Remarks by the First Lady at Christening of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton in Pascagoula, Mississippi

Port of Pascagoula, Pascagoula, Mississippi

 11:15 A.M. CDT 

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you all.  Thank you.  Thanks so much.  Mike, thank you for that very kind introduction.  I think you gave me a few promotions along the way, but that’s okay, I’ll take them.  (Laughter.)  

And to you and all of the shipbuilders and their families who are here today -- congratulations on this truly magnificent ship.  It is amazing.

Here in Pascagoula, you have been building ships for centuries.  It’s in your blood.  It’s a proud tradition passed on from generation to generation.  Your hands have given us some of the greatest ships in the United States Navy and Coast Guard.  So whether you’re a welder or a fitter or a burner -- whatever your craft -- today is also a tribute to you and your families, and we thank you, as a grateful nation.  (Applause.)

Secretary Napolitano; Admiral Papp and Linda, and all our outstanding Coast Guard leaders, personnel and their families -- especially those of you from Coast Guard Station Pascagoula; members and friends of the Stratton family; First Lady Marsha Barbour; Representative Taylor; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen:

It is an incredible privilege to be with you today.  And I thank you for the great honor of being the first First Lady to sponsor a United States Coast Guard cutter.  (Applause.)  And believe me, I am humbled that its namesake is the first woman to serve as a commissioned officer in the United States Coast Guard -- one of the true pioneers in American history -- Captain Dorothy C. Stratton.  (Applause.) 

The christening of a ship is a tradition that I hear goes back thousands of years.  And according to some legend, one sponsor’s aim was so bad that the bottle hit someone in the audience.  (Laughter.)  So fortunately, these days the bottle is tied tight and we’re way over there.  So all of you in the front row can breathe a sigh of relief. 

Today is a wonderful celebration of an extraordinary life and the meaning that it holds for all of us.  Like most of you, I wasn’t fortunate enough to know Captain Stratton personally.  But I have come to know her story.  And as a woman, and as a mother of two daughters, as an American, I stand in awe of her life of service.  And after all these years later, all of us -- whether you’re a woman or a man, Coast Guard or another service, whether you’re military or civilian -- every American can be inspired by her example.

Because Captain Stratton taught us first about love of country.  See, she didn’t come from a military family.  And she certainly didn’t dream of wearing the uniform.  Instead, she distinguished herself first in academia.  But what happened?  Pearl Harbor was bombed, and our country was at war.  So she volunteered.  And when a colleague at Purdue University said -- and this is a quote -- “Dorothy, you can’t afford to do this,” her reply was simple.  She said, “I can’t afford not to.”

Captain Stratton also taught us about perseverance.  See, for all its opportunities, the SPARs were still limited.  They couldn’t give men orders, which is an absolute problem.  (Laughter.)  They couldn’t serve overseas, or even go to sea.  Later in life, she would say, “I’m sometimes referred to as the commanding officer of the SPARs.  Actually, I had no command authority.  All I had was the power of persuasion.” 

And that’s just how Captain Stratton taught us about the power of a single individual to bring about real change.  She traveled the country, giving speeches, recruiting other women, including, for the first time in the Coast Guard, African American women.  To so many of those young women, she became their mentor, she became their champion and their inspiration.  And she built them into a proud 11,000-strong Coast Guard Women’s Reserve.  (Applause.)

And Captain Stratton taught us what’s possible when people are given the opportunity to show their potential.  The SPARs were designed to free up men for the war.  But it also freed a new generation of women to believe in themselves -- as radio operators, air traffic controllers, parachute riggers and machinists.  These women were strong, independent, confident.  As Captain Stratton said, “All we asked was for the Coast Guard just to give the women a chance.  They gave the women the chance, and the women made good.”  (Applause.) 

And perhaps -- perhaps most remarkably, Captain Stratton broke all of these barriers in just four short years. Yet those four years gave birth to a legacy that lives on even today.

Her legacy lives on first in the love of her family, including those who join us today, who I’m looking forward to meeting -- her niece Barbara, her nephew Richard, and their families, and Captain Stratton’s dear friend, Sally Watlington.  We want to thank you all for being here, for keeping her memory alive.  Thank you so much.  (Applause.) 

But her legacy lives on in the admiration of her fellow SPARs -- these amazing women who marched and drilled and trained and proved themselves more than worthy of America’s uniform.  And as one of them said with pride, “We were full-fledged and we were salty.  By gosh, we were Coast Guard.” 

And while most of those original 11,000 are no longer with us, we are truly honored to be joined today by more than 20 surviving SPARs.  They have traveled, I understand, from all across the country to be with us. And again, I’d like to join in a tribute to you all.  Thank you so much.  You are extraordinary women -- part of the Greatest Generation.  (Applause.)

The legacy of Captain Stratton and her SPARs lives on in all those who followed in their footsteps.  After World War II, it would be another 30 years before women started to be fully admitted to the Coast Guard and other services.  But ask any of those women -- including those here today -- and they’ll tell you that it was Captain Stratton, the SPARs and the women of World War II who opened the door so that they could walk through and proudly serve this country. 

Today, women not only serve on ships, they command them; serve as Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard.   They have proven their courage in battle in Iraq and Afghanistan.  I was proud to welcome to the White House some of the women who broke that “brass ceiling” -- including Army General Ann Dunwoody, the first woman in American history to achieve the rank of four-star general.  (Applause.)  So today -- today it is absolutely clear for all to see that women in uniform are indispensable to American military. 

We see it in today’s Coast Guard -- men and women, officer and enlisted, Active, Reserve -- succeeding together as one team -- “Team Coast Guard.”  And true to their motto, they are “Always Ready” -- securing our coasts; protecting our ports; stopping drugs that would end up on our streets; responding to disasters, as we saw in Haiti; and serving in every one of America’s wars, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

We’ve seen this same spirit right here in the Gulf Coast.  Our Coast Guard men and women were the first on the scene when that rig exploded, and they have been here ever since.  And I had the pleasure of meeting with some of them this morning.  They make us proud.  They come from all over the country to help with the largest response of its kind in American history. 

And it’s important to know that many of them are reservists, so they got their orders, they kissed their families good-bye, they deployed on very little notice.  And they are making a difference every day, and they’re keeping even more oil off the beaches.  So along with all our men and women in uniform who are lending a hand, they deserve our thanks.  We are so proud as a nation of what you all are doing.  (Applause. 

We’re all relieved that the leak appears to have been stopped for now.  And today, I can share some more good news.  About one-third of the federal waters in the Gulf that were closed to fishing -- more than 25,000 square miles -- have been reopened.  (Applause.)  Also, the seafood from these waters has been tested and it is safe to eat.  (Applause.)  But I want you to know that the President, his administration, they are doing everything they can to get you all back fishing right here in Mississippi, too.  (Applause.)  And our Coast Guard, our country, we are going to stand with you as long as it takes to clean this up and to help this region recover. 

But, of course, this is not over.  In Pascagoula and all along the coast, I know that you and your families are still hurting.  So I want the whole country to know what I’ve been saying -- there are beaches down here, and they are open, and they are beautiful.  And even though there may be some bad weather in the next few days, the best way that this country can help this region is to come down here, right, come here -- (applause) -- visit, support these communities.  And, yes, in fact, the President and I, we are going to come on down.  (Applause.)  We’re happy to announce yesterday that we’ll be coming down to the Gulf.  I’m not sure where, because that’s another life -- they plan my life and they send me off.  (Laughter.)  But we’re going to come down for a little family vacation next month.  And we can’t wait.  (Applause.)

The point is, we are all together in this.  We have to be.  Here in Pascagoula and the Gulf Coast, you guys already know this.  Over the years, you’ve seen some really tough times and some terrible storms.  But you have always pulled through because you’ve always pulled together.  We can’t do it alone.  You know that as neighbors, as Americans, we all have a responsibility to each other. 

So, too, when it comes to one of my defining missions as First Lady, and that is supporting our incredible men and women in uniform and their families. 

I have issued a national challenge -- a challenge to every sector of American society to mobilize and take action to support and engage our military families.  It’s a challenge not just to government, but to the private sector, to communities, and most importantly, to every single individual citizen.  See, one percent of Americans may be fighting in our wars and protecting our country, but 100 percent of Americans need to be supporting our troops and their families.  And, see, the thing is -- (applause) -- everyone can do something.  Everyone can play a part.

And Captain Stratton knew this, because it was the story of her life -- an amazing 107-year life.  For as long as she could, she was still giving back.  She was still finding ways to serve her country; still encouraging and engaging with the Coast Guard that she loved; still inspiring the next generation -- serving as a role model, not just to our daughters and our granddaughters, but, yes, to our sons and our grandsons, too.

And the thing is, that may be her greatest legacy of all.  And if you’ve ever been to our nation’s capital, you can see this for yourself.  There’s -- right there at the entrance at Arlington National Cemetery, where so many of America’s fallen heroes rest, stands this beautiful tribute -- it’s the Women in Military Service of America Memorial.  It’s beautiful.  It honors the service of all those brave women who have served to keep us free.

And if you climb the granite steps and you stroll along the curved walkways, you’ll come across words etched forever in glass.  And they are the words of Captain Dorothy C. Stratton, and they read:  “We wanted to serve our country in times of need.  The Coast Guard gave us this opportunity and we did our job well.”

So, to the SPARs who join us today, thank you for your job done so very well.  (Applause.)  To the Coast Guard and to the crew of the Stratton, thank you.  Thank you for the honor of being associated with you and your families, which I will treasure for the rest of my life.  And thank you to all of you.  Thank you for the job that you all do every day to keep America and its ships so strong and so proud. 

God bless you all.  God bless America.  And Semper Paratus!

    Thank you so much. 

                   END           11:32 A.M. CDT

Remarks by the First Lady at Cooper Hewitt Design Awards Luncheon

East Room

12:47 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to the White House. 

It is a pleasure to be here today as we honor some of our country’s most talented, most visionary, most public-minded designers -- folks whose work has literally changed the way we look at the world and how we live our daily lives.  

Our honorees today come from a wide variety of disciplines and fields:  from architecture and landscape, to product design, interior design and much more. 

But all of you share the same relentless commitment to excellence.  Each of you practices your craft at the intersection of art and science, form and function -- grounding inspiration and innovation in fundamental principles of math and physics and engineering.

And all of you have spent your lives pushing boundaries.  We know a little bit about boundary pushing.  (Laughter.)  Or just outright ignoring them altogether.  (Laughter.)  Refusing to be confined by the world as it is, but instead having the courage, even the audacity, to pursue your vision of the world as it can and as it should be. 

The great jazz musician Miles Davis, one of my husband’s favorites, once said, “Don’t play what’s there, play what’s not there.”  And I think that’s pretty much a good description of what each of you does every day.  You’re really playing what’s not there.

You find solutions that we never thought of.  You reveal and create beauty we never could have imagined or seen on our own.  But each of you has also committed yourself to a fundamental principle, one best articulated, I believe, by one of today’s honorees, Tom Dair, the president and co-founder of Smart Design.  As he put it -- and this is a quote -- “Design is about people, not things.” 

What you do impacts just about every moment of our lives -- from the words we read, to the public spaces we enjoy, to the devices that help us do our jobs and run our homes and care for our families.  Your work can determine whether a family has shelter or whether a village has clean drinking water.  It can help fight disease, educate a child, and ensure we pass on cleaner, healthier world -- planet to all our children and grandchildren.  And your efforts grace our world with works of beauty that lift our spirits and stir our souls like nothing else can. 

But we honor you here today not just for your creations and your innovations but for the inspiration that all of you are providing to the next generation of creators and innovators and thinkers. 

And I know that just today -- and I heard just a little bit -- you guys did something amazing.  You really raised the bar.  And that’s exactly what we were hoping you’d do.  You took part in a Teen Design Fair -- it’s really fabulous, I can’t wait to hear more of the details -- that occurred right here in Washington to help introduce what I believe were more than 400 young people to careers in design.  And I know that many of you are involved in similar efforts like this back at home where you live and work.

And we know the impact that experiences like this can have on the life of our young people -- giving them role models for success and exposing them to new possibilities, helping give them direction and shape their dreams.

But we also know that far too few young people in this country have access to programs and opportunities like the one we did today.  Even those who live just minutes from our great museums and cultural centers may feel like these resources are far beyond their reach.

And one of my goals as First Lady is to help bridge that gap.  And that’s why I’ve been working to make sure that the White House is a showcase for America’s rich cultural life, and I want to open up these doors to as many of our young people as possible, hosting them right here, in these same seats at these same tables, for concerts and workshops and mentoring sessions.  I want all our young people in this nation to know that they have a place in our museums and in our theaters, in our design studios, in our concert halls, and in all halls of their very own White House. 

And I’ve got a partner in that effort, standing behind me.  I’m pleased to have the honor of introducing Dr. Wayne Clough, as you know, the head of our nation’s Smithsonian Institution, someone who shares the same mission.  And we were just talking about his travels, his works, his meetings with Secretary Duncan to do more to make sure that the experiences of the Smithsonian are available to kids living in the most remote places right here in this country.

Back when the Smithsonian was founded in the mid-1800s, it was focused primarily on science.  And it wasn’t until later that it expanded into culture, history, and then the arts. 

And that’s actually a pretty good summary of the trajectory of Dr. Clough’s career.  Wayne came to the Smithsonian from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he was the president.  And in one news article, he is described as -- and this is a quote -- “a geotechnical engineer who reads and writes poetry” -- go figure -- (laughter) -- “quotes Faulkner, and likes indie films and the symphony.”

And he has brought to this current role that passion for art and science, and that embrace of both that makes our past and future one.

And during his time at the helm of the Smithsonian, he’s worked tirelessly to ensure that as many people as possible -- particularly our young people -- can benefit from everything this national treasure has to offer.

So it is my pleasure not only to join you for lunch and to sit next to Tim Gunn -- how cool -- (laughter) -- but to pass the mic on to my dear friend, someone who has been such a huge support to me in this role and has made this day possible, along with the work that so many of you do.  He helps lift it up.  It is my pleasure to introduce Secretary Wayne Clough.  (Applause.)

END
12:54 P.M. EDT

Remarks by the First Lady at a "Let's Move!" Baseball Clinic with Major League Baseball at Camden Yards

Camden Yards
Baltimore, Maryland

11:22 A.M. EDT
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, man, those were cool.  Pretty cool.  That’s my first, like, major PSA.  What do you think, kids?  Good?  Two thumbs up?  Would you listen?  Yes, I thought so.  Okay.  (Laughter.)
 
Well, good afternoon, everybody.  And thank you, Tim, thank you for that introduction.  Thank you for all your support.  I want to join the thank yous to the entire Baltimore Orioles organization; to Pete Angelos and his family for hosting us today. 
 
This is certainly a beautiful park.  Kids, don’t you think this is cool?  (Applause.)  You’re sitting in the middle of a ballpark!  Okay.  (Laughter.)
 
I also want to thank the Tampa Bay Rays and owner Stuart Sternberg and his family for their support.  Also thanks to Tony Clark and the entire MLB Players Association and all 30 players who agreed to be part of the public service advertising campaign.  So that’s -- it just means so much to these kids to see you guys joining in this.  Your voice means so much more to them than anything we could say, and we’re just proud to have you on board.  So thank you so much.
 
I also want to thank the First Lady of Maryland, Katie O’Malley.  Also, Baltimore’s mayor, Mayor Rawlings-Blake, thank you so much for being here today.  Thank you for your support.  Thank you for making this city a strong one and letting us launch this in your city.  We really appreciate it.
 
And I want to thank Commissioner Selig and his wife Sue and their family for being here.  As Sue said, they sent the women to do the job today.  I think we’re handling it, right, Sue?  (Laughter.) 
 
And last but not least, to you guys, the kids, all the Major League Baseball RBI program participants and all those supporters from the Boys and Girls Clubs all around the country who’ve helped millions of kids lead happier, healthier lives because, kids, I know you’re hot out there, I know there are cameras, but we’re here because of you.  Truly, this is all about you.  Everything we’re doing is about you kids sitting here, and it’s important for you to know that.
 
The truth is that lots of kids just aren’t getting enough healthy foods and they’re not getting enough exercise.  And that’s going to make it hard for them to pay attention in class, it’s going to make it hard for them to keep up with their friends on the playground, and it’s going to make it difficult for young kids to grow up to be the kind of strong athletes that we see here.
 
So we needed to do something about it.  So when I became First Lady, we started planting a garden and doing some things around healthy eating, but it led to the launch of a broader conversation, a campaign called “Let’s Move!”  And “Let’s Move!” has a simple goal:  We’re trying to end childhood obesity in a generation so that kids born today grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams.
 
We’re doing a lot of things.  We’re trying to get parents and teachers and mayors and governors and athletes and doctors.  We need everyone involved in this effort on behalf of our kids.
 
The campaign is going to do four things.  First, we’re helping parents to make better choices -- we’re trying to get companies to provide healthier foods for you guys to eat.  The second thing, we’re trying to help schools like yours offer healthier meals so that you get good food at school.  The third thing, we’re making sure that all families can get healthy, affordable food in the communities where they live.  One of the biggest problems in this country is that lots of children live in neighborhoods that don’t have a supermarket at all, not a single supermarket.  That means that healthy fruits and vegetables are harder to find, and we’re trying to change that. 
 
And number four, which is why we’re here today, is that we’re trying to get you kids moving!  (Applause.)  The whole campaign is about “Let’s Move!” because the truth is, guys, you are supposed to be getting at least 60 minutes of active play every single day.  Are you guys doing that right now?  How many kids are getting 60 minutes, a whole hour, every day just to play?  Let me see some hands.  (Laughter.)  All right, we got these two.  I know I’m getting mine in. 
 
But that’s what led athletes to be the great players that they are today, because they never stop moving.  If you talk to your mothers -- right, you guys?  You never stop moving.  Never.  And that’s what you guys need to do, and that’s why we’re here.  We’ve got to get you kids focused and moving, and we’ve got organizations all across the country ready to help. 
 
At first, when these players were kids, they found a sport that they loved.  And they practiced and practiced and practiced until they were better at it than anybody else.  So we want you guys to do the same thing. 
 
So that’s why we’re here.  I know you guys are hot.  But we’re going to get you guys moving today.  And one of the things we want you to think about doing -- this is a challenge that I have from the President of the United States -- are you ready?  He’s going to give out some awards, an Active Life Award, for kids who are committed to doing activity every day of the week, or at least five days a week, okay?  And if you can commit to doing that and get your parents involved and your schools involved, you’ll get one of those awards.  Maybe you’ll get to come to the White House.  But you have to commit to do that.  Do you think you’re ready to compete? 
 
CHILDREN:  Yes!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  This could be the start of it.  Are you ready to be healthier?
 
CHILDREN:  Yes!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Are you ready to eat more vegetables?
 
CHILDREN:  Yes!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Are you ready to drink more water?
 
CHILDREN:  Yes!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Are you ready to jump up and down?
 
CHILDREN:  Yes!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Throw some balls?
 
CHILDREN:  Yes!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Sweat?
 
CHILDREN:  Yes!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Scream?
 
CHILDREN:  Yes!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  All right, let’s do it, let’s move!  Thank you guys.  I’m going to get out there with you.  I got my shoes on.  All right, let’s get going.  (Applause.) 
 
END
11:29 A.M. EDT