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Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a distinct honor to join you today for this important occasion. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Dr. Maurice Edington, President of the University of the District of Columbia, for inviting me to speak today. Dr. Edington’s leadership at UDC, one of the oldest HBCU’s in the United States, is invaluable to the District, and its students.
UDC provides education to over 5,000 students annually, aligning academic programs with the needs of the local workforce while also delivering essential services to the community.
I want to thank Dr. Teri Little-Berry, UDC’s Chief Student Development and Success Officer, for the opportunity to be here today. Dr. Little-Berry helped make my participation possible. Thank you also to Sequoyah Adebayo for working with the Selective Service for our participation in today’s wonderful event.
Additionally, I want to acknowledge today’s keynote speaker, Colonel Charlette Woodard who, like many of us, is a veteran. Her dedication to the more than 30,000 veterans and their families in Washington, D.C., is truly commendable. Colonel Woodard has devoted her life to military and civil service. We owe her, and so many like her, a profound debt of gratitude.
Finally, I would also like to acknowledge the strong and enduring relationship between the Selective Service System and Washington, D.C., especially under the leadership of Mayor Muriel Bowser. She has honored the Selective Service System with its own month and supported passage of D.C. legislation to increase young men’s awareness of registration.
I would like to build on Dr. Arthur McMahan’s opening remarks on the importance of Veterans Day and the collective efforts of everyone here today to create opportunities for America’s veterans.
Supporting our servicemembers and veterans is not only a moral obligation but is also essential to ensuring they have the resources and opportunities to build successful lives for themselves and their families. This means access to education, workforce training, and job opportunities—all of which serve as the foundation for a prosperous future.
As we approach Veterans Day, it is a time for all of us to reflect on and express our deep appreciation for the brave men and women of our armed forces, our veterans, and their families. Their sacrifices, courage, and unwavering commitment are the pillars upon which our nation’s security rests.
In every conflict, disaster, and challenge, they have embodied the very spirit of service and selflessness that defines our country.
On this Veterans Day, we gather with a profound sense of gratitude for the countless contributions veterans have made. Their service has preserved our freedoms and ensured the safety and prosperity of the United States of America. For this, we are eternally grateful.
Veterans also play a vital role at the Selective Service System, making up more than 60 percent of our workforce. They bring valuable experience, discipline, and dedication to the Agency’s mission, contributing to the critical work we do each day on behalf of our nation.
Since its inception in 1917 during World War I, the Selective Service System has stood as a key element of our national security. At our core, we are a readiness organization, prepared to support the all-volunteer military in times of need, such as a major conflict.
While our registration program for young men between the ages of 18 and 25 is our most visible function, it serves as a safeguard, helping us to remain ready should a national emergency require the reinstatement of the draft.
Though we hope for peace, our mission remains essential: to maintain readiness and respond swiftly and effectively in the event of a national crisis, if we are called upon to do so.
The Selective Service System remains as relevant today as it was over a century ago, and we are committed to supporting America’s national security interests and our all-volunteer military.
Today we honor our nation’s veterans, but I would like to remind everyone that service can take many forms. The Selective Service System also collaborates with national service organizations, such as AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps, to foster a renewed spirit of service in our nation and help encourage more people to serve.
This past June, we were proud to participate in the Service for America Summit, held at the Peace Corps Headquarters.
The summit brought together leaders from government, non-profits, and the private sector to advance a shared vision of promoting military, national, and public service.
By encouraging young adults to engage in service, we are helping to build connections across diverse backgrounds and the creation and achievement of shared goals.
This ethos of service will not only enrich their lives but will also strengthen the fabric of our nation.
By leveraging our unique capabilities to engage young men – and potentially others as our mission evolves – we can inspire future generations to embrace the call to serve, whether in the military or through public and national service programs.
Through these partnerships, and by fostering a culture of service among America’s youth, we are making a vital investment in the future of our democracy.
Today we honor our veterans and let us also encourage service to help us have an even brighter future. Thank you.
