In the 20 years since DHS began, the world’s become more interconnected,
more complicated than ever, and new threats are emerging
with incredible advances in technology.
Some are frightening -those advances-
many are reassuring.
Yet, because of you,
America's safer, is stronger,
and is better prepared to meet whatever threat we face.
The threats are mounting.
They're not diminishing.
All of you who serve in our Department are heroes.
The tragedy of 9/11 forced us to realize that our country was not prepared
to address the threat of foreign terrorism,
and we resolved then to never again take our security for granted.
Many of you sought a way to serve, to make a meaningful contribution
to the safety and security of our homeland.
Today, 20 years later, we pay special tribute
to those who come together to form the Department.
These first dedicated public servants-our plank holders-
are a shining example of the dedication
and talent of our entire DHS workforce.
I could not
see myself doing anything else but serving the American people.
I will be so proud to say that I spent my entire year doing that
in the greatest agencies, I think, on Earth.
So for me, a legacy of service is being able
to look at my grandkids to say that in every situation on this earth
that dealt with homeland security, we were there.