Text of the speech by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates

The following is the text of the speech given by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at the 2010 National Scout Jamboree on July 28, 2010. It’s very good...

Good morning jamboree! Do you all want to sit down? Thank you Anthony, for that kind introduction.

It is an honor to be with you here today and to have the chance to share a few thoughts about scouting with you. I know how much you enjoy sitting in the sun, so I won’t take too long.

First, as you know, at this moment, there are hundreds of thousands of men and women in our military all over the world – but especially in Iraq and Afghanistan – who are putting their lives on the line to defend you, your families and our freedom. They have put their dreams aside to protect your dreams. Many of them are members of your families. So, would every Scout who has a mom or a dad or a brother or a sister or an uncle or an aunt in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard please stand? That’s what I figured. Please tell your family member from me thank you for their sacrifice – and thank you and your families for supporting them. You can sit down again.