President Obama spoke to Coast Guard Academy graduates today as the keynote speaker during the 130th commencement ceremony in New London, Connecticut.
Introduced by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, the President reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to investing in Coast Guard ships and warned that the fight on terrorism continues after the killing of bin Laden.
Obama also stressed the responsibility of the Coast Guard by citing past operations that followed Hurricane Katrina, 9/11 terrorist attacks and the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The President closed his 20 minute commencement speech with the words of the Coast Guard motto Semper Paratus -- "always ready."
Pres. Obama traditionally speaks each year at commencement ceremonies for one of the military service academies. The President addressed the U.S. Naval Academy's commencement in 2009 followed by the U.S. Military Academy's ceremony last spring.
After the graduation ceremony, Obama heads to Boston to attend at a pair of fundraisers.