WEBVTT 00:08.579 --> 00:11.220 I was h 00:13.210 --> 00:15.510 peace and hope . 01:32.930 --> 01:33.559 Art , 01:40.489 --> 01:40.730 oh 02:20.500 --> 02:23.279 colors , color shirt arch . 02:34.110 --> 02:36.110 I'd invite you to join me in prayer 02:36.110 --> 02:39.820 today . Lord , beautiful day like 02:39.830 --> 02:42.289 this . We are amazed and in awe at your 02:42.300 --> 02:45.160 power and your love for us . We thank 02:45.169 --> 02:47.280 you for this day that we can come and 02:47.280 --> 02:49.447 celebrate and promote one of our own . 02:49.619 --> 02:51.675 You have prepared Lieutenant Colonel 02:51.675 --> 02:54.029 Bryant for this day by gifting him as 02:54.039 --> 02:56.860 an airman and as a leader , we have 02:56.869 --> 02:59.330 seen his talents at work and he has 02:59.339 --> 03:01.450 served with us and we are so thankful 03:01.450 --> 03:03.830 that he is part of our team . I would 03:03.839 --> 03:05.839 ask Lord you continue to direct his 03:05.839 --> 03:08.389 every step . His faith in you is 03:08.399 --> 03:11.330 obvious and you have led him and we 03:11.339 --> 03:13.561 know Lord , you will continue to anoint 03:13.561 --> 03:15.728 him with your holy spirit and give him 03:15.728 --> 03:17.950 the grace and the strength to carry out 03:17.950 --> 03:21.009 his role as a service member and as a 03:21.020 --> 03:23.699 leader in the National Guard . We also 03:23.710 --> 03:25.766 want to thank you Lord for his great 03:25.766 --> 03:27.543 family who stood behind him and 03:27.543 --> 03:29.660 supported him all these years . Would 03:29.669 --> 03:31.780 you bless his wife and his Children ? 03:31.979 --> 03:34.146 May they experience your strength each 03:34.146 --> 03:35.979 and every day and may their home 03:35.979 --> 03:38.320 continue to be a sanctuary , a place of 03:38.330 --> 03:40.949 safety refuge and where your peace 03:40.960 --> 03:43.240 survives . Now , we ask your blessing 03:43.250 --> 03:45.083 upon this ceremony and your very 03:45.083 --> 03:47.740 presence in Christ Jesus name . We pray . 03:48.309 --> 03:48.899 Amen . 03:52.990 --> 03:54.490 Thank you , chaplain bur , 03:58.699 --> 04:00.921 ladies and gentlemen , please be seated 04:02.080 --> 04:04.302 at this time . We would like to welcome 04:04.302 --> 04:06.524 our distinguished guest , the Assistant 04:06.524 --> 04:08.470 Adjutant General for Air Brigadier 04:08.479 --> 04:10.880 General David Johnson and all other 04:10.889 --> 04:13.279 commanders chiefs and leaders among us . 04:13.289 --> 04:16.100 Welcome . It is with great pleasure 04:16.109 --> 04:18.276 that I introduce our presiding officer 04:18.276 --> 04:20.276 for today's ceremony , the Chief of 04:20.276 --> 04:22.660 Staff for Air Brigadier General Phoenix . 04:29.989 --> 04:31.878 Good afternoon , honored guests , 04:31.878 --> 04:35.079 family , friends , colleagues . Indeed , 04:35.089 --> 04:38.109 it is an incredible day for Greg Bryan . 04:38.760 --> 04:41.410 He is going to achieve the rank that 04:41.420 --> 04:43.959 less than 2% of Air Force officers ever 04:43.970 --> 04:46.809 get to experience . Uh that didn't 04:46.820 --> 04:49.700 happen by accident . It uh it's forged 04:49.709 --> 04:53.070 with a long career of hard work , 04:53.079 --> 04:55.450 dedication , innovation , a lot of 04:55.459 --> 04:57.619 words that end in ion but definitely 04:57.630 --> 05:01.589 leadership and he's done so at home 05:01.600 --> 05:04.980 and abroad . He deployed in Iraq , uh 05:04.989 --> 05:08.109 went to Tallil as a protocol officer 05:08.369 --> 05:10.750 and while in theater was actually moved 05:10.760 --> 05:14.609 to the law and served as the chief of 05:14.619 --> 05:17.359 command post operations . So you , you 05:17.369 --> 05:19.147 can start to glean early in his 05:19.147 --> 05:21.149 commission uh that , that he's not 05:21.160 --> 05:23.327 afraid to wear a hat . He's not afraid 05:23.327 --> 05:25.438 to step up and , and have the courage 05:25.438 --> 05:28.049 to , to try new things and to excel 05:29.070 --> 05:32.519 while back home . Uh , he , 05:32.700 --> 05:35.179 he , he was prior service enlisted and 05:35.190 --> 05:36.968 I think that's a very important 05:36.968 --> 05:39.023 perspective in developing an officer 05:39.023 --> 05:40.801 having done so myself . It , it 05:40.801 --> 05:42.746 definitely helps , uh , you know , 05:42.746 --> 05:45.079 being listed as the most important , uh , 05:45.079 --> 05:47.246 resource that , that we have . They're 05:47.246 --> 05:48.968 the ones that are protecting , 05:48.968 --> 05:51.079 deterring . Uh , they're the ones who 05:51.079 --> 05:53.190 get the job done so great perspective 05:53.190 --> 05:55.523 in your development . But along the way , 05:55.523 --> 05:58.040 he , he also served as the sports 05:58.334 --> 06:02.285 commander and uh for those of our army 06:02.295 --> 06:04.984 brethren , those who don't know that's 06:04.994 --> 06:08.744 hr plus . And , uh I think it's an 06:08.755 --> 06:11.214 incredible experience for any officer . 06:11.695 --> 06:13.917 Uh You can take it anywhere that you go 06:13.917 --> 06:16.084 throughout your career . You're always 06:16.084 --> 06:18.195 going to reach back to your personnel 06:18.195 --> 06:21.075 background . But I think the FSS in an 06:21.084 --> 06:23.545 officer's development is especially 06:24.170 --> 06:26.920 good because it is so unique with so 06:26.929 --> 06:29.151 many different programs . It's probably 06:29.151 --> 06:31.690 the hardest , well , hardest relative , 06:31.700 --> 06:34.869 but at least the most complex because 06:34.880 --> 06:37.179 it has dozens of programs and with 06:37.190 --> 06:39.809 dozens of programs comes hundreds of 06:39.820 --> 06:43.589 policies and regulations that 06:43.600 --> 06:47.140 impacts airman's lives . They from 06:47.149 --> 06:49.410 cradle to grave , uh the time they 06:49.420 --> 06:51.600 enlist to the time that they reenlist 06:51.609 --> 06:54.600 promotions , uh along the way , their 06:54.609 --> 06:56.387 moves throughout their career , 06:56.387 --> 06:58.442 retirement and trying to keep in bed 06:58.442 --> 07:00.609 along the way . And that takes a great 07:00.609 --> 07:02.442 deal of leadership and excellent 07:02.442 --> 07:05.140 experience . Greg also served in 07:05.149 --> 07:07.480 another unique role that I think has 07:07.489 --> 07:09.910 played , uh , has been significant in 07:09.920 --> 07:12.799 his development forging him uh to this 07:12.809 --> 07:14.976 day to this stage . And that is in the 07:14.976 --> 07:17.959 IG office where he served as the 07:17.970 --> 07:20.137 Director of Inspection . That's a very 07:20.137 --> 07:22.359 unique position because unlike many 07:22.369 --> 07:24.480 positions throughout the wing , where 07:24.480 --> 07:26.480 you're just focused in a particular 07:26.480 --> 07:28.591 area as the director of inspections , 07:28.591 --> 07:30.813 it forces you to learn about the entire 07:30.813 --> 07:32.899 room . And so you walk away with how 07:32.910 --> 07:35.829 wing is supposed to operate . And Greg 07:35.929 --> 07:39.359 was one of the uh during the onset of 07:39.369 --> 07:41.258 the Air Force , the new Air Force 07:41.258 --> 07:43.779 inspection system uh was no doubt one 07:43.790 --> 07:46.019 of the founding fathers of managed 07:46.029 --> 07:48.140 inspection program that hopefully has 07:48.140 --> 07:51.679 its momentum today . So uh very unique 07:51.690 --> 07:54.070 experience and well forging him getting 07:54.079 --> 07:57.059 him here today to the stage . He served 07:57.070 --> 08:00.739 as a controller and as the uh fiscal 08:00.750 --> 08:03.459 compass for the commander , all the 08:03.470 --> 08:05.540 commanders . Uh that's quite a 08:05.549 --> 08:07.829 challenge in itself trying to get the 08:07.839 --> 08:11.589 job done the mission done . Uh I think 08:11.600 --> 08:13.779 it's , I think it's impressive to note 08:13.790 --> 08:16.140 that during the time that Greg was 08:16.149 --> 08:20.029 actually serving astro about a half a 08:20.040 --> 08:23.750 billion dollars for that . And , and uh 08:23.760 --> 08:26.779 serving several wing commanders to 08:26.790 --> 08:28.957 ensure that the state clean up graters 08:28.957 --> 08:31.459 get the mission done with uh fiscal 08:31.470 --> 08:34.838 responsibility . I know his family is , 08:34.848 --> 08:38.179 is especially proud of gray . You know , 08:38.638 --> 08:40.638 when you , when you understand that 08:40.638 --> 08:44.318 half of his family is as sir or is has 08:44.799 --> 08:48.099 his promise his high school 08:48.109 --> 08:50.331 sweetheart . Those are his words . I've 08:50.331 --> 08:52.553 heard him mention that many times since 08:52.553 --> 08:56.359 I've known him , Shannon , she also 08:57.450 --> 09:01.260 enlisted and she served 11 years 09:02.030 --> 09:04.619 and then decided to take a break . She 09:04.630 --> 09:08.530 took an 18 year break and then came 09:08.539 --> 09:10.650 back and is currently serving today . 09:11.059 --> 09:14.820 Now , now 18 years is , is probably 09:14.830 --> 09:17.150 obvious , she assumed one of the most 09:17.159 --> 09:19.429 important roles uh in the country . And 09:19.440 --> 09:22.840 that is the role of a mother . So a lot 09:22.849 --> 09:26.520 of respect for , for uh Shannon 09:26.530 --> 09:29.669 Bryan , there's another role though 09:29.700 --> 09:33.489 that she , uh , that she assumed during 09:33.500 --> 09:36.349 that time that I think is , is one of 09:36.359 --> 09:38.510 the most challenging roles in the 09:38.520 --> 09:42.289 service of the military . And that is 09:42.299 --> 09:45.179 the role of a military spouse . So 09:47.340 --> 09:49.840 they are great role models within their 09:49.849 --> 09:51.793 family . I can , you can tell that 09:51.793 --> 09:55.070 quickly . Uh , you've got one of one of 09:55.080 --> 09:57.247 their son , their or their son , their 09:57.247 --> 10:00.130 only son that's in , uh , uh enlisted 10:00.140 --> 10:02.251 and written backers . Now , I believe 10:02.251 --> 10:05.940 man still serving as a cyber war and , 10:05.950 --> 10:08.659 uh , their daughters , Brooklyn and 10:08.669 --> 10:11.049 Sienna , they're not in yet . At 10:13.159 --> 10:15.215 the end of the refreshment line , we 10:15.215 --> 10:17.437 probably have some recruiters . We want 10:17.437 --> 10:21.260 you too . But , uh , you know , 10:21.270 --> 10:25.190 in a , in addition to that , uh , in 10:25.200 --> 10:27.510 the family , I , I'm gonna , I'm gonna 10:27.520 --> 10:29.900 outline a few of the players . There's 10:29.909 --> 10:33.520 father-in-law , uh Mike Taylor , he 10:33.530 --> 10:35.752 served break the back . I think he told 10:35.752 --> 10:39.570 me 3536 years . There's , uh , we can't 10:39.580 --> 10:42.500 begin . Uncle , uh , Jeff who served in 10:42.510 --> 10:46.380 the Marines was uh at Rickenbacker as 10:46.390 --> 10:50.150 well and served on the CST . Uh We 10:50.159 --> 10:54.130 have uh brother in law g uh who , 10:54.140 --> 10:58.140 who served uh as well . Uh 10:58.150 --> 11:01.119 We have Greta Taylor who is currently 11:01.130 --> 11:03.130 serving and last , but not least we 11:03.140 --> 11:04.989 have our fake mani uh to 11:06.960 --> 11:09.940 so with his family and , and the 11:09.950 --> 11:12.130 extended family , we have a flight 11:14.820 --> 11:16.960 and so we , we thank all of them . We 11:16.969 --> 11:20.219 know that Greg would not be here today 11:20.229 --> 11:22.396 without the example , without the role 11:22.396 --> 11:25.369 models and certainly without the the 11:25.409 --> 11:28.659 support of Shannon , I know that uh 11:28.669 --> 11:30.739 you're eager to get the celebration 11:30.750 --> 11:33.869 underway . So great . Do you still want 11:33.880 --> 11:35.602 to go through with this ? Ok , 11:37.599 --> 11:39.655 let's get the celebration underway . 11:39.655 --> 11:40.655 Thank you . 11:43.369 --> 11:47.309 Special order number A P dash 3066 11:47.320 --> 11:50.950 dated 10 , June 2024 . The president of 11:50.960 --> 11:52.849 the United States acting upon the 11:52.849 --> 11:55.016 recommendation of the Secretary of the 11:55.016 --> 11:57.190 Air Force has placed special trust and 11:57.200 --> 11:59.049 confidence in the patriotism , 11:59.130 --> 12:01.890 integrity and abilities of Lieutenant 12:01.900 --> 12:04.655 Colonel Gregory L Bryant in view of 12:04.664 --> 12:06.442 these special qualities and his 12:06.442 --> 12:08.608 demonstrated potential to serve in the 12:08.608 --> 12:10.497 higher grade . Lieutenant Colonel 12:10.497 --> 12:12.553 Gregory L . Bryan is promoted to the 12:12.553 --> 12:14.497 great of Colonel United States Air 12:14.497 --> 12:17.164 Force effective 24th , September 2024 . 12:17.445 --> 12:19.667 By order of secretaries of the army and 12:19.667 --> 12:22.885 air signed Daniel R . Hogenson General 12:22.895 --> 12:24.562 Chief National Guard Bureau . 12:44.940 --> 12:45.940 We 12:50.880 --> 12:51.880 ok . 12:57.349 --> 12:58.349 The 13:24.429 --> 13:26.559 that ok . 13:28.669 --> 13:29.669 Ok . 13:38.780 --> 13:39.780 Yeah , 13:46.250 --> 13:47.250 thank you 14:10.210 --> 14:11.210 and should 14:20.809 --> 14:22.976 excuse me for not looking too proper . 14:27.059 --> 14:28.059 Ok , 14:34.900 --> 14:35.900 sure . 14:45.210 --> 14:45.780 You ready 14:53.710 --> 14:54.710 should be 15:01.419 --> 15:02.280 ok . Mhm . 15:27.530 --> 15:28.640 But now 15:31.450 --> 15:33.010 cool . Yeah , 15:47.359 --> 15:51.130 thank you . Give me a second . 15:54.070 --> 15:55.450 Yeah . Yeah . 15:59.809 --> 16:00.809 Ok . 16:11.309 --> 16:13.330 The song is better . Yeah . 16:18.789 --> 16:20.479 Yeah , that's all . 16:24.880 --> 16:25.880 And I would say 16:31.880 --> 16:32.880 the 16:44.450 --> 16:47.570 ok , this 17:05.489 --> 17:07.711 first I want to thank uh General Harris 17:07.780 --> 17:09.891 yet . He was unable to come here . Um 17:09.891 --> 17:12.829 General Johnson , General 17:15.579 --> 17:17.800 General Woodruff as well on the army 17:17.810 --> 17:21.680 side . Um Colonel promotable to 17:21.689 --> 17:24.489 bring it in . General Dominguez who 17:24.500 --> 17:26.556 gets promoted here next week , maybe 17:26.619 --> 17:28.675 next week or so . He'll put the star 17:28.675 --> 17:30.841 off an awesome thing for him . Colonel 17:30.841 --> 17:33.008 L for the opportunity to come up to hr 17:33.008 --> 17:36.119 O and my past commanders and those that 17:36.130 --> 17:38.352 are able to manage the chiefs as well . 17:38.650 --> 17:40.650 And thank you everybody here in the 17:40.650 --> 17:42.650 front row . I appreciate everything 17:42.650 --> 17:44.761 you've done as you all know , you got 17:44.761 --> 17:46.594 for me personally because it all 17:46.594 --> 17:48.817 affected my career , some size shape or 17:48.817 --> 17:50.872 form . And I would not be here , not 17:50.872 --> 17:52.706 only without you guys , but also 17:52.706 --> 17:52.584 without my family . Thank you . 17:52.765 --> 17:54.876 Appreciate everything you've done for 17:54.876 --> 17:57.204 me . Also , I want to thank following 17:57.214 --> 17:59.325 folks for helping , put us together . 17:59.325 --> 18:01.214 It takes hard to ham it . They're 18:01.214 --> 18:03.436 sitting up here somewhere that Sergeant 18:03.436 --> 18:05.589 dill running the ad over here . What 18:05.680 --> 18:07.680 you guys right hand side , Sergeant 18:07.680 --> 18:10.939 Rutledge over here , uh Sergeant 18:10.949 --> 18:13.959 Branson , who's doing the pictures , uh 18:13.969 --> 18:16.191 Sergeant Patrick , who put together the 18:16.191 --> 18:18.413 honor guard team . Uh Captain Richter , 18:23.099 --> 18:25.155 Captain Walton , who's not , I don't 18:25.155 --> 18:27.266 think she's chair . She helped me put 18:27.266 --> 18:29.432 the other powerpoints and everything . 18:29.432 --> 18:31.655 Make sure I didn't . Uh Colonel Burriss 18:31.655 --> 18:34.089 for being the tin and Colonel wh again 18:34.099 --> 18:36.510 for helping with everything with the uh 18:37.040 --> 18:39.459 ceremony here and also what we're going 18:39.469 --> 18:41.739 to do afterwards . And of course , 18:41.750 --> 18:43.972 Chief came out of that car , took us to 18:43.972 --> 18:45.750 their butt , getting everything 18:45.750 --> 18:47.972 together . So I appreciate all you guys 18:47.972 --> 18:50.083 who put this together and of course , 18:50.083 --> 18:52.194 last but not least I want to thank my 18:52.194 --> 18:54.528 family first . We start with my friends , 18:54.528 --> 18:56.417 Chief Eagle right there . I got a 18:56.417 --> 18:58.583 lifelong friend right there . Love you 18:58.583 --> 19:01.959 bud . Appreciate everything you do . Um 19:02.640 --> 19:04.989 Major Tim Lin , sitting out there there 19:05.000 --> 19:07.111 he is . He came all the way here just 19:07.111 --> 19:09.167 for this . Appreciate everything you 19:09.167 --> 19:11.278 got done for me . Chief Mayor . Where 19:11.278 --> 19:14.280 is he at there ? He is so chief and I 19:14.290 --> 19:17.390 go way back to security four days . I 19:17.400 --> 19:19.622 know he's here because he never thought 19:19.622 --> 19:21.939 this day would ever start . He , he 19:21.949 --> 19:23.838 referred to me as the worst staff 19:23.838 --> 19:25.949 sergeant in the history of the United 19:25.949 --> 19:27.116 States . Here I am . 19:30.469 --> 19:33.410 Yep . Uh Mark and Kiki Shipley along 19:33.420 --> 19:35.642 with Brooklyn over there , good friends 19:35.642 --> 19:37.753 of our family soon . He'll be part of 19:37.753 --> 19:39.880 our family with Tyler who will be my 19:39.890 --> 19:42.112 son in law next summer . I look forward 19:42.112 --> 19:44.112 to you joining the family . What an 19:44.112 --> 19:46.112 awesome addition he is . You know , 19:46.112 --> 19:48.168 he's got his own story which some of 19:48.168 --> 19:50.223 you know about being full holder and 19:50.223 --> 19:52.446 everything else being a in the nation . 19:52.446 --> 19:56.010 And do great things , Josh and Leanne , 19:56.020 --> 19:57.909 great neighbors right behind us , 19:57.909 --> 19:59.853 taking care of us whenever we need 19:59.853 --> 20:01.909 anything as well as the deals across 20:01.909 --> 20:04.540 the street with my godchild back there 20:06.329 --> 20:08.385 and then help with other people that 20:08.810 --> 20:11.319 not be able to come today . So thank 20:11.329 --> 20:14.579 them as well , family , Mike and Linda . 20:14.589 --> 20:16.811 Thanks for everything . Thanks Mike for 20:16.811 --> 20:18.867 being a patriot of your family . You 20:18.867 --> 20:22.650 think by example , got a lot to follow 20:22.910 --> 20:26.569 in to your service , they and Frank as 20:26.579 --> 20:29.640 well . That is my um um thank you for 20:29.650 --> 20:33.199 everything right as well . But for me a 20:33.209 --> 20:35.265 long time , you know , we appreciate 20:35.265 --> 20:37.790 everything . Of course , joy and grata 20:37.890 --> 20:40.099 who could not be here . Brother in law 20:40.109 --> 20:42.540 Gabe . Thanks for everything , an 20:42.550 --> 20:45.310 inspiration to all of us . We love that 20:45.359 --> 20:47.581 you have connections with my family . I 20:47.581 --> 20:50.560 appreciate it . My brother Ron who's 20:50.569 --> 20:53.520 here , my older brother , uh Thanks for 20:53.530 --> 20:57.359 everything . We got a long history 20:57.369 --> 20:59.810 together . I appreciate you to be here . 21:00.319 --> 21:02.319 You know , our dad's not going very 21:02.319 --> 21:05.089 well right now . So he couldn't be here 21:05.540 --> 21:08.260 to rob him with a lot of big heart , 21:10.469 --> 21:13.219 Jeff . Thanks for your service . My 21:13.229 --> 21:16.760 uncle can , I can't imagine anybody 21:16.770 --> 21:18.826 better uncle than what you are . You 21:18.826 --> 21:20.714 always help us whenever we need . 21:21.069 --> 21:23.540 Nicholas . Thanks to you also and I 21:23.550 --> 21:25.849 love you like a brother doing the 21:25.859 --> 21:27.970 things you're doing . I'm always here 21:27.970 --> 21:31.650 for you . All right then , of course , 21:31.660 --> 21:34.209 and most importantly , my family Cayman , 21:35.180 --> 21:39.030 that's gonna be my best work . He 21:39.119 --> 21:42.030 was married . Probably just compliment 21:42.040 --> 21:44.819 for wife . I compliment him . Thank you 21:44.829 --> 21:47.579 guys for everything . My granddaughter , 21:47.839 --> 21:49.589 Ria back here somewhere 21:52.489 --> 21:56.329 with her other grandpa . And 21:56.339 --> 21:59.959 then of course for fun . I love to 22:00.729 --> 22:02.949 question my daughter . Um , look 22:02.959 --> 22:05.180 forward to your nursing career and you 22:05.189 --> 22:07.189 graduate this year . You're married 22:07.189 --> 22:10.339 next year . So I had , uh , I said to 22:10.349 --> 22:13.260 Tyler , not very much Sienna . No , big 22:13.270 --> 22:16.569 B 12 college , you know , transfer from 22:16.819 --> 22:19.969 here to UC . She figured out she's an 22:19.979 --> 22:21.812 urban girl . She's not quite the 22:21.812 --> 22:25.640 outdoorsy person and then her 22:25.650 --> 22:27.817 boyfriend , he , he means the world to 22:27.817 --> 22:30.209 me also , he plays baseball for capital . 22:30.219 --> 22:32.380 So it , prior to Memphis , 22:35.209 --> 22:38.270 it's the most important . My wife , 22:39.349 --> 22:40.689 31 pairs 22:44.660 --> 22:48.329 a lot . Thanks for all your support . 22:48.939 --> 22:51.050 I can't imagine anybody more loving , 22:51.050 --> 22:53.161 caring , more supportive , protective 22:53.161 --> 22:56.229 of me than you . You're doing great 22:56.239 --> 22:58.295 things in your career as well . Um , 22:58.439 --> 23:00.606 cheerleading for you as you go along . 23:02.609 --> 23:04.839 I apologize if I missed anybody . I 23:04.880 --> 23:06.991 sincerely do . But I thank you all so 23:06.991 --> 23:09.158 much for everything you've done for me 23:09.180 --> 23:13.089 away . So , since 23:13.199 --> 23:15.189 I found out I was going to try to 23:15.199 --> 23:17.255 decide exactly what I wanted to talk 23:17.255 --> 23:20.530 about . Kept coming back . 23:21.420 --> 23:25.300 So same thing is some 23:25.310 --> 23:27.421 days , you know , you're in uniform . 23:27.421 --> 23:29.643 You wonder why I school uniform in your 23:29.643 --> 23:31.810 entire . But then thank you to go back 23:31.810 --> 23:35.290 to this letter . We see several years 23:35.300 --> 23:38.520 ago , about seven years ago and it's 23:38.530 --> 23:41.760 called uh choosing to make a difference . 23:42.609 --> 23:45.589 So I'm not reading part of it . I show 23:45.839 --> 23:48.006 you on top very long if you look at it 23:48.089 --> 23:51.920 a long . But the writer summed up a lot 23:52.520 --> 23:55.540 of what it means in military support . 23:56.719 --> 23:58.719 And then I'm gonna do a Paul Harvey 23:58.719 --> 24:00.886 moment afterwards and you guys to know 24:00.886 --> 24:04.810 Paul Harvey . So it starts 24:04.819 --> 24:06.930 out , I choose to make a difference . 24:06.930 --> 24:09.152 Bang , bang , bang , piece of sweat can 24:09.152 --> 24:11.319 roll down my face as I began to wonder 24:11.319 --> 24:13.375 where I was going to run next . As I 24:13.375 --> 24:15.375 sat behind the concrete area on the 24:15.375 --> 24:17.375 river , it all began to sink in . I 24:17.375 --> 24:19.708 looked down at my blood stained uniform . 24:19.708 --> 24:21.930 I told myself you have to make it . You 24:21.930 --> 24:24.097 have to leave to tell the stories that 24:24.097 --> 24:26.041 you're following them up . My legs 24:26.041 --> 24:27.930 began to ache as I ran toward the 24:27.930 --> 24:30.150 shelter . Every step . I I thought in 24:30.160 --> 24:33.939 my last , the voices of my rang through 24:33.949 --> 24:37.729 my ears . Keep on , keep on . I 24:37.739 --> 24:39.683 created these images of war . They 24:39.683 --> 24:41.906 played through my head . As I sat up to 24:41.906 --> 24:44.072 make the biggest decision of my life . 24:44.072 --> 24:46.239 I thought about all the war scenes . I 24:46.239 --> 24:48.350 had watched the movies . I read about 24:48.350 --> 24:50.572 books . I even recalled stories that my 24:50.572 --> 24:52.683 great grandfather had told my grandpa 24:52.683 --> 24:54.739 and my grandpa told me stories about 24:54.739 --> 24:56.850 the great befriends that he , that he 24:56.850 --> 24:59.072 knew well in the army and the hardships 24:59.072 --> 25:01.295 that he had to endure while in battle . 25:01.295 --> 25:03.660 In World War II , I put myself in those 25:03.670 --> 25:05.892 scenes and couldn't imagine how hard it 25:05.892 --> 25:07.559 would have been to endure the 25:07.559 --> 25:09.670 conditions that these men did and you 25:09.670 --> 25:11.892 still have that will encourage to dress 25:11.892 --> 25:14.114 on every day . My respect and heart for 25:14.114 --> 25:16.670 men and women and serve in our country 25:16.680 --> 25:18.791 through it . Every second . I thought 25:18.791 --> 25:20.609 to myself , what can I do 25:25.479 --> 25:29.479 pass ? I thought to myself , what can 25:29.489 --> 25:31.656 I do to honor the lives that have been 25:31.656 --> 25:33.878 given to me to make this country free ? 25:34.109 --> 25:36.331 So I'll take a break right there before 25:36.331 --> 25:38.442 I read a little bit more . The writer 25:38.442 --> 25:40.665 in this is disgusting , dream , dream . 25:40.665 --> 25:44.400 One day coming into this , he 25:44.410 --> 25:46.521 wanted to make a difference servicing 25:46.530 --> 25:48.697 self as we all know is one of the core 25:48.697 --> 25:51.709 values of the Air Force . As the story 25:51.719 --> 25:55.300 goes on , as goes on , as I grasped the 25:55.310 --> 25:57.477 p in my hand , I looked up to everyone 25:57.477 --> 25:59.643 in the room , family and friends stood 25:59.643 --> 26:01.866 anxiously around the room , reassurance 26:01.866 --> 26:03.866 rang through my head . As I saw the 26:03.866 --> 26:05.921 smiles on their face , they not only 26:05.921 --> 26:07.810 love me but they support me in my 26:07.810 --> 26:09.977 decisions . I turned around and looked 26:09.977 --> 26:12.088 at my recruiter and he said , are you 26:12.088 --> 26:14.310 ready ? Yes , of course , I'm gonna , I 26:14.310 --> 26:16.477 said emotions began to rush through my 26:16.477 --> 26:18.588 body . I was beginning to get through 26:18.588 --> 26:20.532 all the nerves . I was excited and 26:20.532 --> 26:23.359 honored to have this opportunity . 26:25.569 --> 26:27.625 I felt honored to have the chance to 26:27.625 --> 26:29.625 serve my country . To honor those I 26:29.625 --> 26:31.847 have fought for my freedom and to fight 26:31.847 --> 26:33.847 so that my family and generation to 26:33.847 --> 26:35.902 come could still live a life without 26:35.902 --> 26:38.180 worry , without fear of being attacked . 26:39.239 --> 26:41.689 Read these pages and kids sign here , 26:42.160 --> 26:44.979 they agree said I began to read through 26:44.989 --> 26:47.170 all the papers , consent forms , life 26:47.180 --> 26:49.640 insurance forms , etc , they just kept 26:49.650 --> 26:51.650 coming . As I finished reading each 26:51.650 --> 26:53.872 page , I signed my name at the bottom . 26:53.872 --> 26:55.983 Reading what I read . I grew more and 26:55.983 --> 26:58.317 more important as the paper kept coming . 26:58.317 --> 27:00.539 The papers seemed like they would never 27:00.539 --> 27:02.650 stop . I told myself you have to stay 27:02.650 --> 27:04.817 focused because this is what you dream 27:04.817 --> 27:07.510 about for a long time . I pushed 27:07.520 --> 27:09.631 through and ticked away hastily . The 27:09.631 --> 27:11.687 last paper was finally before me , I 27:11.687 --> 27:13.909 took a deep breath and looked up at all 27:13.909 --> 27:15.964 the eager people standing around the 27:15.964 --> 27:18.131 table . I had no doubt in my mind that 27:18.131 --> 27:20.298 this is what I wanted to do the papers 27:20.298 --> 27:22.409 about my agreement to serve six years 27:22.409 --> 27:24.576 in the Air Force attend basic training 27:24.576 --> 27:26.742 tech store . In the summer . I reached 27:26.742 --> 27:28.798 down and grabbed the final papers in 27:28.798 --> 27:30.909 front of me . I read it one more time 27:30.909 --> 27:34.849 and signed . So again , the writer 27:34.859 --> 27:37.569 here hit on a lot of things , the 27:37.579 --> 27:39.746 processes of the listing , the process 27:39.746 --> 27:41.523 of doing something greater than 27:41.523 --> 27:44.060 themselves . Emotions were running high 27:44.290 --> 27:46.568 and only man with family members there . 27:47.479 --> 27:49.646 Again , the core values that stand out 27:49.646 --> 27:51.859 there that did all he wanted me to do 27:52.430 --> 27:55.130 loyalty and personal courage . Those 27:55.140 --> 27:59.099 are core values . The paper 27:59.109 --> 28:01.719 goes on finish now that we have 28:01.729 --> 28:03.896 finished all the paperwork . It's time 28:03.896 --> 28:07.439 to square in . My recruiter said my , I 28:07.449 --> 28:09.505 stood at my feet , moved over to the 28:09.505 --> 28:11.449 corner where I was sworn in in the 28:11.449 --> 28:13.616 corner stood the American flag and the 28:13.616 --> 28:16.000 international . Both of them , the room 28:16.010 --> 28:18.510 was quiet and more anxious . I stood 28:18.520 --> 28:20.742 across from Colonel Bryant as he said , 28:20.742 --> 28:23.020 raise your right hand . Good afternoon . 28:23.020 --> 28:25.187 In that moment , everything settled in 28:25.187 --> 28:27.020 and it all became very , this is 28:27.020 --> 28:28.909 actually about to happen . I told 28:28.909 --> 28:31.076 myself as I raised my right hand , the 28:31.076 --> 28:33.242 nerves began to rescue my body . I was 28:33.242 --> 28:35.464 not worried , not that I made the wrong 28:35.464 --> 28:37.631 decision . I was just nervous for what 28:37.631 --> 28:40.880 life would have told for me after I 28:43.310 --> 28:45.750 swore in . I wonder where I'd be four 28:45.760 --> 28:47.871 years from now . Yet I know that none 28:47.871 --> 28:50.093 of that mattered . It was time to swear 28:50.099 --> 28:52.432 in and it was time to make a difference . 28:52.432 --> 28:55.069 I said repeating it to o'brien . Hi 28:55.849 --> 28:56.819 Mason Rhodes 29:00.949 --> 29:03.510 in . So I swear that I'll support to 29:03.719 --> 29:06.400 the cause of the United States to the 29:06.410 --> 29:09.140 state of Ohio , installing a foreign 29:09.250 --> 29:11.369 investment that will bear true faith 29:11.380 --> 29:13.436 and allegiance system . And I'll pay 29:13.436 --> 29:15.380 the orders of the president of the 29:15.380 --> 29:17.547 United States and the governor of Ohio 29:17.547 --> 29:19.324 and the officers appointed over 29:19.324 --> 29:21.880 according to all right . So help me God . 29:22.699 --> 29:24.755 As I said , the final words of you , 29:25.000 --> 29:28.510 both of them released beer at 29:29.469 --> 29:31.699 last , after six months of hard work , 29:31.709 --> 29:34.150 I did it . I followed my dreams and did 29:34.500 --> 29:37.239 not let anyone stop . Finally the day , 29:37.449 --> 29:39.393 um I chose to make a difference to 29:39.393 --> 29:40.560 become an American . 29:43.479 --> 29:47.010 With that last part , Mason 29:47.020 --> 29:49.949 again chose to serve something greater 29:49.959 --> 29:53.329 than himself and also the Corps , the 29:53.339 --> 29:55.117 Air Force , as well as the army 29:55.280 --> 29:58.560 integrity , first sense of duty , honor 29:58.569 --> 30:01.739 and respect . Now , as I said earlier , 30:01.750 --> 30:05.599 the Paul Harvey of the moment Mason 30:05.609 --> 30:09.219 rose shortly after that two years after 30:09.229 --> 30:12.709 swearing that in your TV Y CD , I play , 30:13.500 --> 30:16.439 felt late pain . Little . Did he know a 30:16.560 --> 30:19.390 month later he'd been diagnosed with 30:19.400 --> 30:22.609 cancer , cancer that only affects young 30:22.630 --> 30:26.369 kids , younger population . He 30:26.380 --> 30:28.920 fought like hell for the next 3.5 years 30:28.959 --> 30:31.719 before he succumbed to cancer . But I 30:31.729 --> 30:35.579 can tell you , Mason , he didn't 30:35.589 --> 30:37.700 have to join the guard . He come , he 30:37.700 --> 30:41.180 was brought up with a well family who 30:41.189 --> 30:43.469 had business was well off . He didn't 30:43.479 --> 30:45.810 have to do any of this , not one bit , 30:45.819 --> 30:46.819 but he chose to . 30:51.869 --> 30:55.280 So during that brief time that , uh , 30:55.680 --> 30:57.624 shortly after Mason was fighting , 30:57.624 --> 30:59.680 going through chemo and everything . 30:59.680 --> 31:02.010 Then Colonel Johnson , Colonel Manus 31:02.390 --> 31:05.300 Chief Taylor went to Mason's house . 31:05.709 --> 31:08.579 Mason hadn't stood for 2.5 2.5 weeks , 31:08.589 --> 31:10.700 three weeks , whatever it had been at 31:10.700 --> 31:13.500 the time . But I can tell you when a 31:13.550 --> 31:15.717 and , and know they're bringing him an 31:15.717 --> 31:17.229 award way in which she me 31:20.170 --> 31:22.337 anyway , they told him he did not have 31:22.337 --> 31:24.448 to stand against them . Like I said , 31:24.448 --> 31:26.540 for a while , Mason chose to stand . 31:27.359 --> 31:29.680 Mason chose this in honor of the 31:29.709 --> 31:30.709 military . 31:33.589 --> 31:35.645 I know , you know , other people the 31:35.645 --> 31:38.479 same way . So remember why those are 31:38.489 --> 31:40.880 the uniforms , why you serve it is 31:40.890 --> 31:42.890 because of my granddaughter sitting 31:42.890 --> 31:44.668 over there because of my unborn 31:44.668 --> 31:47.050 grandfather . It's coming right . As 31:47.060 --> 31:49.171 well as those that fought before us . 31:50.949 --> 31:52.880 I ask you a couple of things , 31:52.969 --> 31:55.191 especially those that aren't in uniform 31:55.380 --> 31:57.436 right now is to continue to serve on 31:57.436 --> 32:00.229 that capacity , whether it's serving at 32:00.800 --> 32:03.022 the family support section with Carolyn 32:03.022 --> 32:05.040 or any of the other wings , whether 32:05.050 --> 32:08.790 it's using your 32:08.800 --> 32:11.469 time , your talents , they all need 32:12.109 --> 32:15.119 that . You have 501 c three company 32:16.219 --> 32:19.400 wounded warriors . It doesn't make a 32:19.520 --> 32:22.099 difference to serve and also encourage 32:22.109 --> 32:23.942 those that are young to join the 32:23.942 --> 32:27.109 military . We need , I don't need to 32:27.119 --> 32:29.341 tell the people in the uniform , but we 32:29.341 --> 32:31.452 know that year 2027 is coming close . 32:31.900 --> 32:33.733 We need everybody that we have , 32:33.733 --> 32:36.079 whether civilian or military to be able 32:37.030 --> 32:39.197 support this country and support RE MD 32:40.510 --> 32:42.689 and with that , I thank you all for 32:42.699 --> 32:44.755 your time . Thank you for everything 32:44.760 --> 32:46.982 you've done for me . You mean the world 32:46.982 --> 32:49.599 to me and I will leave you with one 32:49.609 --> 32:52.329 last thing . I'll leave you with a 32:52.339 --> 32:54.390 quote from Eddie Rickenbacker in 32:54.400 --> 32:57.780 American Eastern World War one . I pray 32:57.790 --> 33:00.012 to God every day of my life to be given 33:00.012 --> 33:02.234 the strength and power , to continue my 33:02.234 --> 33:04.123 efforts , to inspire others , the 33:04.123 --> 33:06.012 interest , the obligation and the 33:06.012 --> 33:08.290 responsibilities that we own this land , 33:08.290 --> 33:11.640 for the sake of future generations . So 33:11.650 --> 33:13.817 that we can always look back when that 33:13.817 --> 33:15.928 candle , the candle of life burns low 33:15.928 --> 33:17.819 and say , thank God . I have 33:17.829 --> 33:19.829 contributed my best to the land and 33:19.829 --> 33:21.885 contribute so much to me . God bless 33:21.885 --> 33:22.140 you all .