That, my friends, is loyalty. And today we find ourselves in an era of declining military support, smaller foreign deployments and plagued recruiting efforts. In fact, Lloyd w. Newton, a USAF general, commented in a speech last summer that as a consequence of getting smaller and operating from fewer locations, there is less contact between society and its military. This results in less understanding. You and I know all too well that those around us who are virtuous characters, who profess love for their brother, show respect for one another, have been influenced by positive role models.
Loyalty is a key tenet of virtuous character.
You and I must be those positive role models. In 1994, William Bennett published a resource book on culture in the United States. As our veterans have aged and World War II and the Korean War loom further in the past, my generation has failed. We ve failed to teach the most important lessons. We ve failed to pass on the virtuous spirit with which so many of you served valiantly for our country.