On
December 7th, 1941, at 7:55 AM, the quiet calm of a Sunday morning
was shattered by explosions and the hoarse sound of general quarters alarms.
In
the first few minutes of the attack, hundreds of American Sailors, Soldiers,
and Marines had already lost their lives.
This was the tragedy. Then came
the triumph. The personnel aboard the
ships did not wait for orders but rather reacted in accordance with their
training and, in those same first few moments, filled the sky with
anti-aircraft bursts. It is important to
note that most of them were barely older than these magnificent student musicians
here.
The
war that began with that attack lasted 3 years and 10 months, during which time
some 69 million people lost their lives.
Then,
on September 2nd, 1945, USS Missouri was anchored in Tokyo Bay,
Japan. The destroyer USS Lansdowne
brought a delegation of Japan’s representatives alongside. Among them was the Foreign Minister Mamoru
Shigamitsu. For years, he led the
peace faction within Japan’s government.
This did not make him popular with the hard-liners, who wanted to fight
to the last man and the last bullet. Mr.
Shigamitsu was targeted several times for assassination. One of those attempts cost him his right
leg. It was painfully difficult for him
to have to climb down the side of a destroyer, then climb up the side of this
battleship, and then up an additional ladder in order to arrive on the
starboard side 01 level where the ceremony would take place. I also know that when someone risks their
life several times in the cause of peace, that by definition makes him a tough
guy.
At
the appointed time, General of the Army Douglas MacArthur came on deck and
opened the ceremony with a few words. It
is important to note that in 5,000 years of Japan’s history, she had never been
conquered, never been defeated, never been occupied, never had to surrender to
anybody. So this act of coming here and
submitting to both surrender and occupation was not only unique to their
experiences, but it was also a powerful shock to their entire country. We need to remember that today.
But
when General MacArthur began speaking, he didn’t talk of revenge, retaliation,
or recrimination. Instead, he spoke of
justice, tolerance, peace, and reconciliation.
This took the Japanese completely by surprise. On the day when they had come here to
surrender to their bitterest enemy, the last thing they expected to be treated
with this level of dignity and respect.
When
General MacArthur completed his opening remarks, he invited…not ordered…invited
the Japanese to come forward and sign, which they did. Over the next 23 minutes, the required
signatures were applied, and the war was over.
General MacArthur, speaking over a global radio network, said the
following words:
“Today,
the guns are silent. A great tragedy has
ended, a great victory has been won.
Death no longer rains down from the sky.
The seas bear only commerce. Men
everywhere walk upright in the sunlight.
And the entire world lies quietly at peace.”
One
of the Japanese representatives recorded in his diary that the General’s words
turned the deck of this warship into an altar for peace.
Missouri
is a magnificent sight, a presence both majestic and powerful. She is a vessel of war. But she is also a symbol of peace. It was here on these decks where humanity’s
longest and bloodiest war came to an end.
It was here on these decks where peace was restored. And it was here on these decks where hope was
reborn throughout the world.
That
day was Day 1 of a new way forward. Once
the bitterest of enemies, Japan and the United States became the closest of
friends.
Those
of us who work aboard the Missouri tell this story with respect, dignity,
passion, and pride. Those who once knew
come here and remember. Those who never
knew come to us and learn.
It
is easy to look only at the guns, missiles, and armor and conclude that this is
Missouri's only language. But when you
stand on that deck and look at that plaque, know that this ship of war is also
a place of peace.
This
is how I know my ship, a place where the seemingly impossible dream of peace
became a reality.
I
am proud, so very proud to share this story with you. I hope that from this day we can all realize
what can be done when we are strong enough, united enough, and courageous
enough to do the impossible.
For
our students here, I also have a personal message.
In
the near future, your community, your country, and your world will become your
responsibility. The time for talking and
complaining will end. The time of doing
and fixing will begin. Problems exist,
and more are on the way. Your
intelligence, passion, and energy will be needed.
People
are called ordinary for a reason. They
don’t stand out, they don’t step up, they don’t accomplish much. Ordinary people don’t change the world or
challenge problems. To choose to be
ordinary and average is to float downstream on the current of indifference,
never leaving a sign of their passing.
But the problems remain, the challenges unmet. Lives that could have counted for incredible
things are wasted.
I
challenge you to resist "average." I
charge you to turn your back on "ordinary."
Choose instead to be incredible, magnificent, astonishing. Rise above expectation. All of you have been given individual gifts,
talents, and abilities that belong to no one else. It is your responsibility to use them. Do not ever accept the status quo. Never accept that things cannot be
different because it's just how things are.
I am a member of the Woodstock Generation, and I pass the passion for
change and the energy to change things that was ours to you. I challenge you to create a better place, not
only for you, but for all those who will follow. Your time is now. Do not waste this chance. Do not let us down.
I
watched you march proudly down this pier, and it was an inspiring sight. You must now march just as confidently and
energetically into the future that awaits all of you. Stand tall.
Be strong. Step up and lead with optimism and compassion, driven by
the engine of fresh ideas and the passion of hope.
We
present to you our world. Make it
better. Make it yours.
I
appreciate your coming to my ship today, and I hope you enjoy the rest of your
day aboard the Battleship.
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