Ronald Reagan actually said...
[Guam] may be nearly 9,000 miles from our Nation's Capital, but it's a real pleasure to know that we're among fellow Americans. . . . In times of crisis, few Americans have been more steadfast in the defense of our shared values and few have made more sacrifices to preserve them.
Context
Reagan emphasized Guam's importance and sacrifices in defense of American values.
12/31/1983