As Delivered by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, Pentagon River Entrance, Friday, May 22, 2015

That’s in honor of you. This entrance to the Pentagon is the one that we use for our most distinguished visitors, and that includes you.

What you and your families have given and sacrificed for our country is something no one in this building will ever forget, no one in this country will ever forget, no one around the world should ever forget.

This building, I want you to think of as your home – your welcome home. It’ll always be your home. This’ll always be your family. Our community, here at the Department, and everyone here, who works here, who works around the world with folks like your loved one.

This, tonight, is to celebrate you, to welcome you home, to make you feel at home, to let you have fun – kids especially. We got lots of cool stuff to do, a lot of fun for you to have, and a very nice way for you to know how much everyone around this country loves you and your family. You’ll always be in our hearts.

Have a wonderful time tonight. Thank you for being here.