Dinner Speech...
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Dinner Speech...
Came across this by accident ... Not sure if it was posted on here before,
but it's quite a good read...
----------------------------------------------------------------
The United States Navy on the World Wide Web
A service of the Navy Office of Information, Washington DC
send feedback/questions to [email protected]
The United States Navy web site is found on the Internet at
http://www.navy.mil
----------------------------------------------------------------
Remarks as delivered by
The Honorable John H. Dalton
Secretary of the Navy
Trafalgar Night Dinner
Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.
15 October 1988
WHERE THERE’S A USS THERE’S AN HMS
Thank you Commodore Anthony, for that kind introduction.
Ambassador Meyer… Admiral Boyce… Admiral Johnson… distinguished
guests…
This is the third time that I have been honored to speak
at this wonderful celebration of naval history. It is an
especially poignant evening for me because it will be my last
Trafalgar Night Dinner as Secretary of the Navy.
It is particularly apt that we celebrate tonight at the
Marine Barracks. For 195 years it has been the heart of the
United States Marine Corps. Indeed the Commandant of our Marine
Corps’ home, right here at 8th and I, was built in 1803 on land
selected by Thomas Jefferson. I believe thanks are in order to
our British hosts tonight - when your Admiral Cockburn and
General Ross put much of this city to the torch, including the
White House, the Capitol, and much of the Navy Yard, they spared
the Commandant’s residence and this band hall.
Our tradition tells us that it may have happened because
of General Ross’s admiration for the staunch resistance of the
Marines and Sailors that fought nearby in the battle on
Bladensburg Road. That respect was and is mutual, I assure you.
It undoubtedly was a building block to the “special
relationship” shared by our countries, and between our Navies
and Marine Corps.
I have spent some time recently, as you might expect,
reminiscing about my time as Secretary, and where we have come,
as a service, during that time. One of the things that I am
most proud of is being a part of the transformation process,
that we began in 1993, to restore the reputation of our Sailors
and Marines. Our Navy was, in the early 1990s, tarnished by the
poor ethical choices of a few of our people, and it was
therefore time to take a good hard look at ourselves and the
culture in which our people were serving and leading.
One of my goals became to reinvigorate our Core Values of
Honor, Courage and Commitment, to once again give our Sailors
and Marines the pride in themselves and pride in their actions,
that more properly reflect the legacy they inherited. It was a
challenging task, but I am proud that it has been a successful
one. Today, our Sailors and Marines are respected as never
before.
I began my own efforts in this endeavor, by looking to the
people and events that had inspired me, and had defined for me,
what our Core Values are. The examples I found were profoundly
useful and satisfying, and it is those examples I will share
with you tonight, because they all seem to come full circle to a
familiar place that most of you call home – England, and can be
traced to a British naval hero named Admiral Lord Horatio
Nelson.
Let me assure you, first of all, that I will attempt to
heed the words of another famous Englishman, King Henry the
Eighth, who once said to his sixth wife… “I promise I won’t keep
you long…”
As we began our efforts to restore the reputation of our
people and our service, I did not have to look far in my own
personal search for inspiration. I had the tremendous
opportunity to serve briefly aboard three Royal Navy vessels,
very early in my career, as a Midshipman. On a Western Pacific
summer cruise, I served aboard the commando-carrier HMS ALBION,
the cruiser LION and the minesweeper PUNCHESTON. I also had the
thrill of going ashore with the Royal Marines in North Borneo.
It was during that time with the Royal Navy that I began
to appreciate not just the professional competence of the people
serving now – but also the power of those who have gone before.
We are connected to our legacy; our Navies and Marine Corps are
great because of the Honor, Courage and Commitment we have
built, and that now underpins everything we do.
In our search to restore our reputation as a service, I
also looked to individuals in our Navy’s history… those now
larger than life personalities from the eras of sail and
dreadnought whom we quote with such ease today. One of those is
the hero we consider to be the Father of the American Navy,
Commodore John Paul Jones.
I had the opportunity to visit the birthplace of John Paul
Jones at County Derry in Scotland, during the 250-year
celebrations of his birth, in 1997. And, I stood on the coast
of Ireland, just miles from where the battle of Flamborough Head
took place, and laid a wreath on the water there. It was there
that John Paul Jones fought in the epic battle between the
BONHOMME RICHARD and HMS SERAPIS, and uttered the immortal
words, “I have not yet begun to fight!” even as his own ship
began to sink.
That expression of commitment was an example of the legacy
I wanted to highlight as we began to restore the character of
the Navy and Marine Corps. I was naturally drawn to the
heritage of the Royal Navy, from where John Paul Jones and most
of our own naval leaders drew their genius and example. The
deep traditions of the Royal Navy proved to be a boundless
source of inspiration as we reinvigorated our own Core Values.
As I reflect upon my Trafalgar Night experiences, what
stands out prominently is the wonderful bond that our two
navies, and Nations, share. It is unique in the history of the
world that two countries so geographically far apart could be so
close for so long… It took a bit of quarreling, but since we
resolved our differences early on, things have gone very well.
Clearly, many of the American Navy’s traditions can be
traced to the Royal Navy, and in particular to Admiral Lord
Nelson. From the checkered broadside paint scheme on our oldest
commissioned warship, the USS CONSTITUTION, to the affectionate
nickname of “Nelson’s Blood,” that until we got rid of the rum
ration in 1899, was the term American Sailors used for their
libation.
But I did want the opportunity to say a few words to you
this evening about the inspirational leadership and legacy of
Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson himself.
The Swiss critic Amiel once wrote “Heroism is the
brilliant triumph of the soul over flesh.” Few men in history
have epitomized this more than Admiral Lord Nelson. His example
of physical and moral courage has always stood out as one to
emulate. He possessed an inner strength that provided him the
fortitude he displayed in battle, and inspired others to match
his courage. Admiral Nelson was not above learning from the
actions of others, either. He deeply admired the courage of one
of our naval heroes, Captain Stephen Decatur.
Slightly less than two years before the Battle of
Trafalgar, the United States was engaged in a war with the
Barbary Pirates. Decatur planned and led a raid on the
stronghold of the Bashaw of Tripoli, with the object of
destroying a captured American warship, the USS PHILADELPHIA.
Decatur was successful in his mission, with only one of his men
being injured. Admiral Lord Nelson, when he heard of the
incident in his cabin aboard the VICTORY, described it as “the
most bold and daring act of the age.” Had the opportunity
presented itself, undoubtedly Captain Decatur would have
returned the compliment following the Battle of Trafalgar.
Clearly, Nelson’s humility and learned nature transcended his
celebrity.
Admiral Nelson also deeply cared about his men, paying
particular attention to their health. The admiral understood
the two time tested principles of leadership: accomplish the
mission and take care of your people. A leader can not be
successful in the long run without following both of these
mutually supportive tenets. Nelson’s men were aware of his
devotion to them. His personal interest in every aspect of
their training ensured that their actions in battle ultimately
did not require his physical presence or direction when the
battle was joined.
He also led from the front, providing a visible example of
courage under fire. He was brave, inspiring and dedicated.
Through battle after battle, he was a bold and admirable leader.
His men loved him, his enemies feared him, and he accomplished
the mission.
Alfred Thayer Mahan, the great advocate and visionary of
American seapower, was a devoted admirer of Admiral Lord Nelson.
He once wrote about the lasting effects of his example - “Wars
may cease, but the need for heroism shall not depart from the
earth, while man remains man and evil exists to be redressed.”
These are wise words, especially applicable to our times – while
we are engaged in a whole array of operations other than war,
the need for inspired, heroic leadership has not diminished one
iota.
Nelson’s example of inspired leadership propelled the
Royal Navy into years of unparalleled naval dominance. I do not
believe that this was purely because of the crushing defeat he
delivered to the combined French and Spanish Fleet. The legacy
of leadership that Nelson left behind for successive generations
of naval officers is what propelled the Royal Navy to continued
greatness. The enduring effects of his breathtaking victory at
Trafalgar resound even to this day.
Just a few months ago, I had the distinct honor to dine
aboard HMS VICTORY, as the guest of the 2nd Sea Lord, Admiral Sir
John Brigstocke. It remains one of the most memorable events in
my life. To have served as a Midshipman aboard Royal Navy
vessels, and then to return as Secretary of the American Navy,
and dine in the very cabin in which Lord Nelson dined, and to
see the place below decks where he died, was almost
unbelievable.
I learned that night, that among Lord Nelson’s dying
words, he said to the Captain of HMS VICTORY: “Kiss me, Hardy.”
His own humility then, was matched by mine, when I turned to my
wife the night we dined aboard HMS VICTORY, and told her, “Pinch
me, Margaret!”
I understand there are some who believe those words were
actually, “Kismet, Hardy,” acknowledging Nelson’s recognition of
fate, or destiny. Whatever the case, it is clear that Lord
Nelson’s final words to Captain Hardy were actually, “Not over
the side,” as he wanted desperately to return to his beloved
England.
I am certain that is where each of you want to eventually
return, so let me begin wrapping up my remarks. You can be
proud of the fact that England’s extraordinary naval history,
Admiral Lord Nelson, and the wonderful traditions surrounding
Trafalgar, all have had a hand in restoring the reputation of
the American naval service. The final signal by Nelson to his
fleet at Trafalgar still rings true… “England expects that every
man shall do his duty…” Indeed, England has done that and much
more.
During my last visit to England, the First Sea Lord,
Admiral Sir Richard Boyce, was quick to remind me that
everywhere there is a USS, there is also an HMS. May it always
be so. I look forward to the next century of shared tradition
and continued friendship. I thank you very much for this
wonderful evening.
So with that I will ask you all to stand. On this 193rd
anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, I propose a toast: TO
THE IMMORTAL MEMORY OF ADMIRAL LORD NELSON.
-USN-
but it's quite a good read...
----------------------------------------------------------------
The United States Navy on the World Wide Web
A service of the Navy Office of Information, Washington DC
send feedback/questions to [email protected]
The United States Navy web site is found on the Internet at
http://www.navy.mil
----------------------------------------------------------------
Remarks as delivered by
The Honorable John H. Dalton
Secretary of the Navy
Trafalgar Night Dinner
Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.
15 October 1988
WHERE THERE’S A USS THERE’S AN HMS
Thank you Commodore Anthony, for that kind introduction.
Ambassador Meyer… Admiral Boyce… Admiral Johnson… distinguished
guests…
This is the third time that I have been honored to speak
at this wonderful celebration of naval history. It is an
especially poignant evening for me because it will be my last
Trafalgar Night Dinner as Secretary of the Navy.
It is particularly apt that we celebrate tonight at the
Marine Barracks. For 195 years it has been the heart of the
United States Marine Corps. Indeed the Commandant of our Marine
Corps’ home, right here at 8th and I, was built in 1803 on land
selected by Thomas Jefferson. I believe thanks are in order to
our British hosts tonight - when your Admiral Cockburn and
General Ross put much of this city to the torch, including the
White House, the Capitol, and much of the Navy Yard, they spared
the Commandant’s residence and this band hall.
Our tradition tells us that it may have happened because
of General Ross’s admiration for the staunch resistance of the
Marines and Sailors that fought nearby in the battle on
Bladensburg Road. That respect was and is mutual, I assure you.
It undoubtedly was a building block to the “special
relationship” shared by our countries, and between our Navies
and Marine Corps.
I have spent some time recently, as you might expect,
reminiscing about my time as Secretary, and where we have come,
as a service, during that time. One of the things that I am
most proud of is being a part of the transformation process,
that we began in 1993, to restore the reputation of our Sailors
and Marines. Our Navy was, in the early 1990s, tarnished by the
poor ethical choices of a few of our people, and it was
therefore time to take a good hard look at ourselves and the
culture in which our people were serving and leading.
One of my goals became to reinvigorate our Core Values of
Honor, Courage and Commitment, to once again give our Sailors
and Marines the pride in themselves and pride in their actions,
that more properly reflect the legacy they inherited. It was a
challenging task, but I am proud that it has been a successful
one. Today, our Sailors and Marines are respected as never
before.
I began my own efforts in this endeavor, by looking to the
people and events that had inspired me, and had defined for me,
what our Core Values are. The examples I found were profoundly
useful and satisfying, and it is those examples I will share
with you tonight, because they all seem to come full circle to a
familiar place that most of you call home – England, and can be
traced to a British naval hero named Admiral Lord Horatio
Nelson.
Let me assure you, first of all, that I will attempt to
heed the words of another famous Englishman, King Henry the
Eighth, who once said to his sixth wife… “I promise I won’t keep
you long…”
As we began our efforts to restore the reputation of our
people and our service, I did not have to look far in my own
personal search for inspiration. I had the tremendous
opportunity to serve briefly aboard three Royal Navy vessels,
very early in my career, as a Midshipman. On a Western Pacific
summer cruise, I served aboard the commando-carrier HMS ALBION,
the cruiser LION and the minesweeper PUNCHESTON. I also had the
thrill of going ashore with the Royal Marines in North Borneo.
It was during that time with the Royal Navy that I began
to appreciate not just the professional competence of the people
serving now – but also the power of those who have gone before.
We are connected to our legacy; our Navies and Marine Corps are
great because of the Honor, Courage and Commitment we have
built, and that now underpins everything we do.
In our search to restore our reputation as a service, I
also looked to individuals in our Navy’s history… those now
larger than life personalities from the eras of sail and
dreadnought whom we quote with such ease today. One of those is
the hero we consider to be the Father of the American Navy,
Commodore John Paul Jones.
I had the opportunity to visit the birthplace of John Paul
Jones at County Derry in Scotland, during the 250-year
celebrations of his birth, in 1997. And, I stood on the coast
of Ireland, just miles from where the battle of Flamborough Head
took place, and laid a wreath on the water there. It was there
that John Paul Jones fought in the epic battle between the
BONHOMME RICHARD and HMS SERAPIS, and uttered the immortal
words, “I have not yet begun to fight!” even as his own ship
began to sink.
That expression of commitment was an example of the legacy
I wanted to highlight as we began to restore the character of
the Navy and Marine Corps. I was naturally drawn to the
heritage of the Royal Navy, from where John Paul Jones and most
of our own naval leaders drew their genius and example. The
deep traditions of the Royal Navy proved to be a boundless
source of inspiration as we reinvigorated our own Core Values.
As I reflect upon my Trafalgar Night experiences, what
stands out prominently is the wonderful bond that our two
navies, and Nations, share. It is unique in the history of the
world that two countries so geographically far apart could be so
close for so long… It took a bit of quarreling, but since we
resolved our differences early on, things have gone very well.
Clearly, many of the American Navy’s traditions can be
traced to the Royal Navy, and in particular to Admiral Lord
Nelson. From the checkered broadside paint scheme on our oldest
commissioned warship, the USS CONSTITUTION, to the affectionate
nickname of “Nelson’s Blood,” that until we got rid of the rum
ration in 1899, was the term American Sailors used for their
libation.
But I did want the opportunity to say a few words to you
this evening about the inspirational leadership and legacy of
Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson himself.
The Swiss critic Amiel once wrote “Heroism is the
brilliant triumph of the soul over flesh.” Few men in history
have epitomized this more than Admiral Lord Nelson. His example
of physical and moral courage has always stood out as one to
emulate. He possessed an inner strength that provided him the
fortitude he displayed in battle, and inspired others to match
his courage. Admiral Nelson was not above learning from the
actions of others, either. He deeply admired the courage of one
of our naval heroes, Captain Stephen Decatur.
Slightly less than two years before the Battle of
Trafalgar, the United States was engaged in a war with the
Barbary Pirates. Decatur planned and led a raid on the
stronghold of the Bashaw of Tripoli, with the object of
destroying a captured American warship, the USS PHILADELPHIA.
Decatur was successful in his mission, with only one of his men
being injured. Admiral Lord Nelson, when he heard of the
incident in his cabin aboard the VICTORY, described it as “the
most bold and daring act of the age.” Had the opportunity
presented itself, undoubtedly Captain Decatur would have
returned the compliment following the Battle of Trafalgar.
Clearly, Nelson’s humility and learned nature transcended his
celebrity.
Admiral Nelson also deeply cared about his men, paying
particular attention to their health. The admiral understood
the two time tested principles of leadership: accomplish the
mission and take care of your people. A leader can not be
successful in the long run without following both of these
mutually supportive tenets. Nelson’s men were aware of his
devotion to them. His personal interest in every aspect of
their training ensured that their actions in battle ultimately
did not require his physical presence or direction when the
battle was joined.
He also led from the front, providing a visible example of
courage under fire. He was brave, inspiring and dedicated.
Through battle after battle, he was a bold and admirable leader.
His men loved him, his enemies feared him, and he accomplished
the mission.
Alfred Thayer Mahan, the great advocate and visionary of
American seapower, was a devoted admirer of Admiral Lord Nelson.
He once wrote about the lasting effects of his example - “Wars
may cease, but the need for heroism shall not depart from the
earth, while man remains man and evil exists to be redressed.”
These are wise words, especially applicable to our times – while
we are engaged in a whole array of operations other than war,
the need for inspired, heroic leadership has not diminished one
iota.
Nelson’s example of inspired leadership propelled the
Royal Navy into years of unparalleled naval dominance. I do not
believe that this was purely because of the crushing defeat he
delivered to the combined French and Spanish Fleet. The legacy
of leadership that Nelson left behind for successive generations
of naval officers is what propelled the Royal Navy to continued
greatness. The enduring effects of his breathtaking victory at
Trafalgar resound even to this day.
Just a few months ago, I had the distinct honor to dine
aboard HMS VICTORY, as the guest of the 2nd Sea Lord, Admiral Sir
John Brigstocke. It remains one of the most memorable events in
my life. To have served as a Midshipman aboard Royal Navy
vessels, and then to return as Secretary of the American Navy,
and dine in the very cabin in which Lord Nelson dined, and to
see the place below decks where he died, was almost
unbelievable.
I learned that night, that among Lord Nelson’s dying
words, he said to the Captain of HMS VICTORY: “Kiss me, Hardy.”
His own humility then, was matched by mine, when I turned to my
wife the night we dined aboard HMS VICTORY, and told her, “Pinch
me, Margaret!”
I understand there are some who believe those words were
actually, “Kismet, Hardy,” acknowledging Nelson’s recognition of
fate, or destiny. Whatever the case, it is clear that Lord
Nelson’s final words to Captain Hardy were actually, “Not over
the side,” as he wanted desperately to return to his beloved
England.
I am certain that is where each of you want to eventually
return, so let me begin wrapping up my remarks. You can be
proud of the fact that England’s extraordinary naval history,
Admiral Lord Nelson, and the wonderful traditions surrounding
Trafalgar, all have had a hand in restoring the reputation of
the American naval service. The final signal by Nelson to his
fleet at Trafalgar still rings true… “England expects that every
man shall do his duty…” Indeed, England has done that and much
more.
During my last visit to England, the First Sea Lord,
Admiral Sir Richard Boyce, was quick to remind me that
everywhere there is a USS, there is also an HMS. May it always
be so. I look forward to the next century of shared tradition
and continued friendship. I thank you very much for this
wonderful evening.
So with that I will ask you all to stand. On this 193rd
anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, I propose a toast: TO
THE IMMORTAL MEMORY OF ADMIRAL LORD NELSON.
-USN-
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Dinner Speech Ugh???????
"
I had the opportunity to visit the birthplace of John Paul
Jones at County Derry in Scotland, during the 250-year
celebrations of his birth, in 1997. And, I stood on the coast
of Ireland, just miles from where the battle of Flamborough Head
took place, and laid a wreath on the water there. It was there
that John Paul Jones fought in the epic battle between the
BONHOMME RICHARD and HMS SERAPIS, and uttered the immortal
words, “I have not yet begun to fight!” even as his own ship
began to sink. "
Am I missing something?
County Derry - Scotland??
Coast of Ireland - Flamborough Head??
Hope you can help me out
I had the opportunity to visit the birthplace of John Paul
Jones at County Derry in Scotland, during the 250-year
celebrations of his birth, in 1997. And, I stood on the coast
of Ireland, just miles from where the battle of Flamborough Head
took place, and laid a wreath on the water there. It was there
that John Paul Jones fought in the epic battle between the
BONHOMME RICHARD and HMS SERAPIS, and uttered the immortal
words, “I have not yet begun to fight!” even as his own ship
began to sink. "
Am I missing something?
County Derry - Scotland??
Coast of Ireland - Flamborough Head??
Hope you can help me out
