John Levi, thanks very much for that kind introduction. Ron Flagg, thank you very much for allowing me to join you all this afternoon. Danielle Brooks, thanks for your service in the Army. And congratulations on LSC’s 50 years of service in expanding and improving access to justice for all Americans.

Let me add my grateful acknowledgement to the Native peoples upon whose ancestral homelands we’re gathered, including the Nacotchtank and Piscataway peoples, and to the Native communities who make their home here today.

John Handzuk, thank you very much for that introduction, for your leadership of the Fleet Reserve Association, and a special thanks to your team for partnering with VA in hosting today’s ceremony. And to all the Fleet Reserve members here this morning, congratulations on your centennial today—100 years serving your fellow shipmates and Marines.

Good morning. Emily Wilkins, thanks for that kind introduction, and for leading this important organization. Let me recognize the Press Club’s American Legion Post and its commander, Tom Young, and all the Veterans Service Organizations represented here.

Monica Rivera, thanks very much for that kind introduction.

Thanks so much to everybody. Good morning to you. Thank you for inviting me to join you for your 16th Judicial Conference.

You had me a couple of years ago. The fact that you welcomed me back notwithstanding the intervening time as Secretary I take as a mildly positive sign. We’ll see how the reviews are on that at the end of the speech.

Thank you, Walt Dannenberg, for that kind introduction. Mayor Phillip Jones is here today. It’s so fitting to have a Marine leading Newport News, a city with such a long maritime history, and where so many Veterans choose to call home.

Matt , thanks for that kind introduction and for the opportunity to join the team here this morning to kick off Day 2 of this important Gathering.

Commander Espinosa, thank you for that kind introduction, and for you and your family’s distinguished service to this awesome nation. As importantly, thank you for leading with unwavering commitment your more than 1 million DAV members for the past year.

This training is some of the most important, lifesaving training VA does. And getting it right is never easy. Expectations are necessarily and understandably very high, because the stakes for our Vets are so high.