COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — President Joe Biden on Thursday thanked U.S. Air Force Academy graduates for selecting “service over self” however stated they now have the “great privilege” of main in a world that can solely get extra complicated within the years to come back. His look was punctuated by a stumble onstage after handing out diplomas to graduates.
“Graduates, you made a noble choice to lead a life of service,” Biden instructed greater than 900 cadets in remarks on the sun-splashed subject at Falcon Stadium in Colorado. “Now you also shoulder a great privilege and a mighty responsibility. Leadership, yeah leadership.”
“In the years ahead, your airmen and guardians are going to look to you for guidance and inspiration because the world is going to get more confusing,” he added. “They’ll put their trust in you. You, in turn, must strive to always be worthy of their confidence.”
Near the top of the ceremony, the 80-year-old president turned to stroll throughout the stage and tripped. He was helped up by an Air Force officer in addition to two members of his U.S. Secret Service element. Onlookers, together with some members of the official delegation on stage, appeared over in concern earlier than Biden returned to his seat.
As he acquired again on his toes, Biden pointed to the place on stage the place he misplaced his steadiness. “He’s fine,” tweeted Ben LaBolt, the White House communications director. “There was a sandbag on stage while he was shaking hands.”
During his speech, the president talked about how the U.S. had rallied Western nations to face behind Ukraine towards Russia and efforts to boost deterrence within the Indo-Pacific area.
He additionally expressed confidence that Sweden will turn out to be a NATO member.
Sweden and Finland, each traditionally unaligned militarily, sought NATO membership after being rattled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But Turkey, a NATO member, blocked each international locations from becoming a member of the army alliance earlier than agreeing to membership for Finland whereas persevering with to object to Sweden.
But Biden stated Sweden’s NATO membership “will happen. I promise you.”
The academy graduates will turn out to be second lieutenants in both the Air Force or Space Force. Biden stated they made up probably the most numerous graduating class within the academy’s historical past and he referred to as on them to “root out the scourge of sexual assault and harassment in the military.”
Biden additionally stated they’ll want the qualities of resilience, creativity, endurance and dedication that they discovered throughout 4 years of coaching on the academy — studying that was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic — to cope with a variety of world challenges. He stated the challenges ranged from Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and America’s rivalry with China “to a whole hell of a lot in between.”
He additionally cited the specter of local weather change and the rising use of synthetic intelligence.
“Never forget the sacred oath you swear, and the mission you serve is something far, far greater than any person or president,” Biden stated. “It’s our Constitution, it’s our country and it’s our enduring American values.”
After talking, Biden participated within the presentation of diplomas, exchanging salutes and handshakes with every graduate as they have been referred to as to the stage and their family members cheered from the stands.
The ceremony was capped by an aerial salute to the graduates by the world-renowned U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, flying over Falcon Stadium. Biden met with among the pilots Wednesday after he arrived at Peterson Space Force Base.
___
Associated Press author Chris Megerian contributed to this report.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”