The Final State of the Union
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Summary:
This week had a little bit of everything: President Obama making a surprise visit to Afghanistan; honoring our veterans for Memorial Day; the fourth-ever White House Science Fair; the first-ever Concussion Summit – and group hugs with the President. And that's barely scratching the surface.
This week had a little bit of everything: President Obama making a surprise visit to Afghanistan; honoring our veterans for Memorial Day; the fourth-ever White House Science Fair; the first-ever Concussion Summit – and group hugs with the President. And that's barely scratching the surface.
Check out what else you may have missed in this week's wrap-up:
Helping Young People Stay on Track
Three months ago, President Obama launched My Brother's Keeper – a new initiative to ensure that America's boys and young men of color reach their full potential. And today, the My Brother's Keeper Task Force released a report on its progress over the initiative's first 90 days.
Learn more about the initiative – and find out how you can get involved in your own community.
"America Must Always Lead"
On Wednesday, President Obama traveled to West Point to congratulate the newest officers in the U.S. Army and to reflect on America's foreign policy agenda. The President acknowledged that our world is changing with accelerating speed and that America must be equipped to respond to an increasingly dynamic environment.
"You will embody what it means for America to lead the world." —Obama at @WestPoint_USMA: http://t.co/AA9S3t9Vy2 pic.twitter.com/SZE6n562nK
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 29, 2014
President Obama stressed that the United States is a global leader – a nation that "must always lead on the world stage." Watch his speech here.
President Obama's 'Inner Nerd' Comes Out at the White House Science Fair
Auto-retracting bridges made of Legos, remote-controlled search-and-rescue robots, and a 12 year-old who already has two patents. Those were just a few of the highlights from the fourth-ever White House Science Fair on Tuesday, which featured some of the nation's brightest and most innovative young scientists.
"Lego queens" demo their flood proof bridge! #WHScienceFair #GirlsinSTEM pic.twitter.com/mtGdmNFIwo
— The White House OSTP (@whitehouseostp) May 27, 2014
The President spent almost an hour chatting with the participants, calling the event "one of my favorite things all year long."
Ending the War in Afghanistan
In the White House Rose Garden on Tuesday, President Obama talked about the United States' next steps in Afghanistan, and how "we will bring America's longest war to a responsible end."
"When I took office, we had nearly 180,000 troops in harm's way," President Obama said. "By the end of this year, we will have less than 10,000."
"We Stand in Awe of Your Service"
President Obama surprised American troops and civilians at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan over the weekend to thank them for their service. While addressing 3,000 troops in a hanger at the base, he let them know that he was there "on a single mission" – to say thank you.
Honoring Our Veterans on Memorial Day
Hours after returning from Afghanistan, President Obama traveled across the Potomac to Arlington National Cemetery to honor fallen servicemembers and their families.
The President laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and closed his remarks by saying that Memorial Day is a day to "rededicate ourselves to our sacred obligations to all who wear America's uniform, and to the families who stand by them, always."
