Mitch Landrieu: “on March 3rd we honor the 86th birthday of the United States Naval Reserve. Since 1915 the Naval Reserve has exemplified…”

“on March 3rd we honor the 86th birthday of the United States Naval Reserve. Since 1915 the Naval Reserve has exemplified the highest virtues of loyalty, service, and sacrifice. They have served and fought alongside their active duty comrades from the Atlantic to the far reaches of the Pacific, to the jungles of Vietnam and across the vast expanse of the Arabian desert as a battle-tested and skilled force that is the envy of the world. Back in 1915, no one could have imagined the role that fledgling naval reserve would play in supporting the Navy today. The term 'Weekend Warrior' no longer applies to these citizen-soldiers. As a trained, professional and well-equipped cadre of dedicated men and women, they are a key component of everything the Navy does, both in peacetime and in war. Many of them have made the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of freedom and we honor their memory. They serve on ships, in squadrons, on staffs, and in hospitals performing a myriad of tasks essential to mission accomplishment. Seamlessly integrated alongside their active-duty shipmates you cannot tell the difference between them. This is the reality of today's total force and what enables our marvelous military to remain engaged around the world. They have a proud heritage and a bright future.”