| The Great Communicator Vol 2: The Military and the Soviet Union | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tape Master: | 655 | |
| Catalog #: | 494181 | |
| Clip Number: | 494181-6 | |
| Orginal Film: | ||
| Timecode: | 01:24:16 - 01:26:44 | |
| Location: | Various | |
| Year Shot: | 1986 (Actual Year) | |
| Audio: | Yes | |
| Color: | Yes | |
| Headings: | BEHAVIOR, HUMAN: Patriotic MILITARY: Misc, USA PERSONALITIES: Reagan, Ronald POLITICS: Public Address (Speech) POLITICS: United States | |
| Description: | June 4, 1986 Excerpt from Remarks to Marine Corps Basic Training Graduates in Parris Island, South Carolina. Reagan rehashes defense spending glories & praises the state of the military. Senator JESSE HELMS sits to his right, watches on. "The news about our country today is good, and it's getting better. Pride is back. Patriotism is fashionable once again. We've taken our Armed Forces, which had suffered neglect and budget cuts for too many years, and gotten them back in shape - given them a little PT, you might say. We've restored our military to what it ought to be: combat-ready and fighting-fit, the strongest, proudest military for the strongest, proudest nation on Earth. And we've got to keep it that way." edit "Ernie Pyle, the famous war correspondent in World War II, reflected on the Marine Corps spirit. He wrote that he never did find out what perpetuated it. But he concluded: A marine just plain ``considers himself a better soldier than anybody else.'' Well, Ernie Pyle didn't just admire marines; he died with many of them on a terrible campaign called Okinawa, a campaign of bloodshed and valor for the men of the globe and anchor. You are the inheritors of that tradition. You carry on. You know, sometimes I'd like to take some of those people in Washington who are always trying to cut defense spending and bring them here to Parris Island - or to Fort Jackson, Orlando, or Lackland. And I'd tell them these are the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who are putting their lives on the line to keep America free. And if we ever must send our young service people into harm's way, then it is our moral duty to give them absolutely the best equipment and support that America can muster. (applause) And I promise that I - and I'm sure I'm speaking for others here on this platform - will fight as hard as I know how to make sure you get the support that you deserve. And to all of those who say that we must always cut defense first, that America can't afford a strong military, I have just one thing to say: Tell it to the Marines!" (applause) | |
WPA FILM LIBRARY
