WEBVTT

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When you come into a steel city , you

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just know it . You see the steel mill ,

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you know what's going on , and we've

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been doing this since the early 1800s .

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These cities exist because of what we

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do . Our products are why they are here ,

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and so it's easy to see that . It's

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easy to be proud of that . So steel has

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been a foundational backbone of the

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city of Cleveland for almost its entire

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existence . Cleveland Cliffs has been

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headquartered here in Cleveland since

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1847 . I think as you drive around the

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city you will see steel and steel yards .

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You'll see the steel mills that are

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producing the steel . It's an honor to

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have a Navy ship named after your city .

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Cleveland Cliffs , our plate division ,

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supplied about half of the steel

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associated with the USS Cleveland . To

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see it come to full circle and see the

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boat there sitting in front of you ,

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knowing that the work that we did will

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serve our country , help protect our

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servicemen and women , there's not a

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greater honor . It makes us who we are

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as Cleveland as steelworkers , just

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becomes part of our DNA . Our country

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was not built by politicians or

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philosophers . It was built by

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craftsmen . Men and women who worked

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with their hands to build America .

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Today , the spirit of the craftsman

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lives here in Cleveland . On behalf of

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President Trump and Secretary Hegseth ,

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it is an absolute honor to join you

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today for the commissioning of the

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Navy's newest warship , USS Cleveland .

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This ship is named after the city of

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Cleveland , a reflection of the city's

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deep naval history and industrial might .

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To the officers and crew of USS

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Cleveland , today is your day . Your

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ship's motto is forge a legacy . That

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legacy means the standards you set ,

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the camaraderie that you forged , and

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the warfighting spirit you established .

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Well , that goes through the bulkheads

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of this ship for an entire lifespan .

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President Trump's commission to our

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military is simple to achieve peace

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through strength . USS Cleveland joins

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the fleet , ready to answer the call to

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action . As your acting Secretary of

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the Navy , I'm never above you . I'm

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never below you . I'm always beside you .

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May God bless you . May God bless this

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ship , and may God bless the United

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States of America . Thank you .

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Officers and crew of USS Cleveland ,

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man our ship and bring her to life .

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My brother served in submarines , in

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the Navy . When I see those sailors on

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the boat , I see my brother . And I

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know that the work that we did will

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keep them safe . When harm comes their

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way , they will be protected .