For over 250 years, American sailors have defended our Nation upon the seas, forging the most lethal Navy in the history of the world.  Today, on the birthday of the United States Navy, Icelebrate this incredible milestone with our active duty and reserve sailors, past and present, whose unparalleled expertise and extraordinary devotion to duty in times of war and peace have carried our Navy to these unrivaled heights.   

On October 13, 1775, our Navy was formally established when the Second Continental Congress authorized a pair of armed vessels to sail against the mighty British Empire, intercept enemy supply lines, and defend the cause of American liberty at sea during the Revolutionary War.  Since its humble beginnings, the Navy has grown into the most formidable seafaring force the world has ever known. 

Today’s sailors are part of a storied legacy of maritime supremacy that has safeguarded our sovereignty in every major conflict since.  Our warships are unmistakable symbols of American military might, but the most sophisticated, state-of-the-art fleet is nothing without the elite men and women who carry out every mission at home and abroad with unwavering resolve and professionalism.  In home ports and on carrier decks, submarine patrols, and distant oceans, our sailor stand watch around the clock, deterring aggression, keeping the world’s great sea lanes open and free, and carrying American strength to every corner of the globe.  Their skill and sacrifice keep our Republic safe and secure in the blessings of liberty, earning the everlasting gratitude of the American People.

As President, I am rebuilding our incredible Navy and restoring the mighty American shipbuilding industry that sustains it, ensuring our fleet is prepared to meet every challenge of our age.  Since returning to office, my Administration has secured over $150 billion in investments to usher in the Golden Age of American shipbuilding.  In August, I was proud to sign a National Security Presidential Memorandum that directs the Department of War to pursue more direct investments in the American shipbuilding industrial base, expanding our capacity to build warships and creating good-paying jobs for American workers.  The Memorandum further directs the Secretary of War to establish a fifth Naval shipyard, the first in more than eight decades, to increase our Nation’s submarine and aircraft carrier repair capacity.  Just last week we saw the fruit of those actions as construction began on the largest new shipyard in the United States since World War II, which will build the next generation of American submarines. Under my leadership, our Navy will be bigger, better, and stronger than ever before.

Since the dawn of our glorious Republic, generation after generation of valiant sailors have answered the Navy’s stern call for “faith, courage, service true, with honor over all.”  Today, the First Lady joins me in saluting over two and a half centuries of American dominance upon the seas and honor the heroes who secure the freedom and safety of the American People.