26.732 David lived his leadership philosophy , 10:26.732 --> 10:29.000 not by waxing poetically about a 10:29.010 --> 10:31.900 certain leadership style , but truly by 10:31.909 --> 10:33.965 demonstrating it through an unspoken 10:33.965 --> 10:36.020 example . A famous rabbi once said , 10:36.150 --> 10:38.280 not all of us have power , but we all 10:38.289 --> 10:40.479 have influence . That is why we can 10:40.489 --> 10:42.669 each be leaders , leadership does not 10:42.679 --> 10:45.570 come from position or power but from a 10:45.580 --> 10:47.913 willingness to work together to achieve . 10:47.913 --> 10:49.890 What can't , we can't do alone 10:50.330 --> 10:53.049 influence , not power helps change 10:53.059 --> 10:56.010 people who can change the world . 10:57.130 --> 10:59.297 So let's turn to the question . You're 10:59.297 --> 11:01.408 all sitting on the edge of your seats 11:01.408 --> 11:03.630 waiting to have answered . How did this 11:03.630 --> 11:05.741 kid who spent his entire childhood in 11:05.741 --> 11:07.963 the same house in Central Jersey , in a 11:07.963 --> 11:10.130 single neighborhood in a single school 11:10.130 --> 11:12.241 district end up leading a global team 11:12.241 --> 11:14.186 and bringing his wife and his sons 11:14.186 --> 11:16.880 around the world with him , David's 11:16.890 --> 11:18.834 journey for that started at Ithaca 11:18.834 --> 11:20.612 College , cementing his love of 11:20.612 --> 11:22.557 wrestling in his first year , he'd 11:22.557 --> 11:25.330 considered ROTC . But frankly , his 11:25.340 --> 11:27.559 parents hadn't had much contact with 11:27.570 --> 11:30.119 the military . And from that Vietnam 11:30.130 --> 11:32.186 war generation , there was a healthy 11:32.186 --> 11:34.859 degree of distrust of our army . And so 11:34.869 --> 11:36.869 David didn't pursue that route . He 11:36.869 --> 11:38.980 finished undergrad and he moved on to 11:38.980 --> 11:41.091 get his law degree in Florida down at 11:41.091 --> 11:43.919 Nova Southeastern . And years later , 11:44.659 --> 11:46.659 one of our J A general officers was 11:46.659 --> 11:48.770 walking through the office on article 11:48.770 --> 11:51.739 six visit and saw David's diploma 11:51.750 --> 11:53.806 hanging on the wall and he stuck his 11:53.806 --> 11:55.750 head in his office . And he said , 11:55.750 --> 11:57.917 David , did you graduate with honors ? 11:57.917 --> 11:59.750 And David said , my parents sure 11:59.750 --> 12:01.639 thought it was an honor for me to 12:01.639 --> 12:05.559 graduate . So David graduates 12:05.570 --> 12:07.520 from law school and moves on to 12:07.530 --> 12:09.530 practice in a private firm , but he 12:09.530 --> 12:11.697 didn't take to the private firm life . 12:11.697 --> 12:13.919 He didn't like the money mindset and he 12:13.919 --> 12:16.086 wanted a career where he could show up 12:16.086 --> 12:17.863 every day on a team that worked 12:17.863 --> 12:19.863 together to accomplish something of 12:19.863 --> 12:21.974 importance . A fellow attorney in the 12:21.979 --> 12:24.539 office sensing that showed David a 12:24.549 --> 12:26.919 pamphlet for the Jagar proof . Once 12:26.929 --> 12:29.679 again , that our own individual stories 12:29.690 --> 12:32.179 are truly our most powerful recruiting 12:32.190 --> 12:34.820 tool . David was convinced to give it a 12:34.830 --> 12:38.020 go . But while waiting to start , O BC 12:38.219 --> 12:40.552 David had a chance encounter at the zoo , 12:40.552 --> 12:42.552 not with a lion , a tiger or bear . 12:44.049 --> 12:47.299 Thank you . The zoo being a bar in Fort 12:47.309 --> 12:49.198 Lauderdale that much like the MLO 12:49.198 --> 12:52.539 billet is now gone . But it was at the 12:52.549 --> 12:54.438 zoo that a young David Mendelsohn 12:54.438 --> 12:56.493 replete with hair had the fortune to 12:56.493 --> 12:58.716 meet Maria and boldly informed her they 12:58.716 --> 13:00.679 would marry and have four kids . 13:01.020 --> 13:02.909 Something about Bon Jovi and only 13:02.909 --> 13:05.020 halfway there . But Maria has soundly 13:05.020 --> 13:07.242 informed me , this is not even open for 13:07.242 --> 13:10.030 debate and we're thrilled to be joined 13:10.039 --> 13:11.983 today , not only by Maria , but by 13:11.983 --> 13:14.409 their two sons , Gabe and Aaron Aaron 13:14.419 --> 13:17.820 25 graduated from Colgate is a math and 13:17.830 --> 13:20.330 a computer major went on to Virginia 13:20.340 --> 13:23.760 Tech to get a degree in data analytics 13:23.770 --> 13:26.048 and now works for a DC consulting firm . 13:26.169 --> 13:28.530 And Gabe 23 graduated from Virginia 13:28.539 --> 13:30.817 Tech where he and Aaron lived together , 13:30.817 --> 13:32.817 visions of animal house , perhaps , 13:32.817 --> 13:34.872 maybe not . Uh but now on his way to 13:34.872 --> 13:37.229 medical school and as Dave tells it , 13:37.400 --> 13:39.456 Gabe never really thought much about 13:39.456 --> 13:41.456 medical school until a bunch of his 13:41.456 --> 13:43.567 friends at tech started talking about 13:43.567 --> 13:45.733 it just like Dave never considered the 13:45.733 --> 13:47.956 jaguar until a colleague mentioned it . 13:47.956 --> 13:50.011 And the lesson is that life is about 13:50.011 --> 13:52.067 keeping an open mind and surrounding 13:52.067 --> 13:54.233 yourself with all the best people back 13:54.233 --> 13:56.344 to Bon Jovi once again , map out your 13:56.344 --> 13:58.567 future , but do it in pencil . The road 13:58.567 --> 14:00.733 ahead is as long as you make it , make 14:00.733 --> 14:03.299 it worth the trip , Gabe Aaron , I know 14:03.309 --> 14:05.476 how much your dad loves you because in 14:05.476 --> 14:07.809 the 20 plus years that I have known him . 14:08.179 --> 14:10.068 I don't think there's ever been a 14:10.068 --> 14:12.330 conversation that didn't include how 14:12.340 --> 14:14.530 are the boys doing and his desire to 14:14.539 --> 14:17.809 talk about both of you and Maria that 14:17.820 --> 14:20.340 goes double for you . You've been on 14:20.349 --> 14:22.820 this entire 30 plus year journey with 14:22.830 --> 14:26.260 him . That list of locations is lengthy . 14:26.270 --> 14:28.492 People can read it in the program . But 14:28.492 --> 14:30.603 what that program doesn't tell is the 14:30.603 --> 14:32.826 how or adequately convey your passion . 14:33.039 --> 14:35.859 You've been fiercely loyal to every one 14:35.869 --> 14:37.869 of those teams , every one of those 14:37.869 --> 14:39.647 families , you've made personal 14:39.647 --> 14:41.758 professional sacrifices along the way 14:41.758 --> 14:44.091 in your career as an educator , Brandon . 14:44.091 --> 14:46.390 And I thank you for your friendship and 14:46.400 --> 14:48.456 the core and I thank you for sharing 14:48.456 --> 14:51.260 David with all of us . How about a 14:51.270 --> 14:52.937 round of applause for Maria ? 15:06.159 --> 15:08.830 Now , as I previously mentioned , Judy 15:08.840 --> 15:11.062 and Marvin down here in the front row , 15:11.062 --> 15:12.840 Dave's parents were not exactly 15:12.840 --> 15:15.007 initially supportive of Dave's joining 15:15.007 --> 15:16.784 the army , but it was at Dave's 15:16.784 --> 15:18.784 promotion to captain that the tides 15:18.784 --> 15:20.784 changed and Dave learned a valuable 15:20.784 --> 15:23.669 lesson . So Marvin and Judy , we're 15:23.679 --> 15:25.780 coming down to visit Dave and to be 15:25.789 --> 15:27.511 there for a ceremony and first 15:27.511 --> 15:29.678 promotion to Captain David glanced out 15:29.678 --> 15:31.622 of his office window to see his SJ 15:31.622 --> 15:33.845 stand out front of the building waiting 15:33.845 --> 15:36.090 for his parents to arrive , not just 15:36.099 --> 15:38.400 waiting to greet them , but as Judy 15:38.409 --> 15:42.270 walked up , he said , ah , you're a 25 15:42.280 --> 15:44.280 year educator . You did a great job 15:44.280 --> 15:46.280 educating your son as well . And he 15:46.280 --> 15:48.391 looked at Marvin and said , you're an 15:48.391 --> 15:50.613 engineer . No wonder he's such a bright 15:50.613 --> 15:53.859 young man . A lesson that had an 15:53.880 --> 15:56.400 immediate and enduring impact on David 15:56.690 --> 15:58.801 because it meant the world to both of 15:58.801 --> 16:00.857 them . And after the SJ regaled them 16:00.859 --> 16:03.369 with perhaps truthful toils about 16:03.380 --> 16:05.436 David's success , they went out with 16:05.436 --> 16:07.729 the 03 mafia and truly got a sense of 16:07.739 --> 16:10.500 why it was David loved the Jag Corps . 16:10.789 --> 16:13.039 They knew in that moment all of that 16:13.049 --> 16:14.827 never since have visited him at 16:14.827 --> 16:17.049 virtually every camp poster station and 16:17.049 --> 16:19.049 are truly some of our corps biggest 16:19.049 --> 16:21.210 cheerleaders . So thank you Judy as a 16:21.219 --> 16:23.275 mother's gift for locating her son , 16:23.890 --> 16:27.210 David's in Baghdad , I think at Victory 16:27.219 --> 16:29.409 Palace there at all fall and uh 16:29.419 --> 16:31.309 somebody yells over one of the 16:32.059 --> 16:34.510 temporary office walls . David , your 16:34.520 --> 16:37.520 mother's on the phone . David's like 16:37.599 --> 16:40.570 how in the world did she find me in 16:40.580 --> 16:43.799 Baghdad ? But she did because mothers 16:43.809 --> 16:45.753 do that . And so Judy and Marvin , 16:45.760 --> 16:48.469 thank you for sharing David with us as 16:48.479 --> 16:50.479 well and for your support all these 16:50.479 --> 16:53.070 many years , David has always been a 16:53.080 --> 16:55.590 model officer , literally . And you saw 16:55.599 --> 16:57.890 that on the way in it's one of his 16:57.900 --> 17:00.460 early captain's O S that states Captain 17:00.469 --> 17:02.302 Mendelsohn impressed me with his 17:02.302 --> 17:04.180 impeccable military bearing his 17:04.189 --> 17:06.300 selection as a model for the recent A 17:06.500 --> 17:09.770 catalog is a testament to this , not 17:09.780 --> 17:11.724 too shabby for a guy who could not 17:11.724 --> 17:13.780 figure out how to wear the uniform , 17:14.249 --> 17:16.360 right ? But David is much more than a 17:16.360 --> 17:18.688 pretty face . His legal acumen his 17:18.698 --> 17:20.865 sound judgment have been highly valued 17:20.865 --> 17:22.920 by his clients throughout his career 17:22.920 --> 17:24.976 and at all echelons . But even those 17:24.976 --> 17:27.808 clients , those senior army leaders up 17:27.818 --> 17:29.651 to the four star level that he's 17:29.651 --> 17:32.038 advised have again and again . Picked 17:32.048 --> 17:34.068 up on that coach Mendelsohn Vibe 17:35.089 --> 17:37.510 routinely described as infectious a 17:37.520 --> 17:40.760 team builder , one and a 112 star 17:40.770 --> 17:43.479 commander noted that then Colonel 17:43.489 --> 17:45.770 Mendelsohn was the single best team 17:45.780 --> 17:48.020 builder in his entire command . High 17:48.030 --> 17:50.859 praise . Part of that is simply because 17:50.869 --> 17:52.869 David is also a giant personality . 17:53.130 --> 17:55.297 This is a man who had a preloaded walk 17:55.297 --> 17:57.519 on music play every time he walked into 17:57.519 --> 18:00.770 the front office , this is what would 18:00.780 --> 18:01.780 happen . 18:08.109 --> 18:10.109 David had trained the staff and had 18:10.109 --> 18:12.109 placed one of these on all of their 18:12.109 --> 18:14.109 desks so that when he walked in the 18:14.109 --> 18:17.339 door , a song would play just part of 18:17.349 --> 18:19.571 the larger than life presence . That is 18:19.571 --> 18:21.770 David Mendelsohn . David's deputy at 18:21.780 --> 18:23.669 one installation , recalled their 18:23.669 --> 18:25.939 commander visiting the OS J and taking 18:25.949 --> 18:28.239 her aside and asking how do you get any 18:28.250 --> 18:32.010 work done with that guy around ? David 18:32.020 --> 18:33.631 is well and quite famous for 18:33.631 --> 18:35.687 shenanigans , right again , known as 18:35.687 --> 18:38.709 the People's SJ . The People's MLO 18:38.770 --> 18:42.089 three plus years is the MLO bosses have 18:42.099 --> 18:44.609 used phrases such as high octane on his 18:44.619 --> 18:47.400 O S one new lieutenant upon meeting him , 18:47.540 --> 18:49.762 turned to a colleague and said how many 18:49.762 --> 18:51.929 Red Bulls and coffees has this guy had 18:51.929 --> 18:55.670 today ? But don't let David's WWE off 18:55.680 --> 18:58.239 the top rope approach to life fool you 18:58.760 --> 19:01.479 following the example of his first SJ . 19:01.810 --> 19:03.866 David is always slowed down , taking 19:03.866 --> 19:05.810 the time to get to know people and 19:05.810 --> 19:09.680 support their families . Once as an SJ 19:09.689 --> 19:11.890 A in Germany , David had a newly 19:11.900 --> 19:14.640 assigned officer whose husband 19:15.800 --> 19:18.022 was feeling a little lost , didn't have 19:18.022 --> 19:19.744 a place to land new to Germany 19:19.744 --> 19:22.339 uncertain . Dave reached out , invited 19:22.349 --> 19:25.260 him to join office PT which he did and 19:25.270 --> 19:27.492 he found a place to land and he found a 19:27.492 --> 19:29.603 comfort level in that team , a simple 19:29.603 --> 19:31.900 act that went a long way in making him 19:31.910 --> 19:34.270 feel part of the family and keeping a 19:34.280 --> 19:37.189 great officer on the team . David also 19:37.199 --> 19:39.510 takes time to perform the universal 19:39.520 --> 19:41.880 symbol of love . Yes , picking folks up 19:41.890 --> 19:44.540 at the airport is one colonel related 19:45.449 --> 19:47.560 when Dave , when he and his wife with 19:47.560 --> 19:49.616 their six month old , three dogs and 19:49.616 --> 19:51.560 several bags arrived at the Lawson 19:51.560 --> 19:53.893 Regional or the Lawton Regional Airport . 19:53.893 --> 19:55.893 After an exhausting P CS , Dave was 19:55.893 --> 19:57.949 there waiting for them to assist the 19:57.949 --> 20:00.116 colonel writes the support . He showed 20:00.116 --> 20:02.060 that day showed me what leading by 20:02.060 --> 20:04.227 example truly means and what he taught 20:04.227 --> 20:06.338 me as his deputy , which is so true . 20:06.338 --> 20:08.505 Take care of the people , they'll take 20:08.505 --> 20:10.727 care of the mission . My parents always 20:10.727 --> 20:12.782 ask how he's doing , which shows the 20:12.782 --> 20:14.838 deep respect they have for him . And 20:14.838 --> 20:17.171 the impact he had on our family . David . 20:17.171 --> 20:19.469 I have hours more material about you . 20:19.680 --> 20:21.736 We haven't touched on coaching three 20:21.736 --> 20:23.958 year old soccer together . Your ongoing 20:23.958 --> 20:26.949 war with Wasps . Your , your ill fated 20:26.959 --> 20:29.015 amateur attempt at being a plumber , 20:30.219 --> 20:32.108 your failed auto mechanic stint . 20:33.579 --> 20:36.329 You're trying to order driver ice cream 20:36.339 --> 20:39.290 from a trash can or being banned from 20:39.300 --> 20:42.839 the Bavarian chef oi . We'll save these 20:42.849 --> 20:45.071 for your reception or perhaps your oral 20:45.071 --> 20:47.180 history or maybe your deposition . 20:48.989 --> 20:51.040 But today , today we're here to 20:51.050 --> 20:53.780 congratulate you on a race . Well , run 20:54.380 --> 20:56.160 with a hearty mazel . Tov . 21:07.729 --> 21:09.729 I told David before we came out , I 21:09.729 --> 21:11.840 said , as you walk out there , you're 21:11.840 --> 21:14.007 gonna see a full room . I said , and I 21:14.007 --> 21:13.640 urge you to look around that room 21:13.650 --> 21:15.483 because every one of those faces 21:15.569 --> 21:18.819 represents countless people whose lives 21:18.839 --> 21:20.589 you've had an impact on . 21:23.630 --> 21:25.741 And so as you look around this room , 21:25.741 --> 21:27.890 David and as we build , not farewell 21:27.930 --> 21:29.986 today . But as we say , thank you to 21:29.986 --> 21:31.969 you today , let there be no doubt 21:31.979 --> 21:34.790 you've left an indelible stamp on our 21:34.800 --> 21:37.170 jag corps . Your influence has changed 21:37.180 --> 21:40.650 lives . Careers . They in turn will do 21:40.660 --> 21:42.770 the same . Thank you for being an 21:42.780 --> 21:46.270 amazing coach , mentor , counselor 21:46.959 --> 21:49.719 and friend . You are truly 21:49.729 --> 21:51.859 irreplaceable so much so the army is 21:51.869 --> 21:54.091 ensured . No MLO will ever follow you . 21:55.030 --> 21:57.619 So , what's next for David ? Well , he 21:57.630 --> 21:59.852 hopes to start with some decent bourbon 21:59.852 --> 22:02.019 and then whatever Murray asks now that 22:02.019 --> 22:04.130 he has all kinds of free time and all 22:04.130 --> 22:06.297 kinds of tasks . David , you went from 22:06.297 --> 22:08.019 Central Jersey to the Pentagon 22:08.019 --> 22:10.130 Auditorium to points around the globe 22:10.130 --> 22:12.310 in between quite a journey , quite an 22:12.319 --> 22:15.060 impact . Why don't you slip on over 22:15.069 --> 22:16.736 here and let's wrap this up . 22:41.599 --> 22:43.655 Ladies and gentlemen , please remain 22:43.655 --> 22:47.140 seated during the presentation . The 22:47.150 --> 22:49.239 distinguished service medal is 22:49.250 --> 22:51.900 presented to Brigadier General David E 22:51.910 --> 22:54.132 Mendelson for exceptionally meritorious 22:54.132 --> 22:56.354 service to the government and duties of 22:56.354 --> 22:58.354 great responsibility over a 30 year 22:58.354 --> 23:00.466 career , culminating as the assistant 23:00.469 --> 23:02.691 judge Advocate General for Military Law 23:02.691 --> 23:04.636 and Operations Office of the Judge 23:04.636 --> 23:06.302 Advocate General Headquarters 23:06.302 --> 23:08.247 Department of the Army . Brigadier 23:08.247 --> 23:10.136 General Mendelson's extraordinary 23:10.136 --> 23:11.969 leadership , unwavering focus on 23:11.969 --> 23:14.025 mission accomplishment and matchless 23:14.025 --> 23:16.080 dedication to country the army . And 23:16.080 --> 23:15.920 his fellow judge advocates leave a 23:15.930 --> 23:18.097 legacy that will resonate for years to 23:18.097 --> 23:20.152 come . Brigadier General Mendelson's 23:20.152 --> 23:22.263 exemplary duty performance throughout 23:22.263 --> 23:24.374 his career reflects great credit upon 23:24.374 --> 23:26.597 him . The judge Advocate General's Corp 23:26.597 --> 23:28.486 and the United States Army signed 23:28.486 --> 23:30.652 Christine E Warmuth . Secretary of the 23:30.652 --> 23:29.089 army , 23:40.660 --> 23:42.882 Brigadier General Mendelson will now be 23:42.882 --> 23:44.660 presented with a certificate of 23:44.660 --> 23:46.771 appreciation for service in the armed 23:46.771 --> 23:48.827 forces of the United States from the 23:48.827 --> 23:50.882 commander in chief . The certificate 23:50.882 --> 23:53.049 reads , I extend my personal gratitude 23:53.049 --> 23:54.938 and the sincere appreciation of a 23:54.938 --> 23:56.716 grateful nation to you for your 23:56.716 --> 23:58.938 patriotic service to our country , your 23:58.938 --> 24:00.938 bravery and dedication in our armed 24:00.938 --> 24:02.938 forces , helped protect your fellow 24:02.938 --> 24:02.540 Americans during a critical moment in 24:02.550 --> 24:04.717 our history and contributed to a world 24:04.717 --> 24:06.494 of greater security and growing 24:06.494 --> 24:08.760 prosperity . Your devotion to duty and 24:08.770 --> 24:10.714 country . In keeping with the long 24:10.714 --> 24:12.770 traditions of the finest military in 24:12.770 --> 24:14.881 the world embodied the American ideal 24:14.881 --> 24:16.992 of selfless service . Our nation owes 24:16.992 --> 24:18.659 you an incredible debt , your 24:18.659 --> 24:20.881 commitment and the example you set will 24:20.881 --> 24:22.881 inspire future generations to serve 24:22.881 --> 24:24.826 with pride and to keep our country 24:24.826 --> 24:26.992 secure . You represent the best of our 24:26.992 --> 24:29.159 nation and I join our fellow Americans 24:29.159 --> 24:31.326 in saluting your honorable service . I 24:31.326 --> 24:33.326 wish you happiness and success . In 24:33.326 --> 24:35.326 your next chapter signed Joseph R . 24:35.326 --> 24:36.826 Biden . Commander in chief 24:46.760 --> 24:49.459 Mrs Maria Elena Mendelson will now be 24:49.469 --> 24:51.247 presented with a certificate of 24:51.247 --> 24:53.469 appreciation from the chief of staff of 24:53.469 --> 24:53.339 the army . 25:10.339 --> 25:12.640 The certificate reads , this is to 25:12.650 --> 25:14.900 certify that Maria Elena Mendelson on 25:14.910 --> 25:17.077 the occasion of the retirement of your 25:17.077 --> 25:19.243 spouse from the United States Army has 25:19.243 --> 25:21.354 earned grateful appreciation for your 25:21.354 --> 25:23.410 own unselfish , faithful and devoted 25:23.410 --> 25:25.680 service , your unfailing support and 25:25.689 --> 25:27.689 understanding help to make possible 25:27.689 --> 25:29.800 your spouse's lasting contribution to 25:29.800 --> 25:31.810 the nation . Signed General Randy A 25:31.819 --> 25:33.849 George United States Army chief of 25:33.859 --> 25:34.390 staff 25:51.819 --> 25:53.979 as a symbol of the conclusion of his 25:53.989 --> 25:56.319 over 30 years of dedicated service to 25:56.329 --> 25:58.051 our nation . Brigadier General 25:58.051 --> 26:00.107 Mendelsohn will be presented with an 26:00.107 --> 26:02.430 American flag for more than 200 years . 26:02.439 --> 26:04.550 The American flag has been the symbol 26:04.550 --> 26:06.495 of our nation's unity as well as a 26:06.495 --> 26:08.495 source of pride and inspiration for 26:08.495 --> 26:10.495 millions of citizens . Born on June 26:10.495 --> 26:13.439 14th , 1777 the second Continental 26:13.449 --> 26:15.505 Congress determined that the flag of 26:15.505 --> 26:17.660 the United States be 13 stripes 26:17.670 --> 26:19.859 alternating between seven red and six 26:19.869 --> 26:22.439 white and that the union be 13 stars 26:22.449 --> 26:24.505 white in a blue field representing a 26:24.505 --> 26:27.689 new constellation between 1777 and 26:27.699 --> 26:30.589 1960 . The shape and design of the flag 26:30.599 --> 26:32.766 evolved into the flag presented before 26:32.766 --> 26:34.821 you . Today , the United States flag 26:34.821 --> 26:36.932 represents who we are . It stands for 26:36.932 --> 26:38.877 the freedom , we all share and the 26:38.877 --> 26:40.932 pride and patriotism we feel for our 26:40.932 --> 26:42.988 country . We cherish its legacy as a 26:42.988 --> 26:45.043 beacon of hope to one and all long . 26:45.043 --> 26:46.043 May it wave . 26:56.880 --> 26:58.547 In addition to the awards and 26:58.547 --> 27:00.547 certificates presented here today , 27:00.547 --> 27:02.491 Brigadier General Men will receive 27:02.491 --> 27:04.547 letters of congratulation and thanks 27:04.547 --> 27:06.602 from the Secretary of the Army , the 27:06.602 --> 27:08.436 chief of staff of the army , the 27:08.436 --> 27:10.602 sergeant major of the army , the judge 27:10.602 --> 27:10.329 Advocate General , the deputy Judge 27:10.339 --> 27:12.506 Advocate General , the senior civilian 27:12.506 --> 27:14.561 of the jag corps , the Chief Warrant 27:14.561 --> 27:16.783 Officer of the Corps and the regimental 27:16.783 --> 27:19.569 command sergeant major at last 27:19.579 --> 27:21.523 Lieutenant General Berger will now 27:21.523 --> 27:23.690 present Brigadier General Mende with a 27:23.690 --> 27:25.635 certificate of retirement from the 27:25.635 --> 27:27.690 armed forces of the United States of 27:27.690 --> 27:28.989 America . Please stand 27:33.000 --> 27:35.167 the certificate reads , certificate of 27:35.167 --> 27:37.389 retirement from the armed forces of the 27:37.389 --> 27:39.389 United States of America to all who 27:39.389 --> 27:41.556 shall see these presents . Greetings . 27:41.650 --> 27:43.550 This is to certify that Brigadier 27:43.560 --> 27:46.060 General David E Mendelson having served 27:46.069 --> 27:48.569 faithfully and honorably is retired 27:48.579 --> 27:50.949 from the United States Army on the 31st 27:50.959 --> 27:54.939 day of March 2025 signed General Randy 27:54.949 --> 27:57.469 A George General United States Army 27:57.479 --> 27:58.619 Chief of staff . 28:19.270 --> 28:22.550 It is my true pleasure and my great 28:22.560 --> 28:25.949 privilege to introduce my dear friend 28:27.729 --> 28:30.390 Brigade , dental , retired David Bennet . 28:54.869 --> 28:57.180 Please , please have a seat , please . 29:08.569 --> 29:11.750 It was the fall of 2016 29:13.040 --> 29:16.510 and I was the staff judge advocate at 29:16.520 --> 29:20.459 Fort Sill at Lawton , Oklahoma . It 29:20.469 --> 29:23.729 was an average day cold 29:23.900 --> 29:27.089 windy and I'm sitting in my office and 29:27.099 --> 29:29.609 if you've ever been to Fort Sill , the 29:29.619 --> 29:32.930 legal offices on the 2nd and 3rd floor 29:32.939 --> 29:36.109 of this nondescript building and there , 29:36.119 --> 29:39.560 I was just doing my work and the fire 29:39.569 --> 29:43.489 alarm goes off , pack up my stuff . And 29:43.500 --> 29:45.939 as I walk out into the hallway , the 29:45.949 --> 29:48.979 deputy staff to JDATE Kasha Stitch is 29:48.989 --> 29:52.810 moving people out . Now , if you've 29:52.819 --> 29:54.875 never been in that office and I know 29:54.875 --> 29:57.160 some of you have , the legal office is 29:57.170 --> 29:59.170 the 2nd and 3rd floor and the sjs 29:59.180 --> 30:01.291 office is all the way at the , at the 30:01.291 --> 30:03.849 end on the left hand side . So as I'm 30:03.859 --> 30:07.250 moving up , uh , towards the , the exit , 30:07.260 --> 30:09.149 I'm checking to make sure there's 30:09.149 --> 30:12.290 nobody left behind . As you 30:12.300 --> 30:15.150 exit the door , there's a fire alarm 30:15.160 --> 30:17.271 that's sitting there . And as I start 30:17.271 --> 30:19.438 to go down to the second floor , I see 30:19.438 --> 30:22.010 the legal personnel moving down the 30:22.020 --> 30:24.400 steps , check the second floor , 30:25.020 --> 30:28.170 nobody's there , hit the ground and go 30:28.180 --> 30:30.609 out the door . Now , once you open 30:30.619 --> 30:32.675 those doors , you're standing pretty 30:32.675 --> 30:34.810 high and you're looking at a huge 30:34.819 --> 30:38.050 parking lot , the C G's office is just 30:38.060 --> 30:42.020 across the way and he parks just , just 30:42.030 --> 30:44.197 in view . So we know when he's there , 30:47.069 --> 30:49.099 you could see the legal personnel 30:49.109 --> 30:52.050 gathering and I could see the fire 30:52.060 --> 30:54.116 truck and I could see the fire chief 30:54.116 --> 30:56.338 standing there and you could go left or 30:56.338 --> 30:58.504 right . And as I'm descending down the 30:58.504 --> 31:01.589 steps , it begins to look like there's 31:01.599 --> 31:05.319 a finish line forming . And as I 31:05.329 --> 31:08.930 pass by the fire chief , I hear 31:08.939 --> 31:12.689 click and he's got to stop watching his 31:12.699 --> 31:15.099 hand and then he goes under his breath . 31:16.030 --> 31:19.859 That was fast . And of course , I hear 31:19.869 --> 31:22.036 this being competitive . I'm like this 31:22.036 --> 31:24.130 sounds great . So I called all the 31:24.140 --> 31:26.910 legal personnel together and I said , 31:26.920 --> 31:30.640 Chief , can you just tell the team what 31:30.650 --> 31:32.880 you just said under your breath ? And 31:32.890 --> 31:36.459 he looks up and he says , in my 28 31:36.469 --> 31:39.750 years , that was the fastest exodus 31:39.760 --> 31:41.871 from a three floor building of a fire 31:41.871 --> 31:45.250 drill I've ever seen . And he hands me 31:45.260 --> 31:48.510 this nondescript form . So what would 31:48.520 --> 31:51.479 you do ? I hold it up like it's this 31:51.489 --> 31:54.099 award and I start going . We're number 31:54.109 --> 31:56.520 one , we're number one , 31:58.020 --> 32:00.790 not skipping a beat . The deputy starts 32:00.800 --> 32:04.430 joining in . We're number one . I look 32:04.439 --> 32:07.569 over to my right and Lisa Bloom , a 32:07.579 --> 32:10.199 retired judge advocate now , a 32:10.209 --> 32:12.520 department of the army civilian has got 32:12.530 --> 32:14.752 the double finger in the shimmy . We're 32:14.752 --> 32:18.339 number one , we're number one . And 32:18.349 --> 32:21.630 before you know it , you've got 50 to 32:21.640 --> 32:24.959 60 people standing outside 32:25.390 --> 32:29.219 saying we're number one just because we 32:29.229 --> 32:30.229 could . 32:33.199 --> 32:36.760 No , that story doesn't end . So I 32:37.160 --> 32:39.300 called Kasha into my office a little 32:39.310 --> 32:41.477 later and I've got this piece of paper 32:42.089 --> 32:44.699 and I said , Kasha , what if I went to 32:44.709 --> 32:47.020 the CG and asked him to present this to 32:47.030 --> 32:50.689 us ? I mean , this is huge . 32:52.359 --> 32:54.660 Now , if you know Colonel Stitch , she 32:54.670 --> 32:56.837 looked at me . She said , sir , well , 32:56.837 --> 32:59.109 first we should frame it and she said 32:59.199 --> 33:01.989 he may rip off your face . But if he 33:02.000 --> 33:04.109 does it , it's so cool . 33:06.359 --> 33:08.280 Major general John Rossi was the 33:08.290 --> 33:11.589 commanding general . He was all 33:11.599 --> 33:15.079 business . He was stoic , he was 33:15.089 --> 33:18.119 stern . He was all New York . I know 33:18.130 --> 33:21.469 that type . I've known him a little bit . 33:21.479 --> 33:23.646 So when I went , it went to his office 33:23.646 --> 33:27.020 a few days later , I was trying to sell 33:27.030 --> 33:30.250 him , sir . You need to recognize the 33:30.260 --> 33:32.790 office with this kind of achievement . 33:33.099 --> 33:35.689 And he's looking at me and he says 33:36.000 --> 33:39.630 Mendelsohn was this on Tuesday and I 33:39.640 --> 33:41.473 said , yes , sir . He said I was 33:41.473 --> 33:43.609 walking out to my car and I'm hearing 33:43.619 --> 33:46.390 all this noise and I turn to my ex L 33:46.400 --> 33:48.456 and I go , what the hell is going on 33:48.456 --> 33:50.678 over there ? And the XL looks over , he 33:50.678 --> 33:52.678 goes , Mendelsohn's doing something 33:52.678 --> 33:54.900 silly and he goes , he goes , I figured 33:54.900 --> 33:57.280 it . He said , if you could get them 33:57.290 --> 34:00.619 excited about a fire drill , I'm gonna 34:00.630 --> 34:02.619 present this not to you but to the 34:02.630 --> 34:06.189 office and So he gathered the 34:06.199 --> 34:09.479 office together and he said this is 34:09.489 --> 34:11.433 something I've never done and will 34:11.433 --> 34:15.118 probably never do again . But I've 34:15.128 --> 34:18.019 never seen three things come together 34:18.519 --> 34:22.158 that seem a bit mismatched legal acumen , 34:22.168 --> 34:23.779 speed and safety . 34:26.070 --> 34:29.989 And I present this to you for 34:29.999 --> 34:32.608 your office and he handed it to me and 34:32.618 --> 34:35.129 we took a picture and we took that 34:35.139 --> 34:38.199 picture with the piece of paper and we 34:38.209 --> 34:39.209 framed it . 34:42.530 --> 34:46.280 We put it on the third floor right next 34:46.290 --> 34:50.270 to the fire drill , right ? And 34:50.280 --> 34:52.391 it hung there and we would pass it by 34:52.391 --> 34:55.800 and laugh . And that 34:55.810 --> 34:59.739 was a moment . And when 34:59.750 --> 35:02.479 you have moments with people in your 35:02.489 --> 35:05.699 office and your leaders over 35:05.709 --> 35:08.969 time , you create indelible 35:09.000 --> 35:12.679 memories . And before you know it , you 35:12.689 --> 35:14.649 turn around , you're looking at an 35:14.659 --> 35:17.449 audience in a Pentagon Auditorium and 35:17.459 --> 35:20.320 you've had a career full of people who 35:20.330 --> 35:23.290 have impacted you in so many positive 35:23.300 --> 35:27.120 ways I talked about and 35:27.129 --> 35:28.989 highlighted three groups 35:30.280 --> 35:32.449 represented by individuals . I'm gonna 35:32.459 --> 35:35.959 talk about them in a minute . But first 35:36.760 --> 35:40.379 to my friend , to a person , I call 35:40.389 --> 35:42.540 sir and the judge advocate general of 35:42.550 --> 35:45.780 the army . Thank you . That was exactly 35:45.790 --> 35:48.500 what we talked about . Keep it fun . 35:48.909 --> 35:51.840 Let's keep it light . And uh your 35:51.850 --> 35:54.010 friendship . You and Brenna have been 35:54.020 --> 35:56.250 there for , with , with us for over 20 35:56.260 --> 35:58.659 years . So thank you for today , for 35:58.669 --> 36:00.620 your generous words and for always 36:00.629 --> 36:02.851 being there with us and our family . So 36:02.851 --> 36:05.800 thank you . Very much and knowing that 36:05.810 --> 36:08.010 you're going forward with my other 36:08.020 --> 36:10.820 battle buddy and his wife as well as 36:11.500 --> 36:13.667 where are the Brigadier General Ariman 36:13.667 --> 36:16.919 Raneri and Canne back ? We are in 36:16.929 --> 36:20.360 unbelievable hands as we move forward . 36:20.649 --> 36:23.360 So you have my prayers and you have my 36:23.600 --> 36:24.780 utmost support 36:27.659 --> 36:31.179 to those who helped put this together . 36:31.189 --> 36:34.260 Lieutenant Colonel Coleman Isham 36:34.699 --> 36:37.889 Major Harmel to name a few . All of you 36:37.899 --> 36:40.500 got escorted one way or the other in 36:40.510 --> 36:43.610 here . How much work goes into putting 36:43.620 --> 36:46.030 together an event like this ? Please 36:46.040 --> 36:48.419 give them a round of applause for all 36:48.429 --> 36:49.429 their hard work 36:59.830 --> 37:02.340 and to the senior leaders who were 37:02.350 --> 37:05.610 enumerated by Colonel Isham who came 37:05.620 --> 37:09.540 here today . I asked all 37:09.550 --> 37:12.100 of you to be invited because throughout 37:12.110 --> 37:14.610 this journey , we have interacted at a 37:14.620 --> 37:17.699 a at one place or another . You and I 37:17.709 --> 37:20.620 have shared personal and professional 37:20.629 --> 37:23.300 experiences . You left indelible Mark , 37:23.429 --> 37:25.820 you were there for me and my team then 37:26.320 --> 37:29.060 and here I am on the precipice of the 37:29.070 --> 37:32.169 ending of my career and you showed up 37:32.179 --> 37:34.949 once again , you've got emails , you've 37:34.959 --> 37:37.320 got meetings , you've got phone calls , 37:37.330 --> 37:40.100 but you chose to be here . Thank you 37:40.110 --> 37:42.219 for your time , your love and your 37:42.229 --> 37:44.979 friendship , Miss Richie dating all the 37:44.989 --> 37:48.129 way back to Fort Hood in 1999 to my 37:48.139 --> 37:50.610 battle buddies throughout here . Thank 37:50.620 --> 37:52.787 you very much for being here today and 37:52.787 --> 37:54.676 representing all of the wonderful 37:54.676 --> 37:56.731 senior leaders who I've worked for . 37:59.709 --> 38:01.709 Now . I talked about three groups , 38:02.760 --> 38:05.070 Kasha stitched the deputy staff to 38:05.229 --> 38:08.600 advocate with me at Fort Sill . I have 38:08.610 --> 38:11.439 been blessed with Colonels John Keel , 38:11.449 --> 38:13.850 Colonel Stitch , Colonel Phil Stayton , 38:14.090 --> 38:16.550 Chris Beezy and Todd Lindquist . I 38:16.560 --> 38:19.250 believe all of whom are here except one 38:19.260 --> 38:21.719 and their families . The deputies have 38:21.729 --> 38:25.229 made me better . They've made me a 38:25.239 --> 38:28.020 better officer , a better leader and 38:28.030 --> 38:29.919 they have pulled me back from the 38:29.919 --> 38:32.379 precipice and pushed me forward when I 38:32.389 --> 38:35.239 needed some confidence . Thank you for 38:35.250 --> 38:37.280 always being there for me , 38:39.590 --> 38:41.257 Lisa Bloom , representing the 38:41.260 --> 38:43.482 Department of the Army civilians . I've 38:43.482 --> 38:45.427 had the privilege to work with all 38:45.427 --> 38:48.439 these years . I was raised by the likes 38:48.449 --> 38:50.810 of Phil Foster , Brad Hustace , Kate 38:50.820 --> 38:54.659 mcclure and Rick Flores , Department of 38:54.669 --> 38:57.889 the Army civilians keep the trains on 38:57.899 --> 39:00.530 the track while we move in and out of 39:00.540 --> 39:03.139 offices . That is true , but that is 39:03.149 --> 39:06.919 not the full story . They mentor 39:06.929 --> 39:09.639 train and raise the next generation . 39:09.770 --> 39:12.989 Most are retired judge advocates and 39:13.000 --> 39:15.899 they continued to serve by taking jobs 39:15.909 --> 39:18.429 in the federal government . They've got 39:18.439 --> 39:21.110 a lot to teach and we need to continue 39:21.129 --> 39:23.870 to tap into that knowledge . So to all 39:23.879 --> 39:26.189 those who have influenced and been 39:26.199 --> 39:28.979 there for me to include Mr and Miss 39:28.989 --> 39:32.030 Carlyle . Thank you for all you do 39:32.060 --> 39:35.560 every single day . The 39:35.570 --> 39:37.909 third is the commanding generals . I've 39:37.919 --> 39:40.510 worked with Brian Rosell 39:44.330 --> 39:46.989 General Rossi , Lieutenant General 39:47.000 --> 39:50.090 White , making me a better 39:50.100 --> 39:53.530 soldier , lawyer , officer advisor , 39:55.209 --> 39:57.830 Major General Rossi . I've discussed 40:00.010 --> 40:02.419 after his two years in command . I 40:02.429 --> 40:04.485 stayed a third year . He and I had a 40:04.485 --> 40:08.070 conversation about 67 days after he 40:08.080 --> 40:11.199 left . This was a stoic man who kept 40:11.209 --> 40:14.090 everything inside and then everything 40:14.100 --> 40:16.350 inside couldn't hold and he took his 40:16.360 --> 40:20.219 life . This was a man I knew very well . 40:22.639 --> 40:25.389 This impacted the installation impacted 40:25.399 --> 40:29.399 me . And could you imagine being the 40:29.409 --> 40:31.679 commanding general that has to follow 40:31.689 --> 40:35.110 this and come in and take over and 40:35.459 --> 40:37.403 of an installation that's grieving 40:38.270 --> 40:40.290 major general Brian mckiernan who 40:40.300 --> 40:44.159 blesses me today was the person 40:44.239 --> 40:47.040 at the right place at the right time . 40:47.870 --> 40:51.330 Empathy , respect , thoughtfulness . 40:53.250 --> 40:56.129 He enabled us time and space . And then 40:56.139 --> 40:58.270 when we were ready , he brought that 40:58.280 --> 41:02.149 installation to a new level . He taught 41:02.159 --> 41:04.381 me things . I didn't even know I needed 41:04.381 --> 41:06.326 to learn . He didn't just teach me 41:06.326 --> 41:08.492 professionally . He brought his family 41:08.840 --> 41:12.830 close to mine and yes , our kids both 41:12.840 --> 41:15.110 graduated law in high school and on 41:15.120 --> 41:17.176 academic achievement night when they 41:17.176 --> 41:19.399 were handed out awards . Yes , it was 41:19.409 --> 41:22.360 the sjs kid , then the CGs kid and the 41:22.370 --> 41:25.350 sjs kid . We swept the awards that 41:25.360 --> 41:26.360 night . 41:30.189 --> 41:33.860 They had more . But that's OK . Aaron 41:33.870 --> 41:37.600 turned out . All right . He 41:37.610 --> 41:40.639 gave me the recipe 41:41.679 --> 41:44.250 for how to handle difficult times and 41:44.260 --> 41:46.316 he and she and his wife who both are 41:46.316 --> 41:49.989 here today . Thank you for everything 41:50.000 --> 41:52.449 you have taught us and we appreciate 41:52.459 --> 41:53.459 you dearly . 41:56.790 --> 41:58.957 But those three groups certainly don't 41:58.957 --> 42:02.830 represent everyone . It was a 42:02.840 --> 42:05.719 cold day in another place . I won't 42:05.729 --> 42:08.290 name it . But somebody who was in that 42:08.300 --> 42:10.522 story is prominently seated over here . 42:12.300 --> 42:16.149 It was pe T and it was about 23 degrees 42:16.159 --> 42:18.739 and it was formation run day . I can 42:18.750 --> 42:22.679 feel the excitement . I liked formation 42:22.689 --> 42:25.110 runs twice a month . We were gonna do 42:25.120 --> 42:27.570 formation runs , formation runs . Like 42:27.580 --> 42:29.439 you see in the movies are people 42:29.449 --> 42:32.189 running in lock step when that right 42:32.199 --> 42:35.120 foot hits the ground . I wanna hear 42:35.129 --> 42:37.580 that clapping sound and I wanna hear 42:37.590 --> 42:40.610 cadence calling and I want us to work 42:40.620 --> 42:44.010 as a team . Soldiers don't 42:44.020 --> 42:47.129 necessarily like formation runs the 42:47.139 --> 42:49.810 fast runners . What do they say ? Sir ? 42:49.820 --> 42:52.020 I can't be my best . I can't go for my 42:52.030 --> 42:54.129 personal times . I can't work up a 42:54.139 --> 42:57.129 sweat . The slower runners who lead the 42:57.139 --> 43:01.110 formation know that there are 43:01.120 --> 43:03.009 people behind them who wanna move 43:03.009 --> 43:05.570 faster . So everybody , everybody's 43:05.580 --> 43:08.790 uncomfortable . That's the point . 43:12.270 --> 43:15.050 So we are off on this formation run and 43:15.060 --> 43:18.530 we are not in step and the cadence is 43:18.540 --> 43:21.139 just , it sounded like a Mendelsohn 43:21.179 --> 43:23.570 road trip to Florida trying to sing , 43:23.580 --> 43:25.747 wanted dead or alive . And we were off 43:25.747 --> 43:28.550 key the whole time . It was terrible 43:28.560 --> 43:30.530 and the senior NCO and the warrant 43:30.540 --> 43:33.659 officer were losing their patience and 43:33.669 --> 43:35.739 I could see it brewing and I'm just 43:35.750 --> 43:38.120 watching , I'm just watching this 43:38.129 --> 43:41.159 happen and as we're moving along and 43:41.169 --> 43:43.058 it's not getting going , it's not 43:43.058 --> 43:45.113 working . Right chief Ham and just , 43:45.113 --> 43:47.113 just not feeling it . People aren't 43:47.113 --> 43:48.947 feeling it I was waiting for the 43:48.947 --> 43:51.030 formation to get pulled over and for 43:51.040 --> 43:54.040 them to be properly counseled . 43:56.620 --> 43:59.929 But then we heard off in the distance 43:59.939 --> 44:02.820 running towards the formation . Thump , 44:02.830 --> 44:05.052 click , thump , click , thump , click . 44:06.520 --> 44:08.469 As this is getting closer to the 44:08.479 --> 44:12.000 formation , it's not moving 44:12.010 --> 44:15.860 fast , but the thump is 44:15.870 --> 44:19.560 afoot . And the click is a running 44:19.570 --> 44:23.010 blade which used to have a leg and this 44:23.020 --> 44:26.489 person flies by the formation , fly , 44:26.500 --> 44:29.659 being generous but fly no less . And 44:29.669 --> 44:31.219 everybody watches . 44:34.139 --> 44:36.199 Now , I knew that there was an 44:36.209 --> 44:39.590 individual who lost their leg deployed 44:39.889 --> 44:43.590 in our formations . I'd never met him , 44:43.659 --> 44:45.669 but there he was , he introduced 44:45.679 --> 44:48.110 himself to my formation that day . 44:49.360 --> 44:51.659 And the senior NCO and the warrant 44:51.669 --> 44:54.600 officer pulled us off to the side and 44:54.610 --> 44:57.860 the heart and soul of an office just 44:59.550 --> 45:02.189 expressed to them gently . Did you see 45:02.639 --> 45:06.000 who just ran by running purposefully 45:06.340 --> 45:08.709 thoughtfully ? They don't have all the 45:08.719 --> 45:10.830 gifts but they've got heart , they've 45:10.830 --> 45:13.929 got soul and what , what are we doing ? 45:14.389 --> 45:17.729 They challenged us that day . And when 45:17.739 --> 45:20.139 we started outrun that formation , oh , 45:20.149 --> 45:23.870 we were in sync . The entire tenor 45:23.949 --> 45:27.270 changed the feel changed . And the 45:27.280 --> 45:31.199 warrant and the NCO helped bring that 45:31.209 --> 45:33.610 about , didn't chew him out but gave 45:33.620 --> 45:35.509 him lessons to be learned to take 45:35.509 --> 45:39.419 forward . I've been blessed with many 45:39.429 --> 45:41.840 NC OS uh regimental command C major , 45:41.850 --> 45:44.030 Bostic , Sar Major Ernesto persons , 45:44.469 --> 45:46.870 Major Burke , Master Sergeant , Keane 45:47.060 --> 45:50.449 ands in first class , Howard Warrant 45:50.459 --> 45:52.800 Officer , Chantelle Phyllis King . Rick 45:53.010 --> 45:55.110 Wick and Jim Carroll , the Heart and 45:55.120 --> 45:58.500 Soul with the others , providing 45:58.510 --> 46:01.060 foundation to the offices that I worked 46:01.070 --> 46:04.419 in . There are of course many more , 46:04.860 --> 46:07.709 too many to name mentors who are out 46:07.719 --> 46:10.659 there from the Dave diners to the Max 46:10.669 --> 46:14.389 Maxwells just to start with a few and 46:14.399 --> 46:16.566 to the person who probably won't admit 46:16.566 --> 46:18.732 it . But sir , I was a better softball 46:18.732 --> 46:20.788 player than you . I was general rich 46:20.788 --> 46:22.843 and I have been playing softball for 46:22.843 --> 46:24.843 years together , played on the same 46:24.843 --> 46:26.732 teams . Took me under his wing as 46:26.732 --> 46:29.610 lieutenant and never let me go . Him 46:29.620 --> 46:32.590 and Cindy being there every step of the 46:32.600 --> 46:35.820 way . And sir , thank you and Cindy and 46:35.830 --> 46:37.941 then a person who decided I should be 46:37.941 --> 46:40.620 their ex O Lieutenant General PD . 46:40.800 --> 46:42.911 Every time I dropped the ball , which 46:42.919 --> 46:45.141 was every day he picked it up , cleaned 46:45.141 --> 46:47.330 it up , taught me , trained me and 46:47.340 --> 46:50.570 moved me on my way . And when I went to 46:50.580 --> 46:52.739 Fort Hood and came back from a 46:52.750 --> 46:56.030 deployment to handle the Vanessa Gu and 46:56.040 --> 46:59.159 Fallout General Risch and General PD 46:59.169 --> 47:02.280 called me every week to make sure 47:02.989 --> 47:06.790 I was ok . The team was ok . I 47:06.800 --> 47:09.020 can't thank you enough for all you've 47:09.030 --> 47:12.889 given me and Ann , a teacher , retired 47:12.899 --> 47:15.177 teacher . There are many teachers here , 47:15.177 --> 47:17.343 my mother , my wife and there are many 47:17.343 --> 47:19.600 throughout here . Thank you for all . 47:19.610 --> 47:21.166 You've given me my family , 47:23.290 --> 47:26.000 battle buddies X Os who've had to 47:26.010 --> 47:28.699 babysit me . All the exos are here 47:28.879 --> 47:30.935 thank you for what you've done . And 47:30.935 --> 47:33.157 more importantly , my wife , thanks you 47:33.157 --> 47:36.739 for getting me home each day . A few 47:36.750 --> 47:38.861 others . To note the Reddington , the 47:38.861 --> 47:42.000 Fleshes , the Witherspoon's the wells' , 47:42.439 --> 47:44.810 my battle buddies , Ali and Jill Martin 47:45.110 --> 47:47.939 George and Donna Smalley . Thank you 47:48.149 --> 47:50.610 for your friendship and always be there 47:54.689 --> 47:57.610 to the family that has always stood by 47:57.620 --> 47:59.870 me and we showed up today . Thank you , 48:02.050 --> 48:04.050 Ignacio , my brother in law and his 48:04.050 --> 48:06.750 longtime partner , Julie , my brother , 48:07.060 --> 48:10.969 Steven and his wife , Cathy . Always 48:10.979 --> 48:13.209 there are doors open and the respite 48:13.219 --> 48:15.330 and the place to go when we needed to 48:15.330 --> 48:17.939 get away from it . Your love and 48:17.949 --> 48:20.219 compassion has always been there . We 48:20.229 --> 48:23.879 love you and we thank you . My 48:23.889 --> 48:25.889 boys who are really more like men , 48:26.919 --> 48:28.530 Aaron and Gabe . You make me 48:28.530 --> 48:30.939 unbelievably proud . I could still take 48:30.949 --> 48:31.949 both of you . 48:35.540 --> 48:37.850 You make your I'm sorry . 48:41.860 --> 48:43.916 That's a family friend right there . 48:43.916 --> 48:43.760 It's true . 48:48.350 --> 48:50.389 You make me unbelievably proud . 48:52.270 --> 48:55.790 You make your mother and I just joyous 48:55.800 --> 48:59.540 parents to my parents as General Berger 48:59.550 --> 49:01.840 mentioned who initially were not 49:01.850 --> 49:04.909 certain about this thing ? Thank you 49:05.239 --> 49:07.439 for allowing your son to pursue his 49:07.449 --> 49:10.080 love and then thank you for joining in 49:10.090 --> 49:13.919 on that love to my 49:13.929 --> 49:16.750 wife who has been with me for 30 years , 49:16.760 --> 49:19.189 never took an oath or signed a document , 49:19.419 --> 49:22.310 but selflessly served right next to me . 49:23.020 --> 49:26.100 Thank you for being there 30 years in a 49:26.110 --> 49:28.277 career . But 50 years left to hang out 49:28.277 --> 49:31.020 with me . So thank you and to the 49:31.030 --> 49:33.699 family that came the many of the nieces 49:33.709 --> 49:36.560 and the nephews , you are awesome . You 49:36.570 --> 49:39.120 came from Boston and Florida and all 49:39.129 --> 49:41.189 around . I cannot tell you what that 49:41.199 --> 49:44.429 means to me . And if I can just have a 49:44.439 --> 49:46.929 pause for a moment to provide some 49:46.939 --> 49:48.939 flowers and then I will sum up very 49:48.949 --> 49:49.419 quickly 50:45.580 --> 50:48.969 in April . General Risch called me and 50:48.979 --> 50:52.879 he said , Mendy , all of this A B and 50:52.889 --> 50:56.219 C happened . Can you go to Fort Sill 50:56.229 --> 50:59.350 for me ? I said , absolutely . It was a 50:59.360 --> 51:02.820 three day trip General Risch had served 51:02.830 --> 51:04.941 there as an SJ A . So he wanted to go 51:04.941 --> 51:07.760 back as one of his final trips . Things 51:07.770 --> 51:09.992 happened . He asked me if I could stand 51:09.992 --> 51:12.048 in , I've not been back to Fort Sill 51:12.048 --> 51:15.060 for almost 10 years . And so I knew 51:15.070 --> 51:17.110 things would change . That's what 51:17.120 --> 51:19.979 happens . But I was curious to see 51:21.179 --> 51:23.360 where , what , what the state of Fort 51:23.370 --> 51:26.270 Hill was . So I went back to Fort Sill 51:26.280 --> 51:28.113 and of course , things were very 51:28.113 --> 51:30.629 familiar the buildings . Uh the mission 51:30.639 --> 51:32.659 had changed a little bit , but of 51:32.669 --> 51:35.310 course , the people changed . There 51:35.320 --> 51:37.389 were still some civilians there to 51:37.399 --> 51:40.020 include Lisa Bloom . You remember her 51:40.030 --> 51:42.197 of the fa of the famed double finger . 51:43.219 --> 51:45.469 Um And of course , you search for the 51:45.479 --> 51:48.120 things which you remember . 51:49.550 --> 51:52.379 So when I went up to the third floor 51:52.389 --> 51:54.969 and turned that corner and saw the , 51:55.090 --> 51:58.949 the fire drill . I I looked for the 51:58.959 --> 52:01.510 picture , the frame picture and it 52:01.520 --> 52:04.820 wasn't there . And so someone was 52:04.830 --> 52:06.997 standing with mayor who'd been there a 52:06.997 --> 52:09.389 while and I said , hey , there was a , 52:09.399 --> 52:12.060 a picture that hung here . Um , 52:12.979 --> 52:15.035 would you know what happened to it ? 52:15.739 --> 52:19.399 And the individual said , sir , we were 52:19.409 --> 52:22.510 doing spring cleaning and we took it 52:22.520 --> 52:25.510 down because nobody understood it . 52:32.409 --> 52:35.649 And my response was , 52:36.739 --> 52:40.360 oh , because the 52:40.370 --> 52:43.300 picture , we're moments 52:44.419 --> 52:48.270 and memories that were exclusive to me 52:48.830 --> 52:52.679 and some others in here . And so 52:53.560 --> 52:57.520 as I've looked back on that , there is 52:57.530 --> 53:00.969 a time when we all must move forward 53:01.590 --> 53:04.800 and there are moments and memories for 53:04.810 --> 53:06.866 the Fort Sill office of today in the 53:06.866 --> 53:09.800 future to make . And there are moments 53:09.810 --> 53:12.459 and memories for me to make 53:12.709 --> 53:16.620 outside of the military . And 53:16.629 --> 53:20.610 so the lesson isn't loss . The 53:20.620 --> 53:24.409 lesson is everybody gets 53:24.419 --> 53:26.919 better and everybody creates new 53:26.929 --> 53:30.020 memories and moments in other places . 53:30.689 --> 53:33.250 And with that , I thank you for your 53:33.260 --> 53:35.290 patience . There are many chicken 53:35.300 --> 53:38.889 skewers waiting for you . I appreciate 53:38.899 --> 53:41.590 you coming to the 12 people online . 53:41.810 --> 53:45.030 Thank you for attending . I 53:45.179 --> 53:46.179 appreciate you . 54:36.389 --> 54:38.629 The men and women of the United States 54:38.639 --> 54:40.750 Army and the Judge Advocate General's 54:40.750 --> 54:42.750 Corps are proud to have served with 54:42.750 --> 54:44.861 Brigadier General Mendelsohn and wish 54:44.861 --> 54:47.310 him and his family every success in 54:47.320 --> 54:49.570 their future endeavors . Please remain 54:49.580 --> 54:51.969 standing for the benediction and the 54:51.979 --> 54:52.770 army song . 55:04.080 --> 55:06.191 May we bow our heads in reflection or 55:06.191 --> 55:10.010 prayer ? We pause to recognize and 55:10.020 --> 55:12.550 give thanks to all who have served or 55:12.560 --> 55:14.782 continue to serve to protect the United 55:14.782 --> 55:17.090 States and uphold the values we hold 55:17.100 --> 55:20.820 dear , your courage , dedication and 55:20.830 --> 55:23.250 sacrifice have paved the way for a 55:23.260 --> 55:26.879 safer and more secure future . We also 55:26.889 --> 55:29.000 extend our gratitude and blessings to 55:29.000 --> 55:31.222 the friends and families who have stood 55:31.222 --> 55:33.750 steadfastly by their loved ones in 55:33.760 --> 55:36.669 uniform , offering unwavering support 55:37.000 --> 55:39.659 both at home and abroad . Your strength 55:39.669 --> 55:42.879 and sacrifice are invaluable as 55:42.889 --> 55:45.000 Brigadier General Mendelssohn and his 55:45.000 --> 55:47.070 family embark on this new chapter of 55:47.080 --> 55:50.040 their journey . May they find joy , 55:50.350 --> 55:52.790 fulfillment and continued purpose in 55:52.800 --> 55:55.709 the road ahead . May blessings be upon 55:55.719 --> 55:58.379 us all ? May we be graced with peace , 55:58.429 --> 56:01.219 strength and a shared commitment to the 56:01.229 --> 56:04.360 values that unite us in faith and 56:04.370 --> 56:06.810 gratitude . Join me in saying amen 56:30.459 --> 56:33.580 March along song , sang our song . 56:34.679 --> 56:37.699 We're the army of the Free 56:38.550 --> 56:41.659 Count , the brave and count the truth 56:42.689 --> 56:45.580 who have fought to victory , 56:46.919 --> 56:49.489 the army and proud of our name . 56:50.850 --> 56:53.780 We are the army and proudly proclaim 56:54.909 --> 56:57.760 to fight for the right and to build the 56:57.770 --> 57:00.330 nation's night and the army goes 57:02.669 --> 57:05.610 proud of all . We have not fight until 57:05.620 --> 57:08.290 the battle is won and the army goes 57:08.300 --> 57:12.219 rolling and it's high , high . 57:12.229 --> 57:15.949 Hey , the arm is on its way . Count off 57:15.959 --> 57:19.899 the and loud and strong where 57:19.909 --> 57:23.229 we go . You will always know that the 57:23.239 --> 57:24.300 army goes wrong . 57:28.610 --> 57:30.388 Thank you for attending today's 57:30.388 --> 57:32.370 ceremony . Please join Lieutenant 57:32.379 --> 57:34.212 General Berger in congratulating 57:34.212 --> 57:36.379 Brigadier General , retired Mendelsohn 57:36.379 --> 57:38.510 and his family in a receiving line in 57:38.520 --> 57:40.699 front of the stage . After proceeding 57:40.709 --> 57:42.709 through the receiving line , please 57:42.709 --> 57:44.542 join the Mendelsohn family for a 57:44.542 --> 57:46.431 reception immediately outside the 57:46.431 --> 57:48.431 auditorium . This concludes today's 57:48.431 --> 57:48.520 ceremony .