WEBVTT
Kind: captions
Language: en-US

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In the 20 years since DHS began, the 
world’s become more interconnected,

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more complicated than ever,
and new threats are emerging

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with incredible advances in technology.

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Some are frightening 
-those advances-

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many are reassuring.

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Yet, because of you,

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America's safer, is stronger,

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and is better prepared to meet
whatever threat we face.

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The threats are mounting.

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They're not diminishing.

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All of you who serve in 
our Department are heroes.

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The tragedy of 9/11 forced us to realize
that our country was not prepared

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to address the threat 
of foreign terrorism,

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and we resolved then to never again
take our security for granted.

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Many of you sought a way to serve,
to make a meaningful contribution

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to the safety and 
security of our homeland.

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Today, 20 years later,
we pay special tribute

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to those who come together
to form the Department.

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These first dedicated
public servants-our plank holders-

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are a shining example of the dedication

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and talent of our entire DHS workforce.

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I could not

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see myself doing anything else
but serving the American people.

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I will be so proud to say
that I spent my entire year doing that

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in the greatest agencies,
I think, on Earth.

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So for me,
a legacy of service is being able

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to look at my grandkids to say
that in every situation on this earth

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that dealt with homeland
security, we were there.