John McCain

thank you __PUNCT__

it good to be back in meridian __PUNCT__

as you might know __PUNCT__ i wa onc a flight instructor here at the air field name for my grandfath dure my long past and misspent youth __PUNCT__

and it alwai good to be in mississippi __PUNCT__ which you could call my ancestr home __PUNCT__

gener of mccain were born and rais in carrol counti __PUNCT__ on land that had been in our famili sinc __NUM__ __PUNCT__

the last mccain to live on the properti __PUNCT__ which the famili call teoc __PUNCT__ wa my grandfath brother __PUNCT__ joe mccain __PUNCT__

i spent a coupl summer here as a young_boi __PUNCT__ and enjoi it immens __PUNCT__

i had never had a perman address becaus my father naval career requir us to move frequent __PUNCT__

but here __PUNCT__ in the care of my veri likeabl uncl joe __PUNCT__ i could imagin __PUNCT__ with a littl envi __PUNCT__ what it must have been like for the mccain who came befor me to be so connect to on place __PUNCT__ to be part of a commun and a landscap as well as a famili __PUNCT__

by all account __PUNCT__ the mccain of carrol counti were devot to on anoth and their tradit __PUNCT__ a live __PUNCT__ proud and happi famili on the mississippi delta __PUNCT__

yet __PUNCT__ mani mccain left here as young_men to pursu career in what ha long been our famili chosen profess __PUNCT__ the unit_state arm_forc __PUNCT__

my great __PUNCT__ grandfath wa the sheriff and never left __PUNCT__

but hi brother __PUNCT__ henri pinknei mccain __PUNCT__ wa a major gener in the armi __PUNCT__ and organ the draft in world_war on __PUNCT__

camp mccain in grenada __PUNCT__ mississippi is name for him __PUNCT__

my great uncl __PUNCT__ william mccain __PUNCT__ wa known as __PUNCT__ wild bill __PUNCT__ for hi __PUNCT__ dynam __PUNCT__ person __PUNCT__ he wa reput to have ridden hi hors onto hi futur father __PUNCT__ in __PUNCT__ law porch to ask him for hi daughter hand __PUNCT__

he chase pancho villa with gener persh __PUNCT__ wa an artilleri offic in world war on __PUNCT__ and retir a brigadi_gener __PUNCT__

both men ar buri at arlington nation cemeteri __PUNCT__ as ar my father and grandfath __PUNCT__

we trace my famili martial heritag back to the revolut __PUNCT__

a distant ancestor serv on gener_washington staff __PUNCT__ and it seem my ancestor fought in most war in our nation_histori __PUNCT__

all were soldier __PUNCT__ both henri and bill mccain were west pointer __PUNCT__ until my grandfath broke famili tradit and enter the naval_academi in __NUM__ __PUNCT__

he wa succeed there by my father __PUNCT__ then me __PUNCT__ and then my son __PUNCT__

as i note __PUNCT__ the naval air field here is name for my grandfath __PUNCT__ who had an illustri career in the navi __PUNCT__ and who remain proud of hi mississippi root until the end of hi life __PUNCT__

i have onli veri earli memori of him __PUNCT__

i wa just nine when he di __PUNCT__

but he wa an unforgett man __PUNCT__ a live __PUNCT__ color __PUNCT__ though infrequ __PUNCT__ presenc in our live __PUNCT__

to spend_time in hi compani wa as much fun as a young_boi could imagin __PUNCT__

he love hi famili __PUNCT__ and we were spellbound by him __PUNCT__

he wa a slight man and gaunt __PUNCT__ but he fill ani room with hi deep voic and high spirit __PUNCT__

he wa devot to the navi __PUNCT__ but in person comport __PUNCT__ he wa anyth but regul __PUNCT__

he wa a rumpl __PUNCT__ inform man __PUNCT__ who wore a crush cap with the crown remov that the wife of on of hi aviat had given him __PUNCT__ kept hi shoe off when he work in an offic __PUNCT__ tobacco leav were alwai scatter about him __PUNCT__ as he roll hi own with on hand __PUNCT__ possess a mischiev sens of humor __PUNCT__ and wa unusu close to sailor and junior offic who serv under him __PUNCT__ and rever him __PUNCT__

thei call him __PUNCT__ popey __PUNCT__ hi famili call him __PUNCT__ sid __PUNCT__ and hi fellow offic __PUNCT__ slew __PUNCT__ for reason i never learn after graduat from the naval_academi __PUNCT__ he sail around the philippin island on a gunboat captur from the spanish __PUNCT__ the execut offic to the great chester nimitz __PUNCT__

he return to the unit_state on the u.s. __PUNCT__

connecticut __PUNCT__ the flagship of teddi_roosevelt great white fleet __PUNCT__

he serv on an armor cruiser in the first world_war __PUNCT__ escort wartim convoi across the u __PUNCT__ boat infest atlant __PUNCT__

in __NUM__ after the navi order that all aircraft_carrier skipper must themselv have earn their wing __PUNCT__ he train as a pilot __PUNCT__

he wa __NUM___year old at the time __PUNCT__ and a navi captain __PUNCT__

by hi own admiss __PUNCT__ he never learn to fly well __PUNCT__

a subordin recal later __PUNCT__ the base prai for hi safe return each time he flew __PUNCT__

but he manag to earn hi wing __PUNCT__ and left pensacola to command the naval air station in the panama canal zone __PUNCT__ where i wa born __PUNCT__

my father __PUNCT__ jack mccain __PUNCT__ wa an offic at a submarin base there __PUNCT__ on of the few occas in hi adult_life when he live in close proxim to the man he admir abov all other __PUNCT__

though thei live far apart for decad __PUNCT__ no father and son could have been closer __PUNCT__

my father describ hi father as __PUNCT__ a veri great leader and peopl_love him __PUNCT__ the blood of life flow through hi vein __PUNCT__ a man of great_moral and physic courag __PUNCT__

he had learn everyth about leadership from hi father __PUNCT__ he said __PUNCT__

both were highli individualist men with outsiz person __PUNCT__ but were complet dedic to the unit_state navi __PUNCT__

neither ever want ani other life __PUNCT__ and while both were guilti of more than a few regul infract __PUNCT__ and share a few vice __PUNCT__ thei adher strictli to the code father had taught son __PUNCT__ never lie __PUNCT__ steal or cheat __PUNCT__

both took a great interest in the view and well __PUNCT__ be of the men who serv under them __PUNCT__

thei believ militari_leader learn as much from the peopl thei command as thei taught them __PUNCT__

thei were demand __PUNCT__ but fair and compassion command __PUNCT__

__PUNCT__ we ar respons for our men __PUNCT__ my father onc said __PUNCT__ not the other wai around __PUNCT__

that what forg trust and loyalti __PUNCT__

thei shirk no duti __PUNCT__ brave extraordinari danger __PUNCT__ and were except leader __PUNCT__

thei were the first father and son to becom four star admir __PUNCT__

my grandfath command the fast carrier task_forc in the pacif under admir halsei __PUNCT__ and devis mani of the tactic that were emploi by carrier for mani year after __PUNCT__

he wa instrument in japan defeat __PUNCT__ and wa given a privileg place on the deck of the u.s. __PUNCT__

missouri to wit the sign of the uncondit surrend that end the war __PUNCT__

my father command a submarin in the pacif dure the war __PUNCT__ surviv sever harrow experi __PUNCT__ and had brought a japanes submarin into tokyo harbor at the time of the surrend ceremoni __PUNCT__

both were exhaust at war_end __PUNCT__ but happi to have the opportun for a brief reunion __PUNCT__

thei met onboard a submarin tender __PUNCT__ and spent a coupl of hour togeth __PUNCT__

my grandfath wa worn out and obvious ill __PUNCT__

year later __PUNCT__ my father recal the last word my grandfath had ever spoken to him __PUNCT__

__PUNCT__ son __PUNCT__ there is no greater thing than to die __PUNCT__ for the countri and principl that you believ in __PUNCT__

after father and son part that afternoon __PUNCT__ my grandfath began the long trip home to coronado __PUNCT__

not long after he arriv __PUNCT__ at a homecom parti __PUNCT__ he turn to my grandmoth __PUNCT__ and announc he did not feel well __PUNCT__

he di a moment later of a heart_attack __PUNCT__

he had fought hi war and di in servic to the countri he believ in __PUNCT__

my father could not return to the state in time for the funer __PUNCT__

my mother found him wait for her to return to california from the funer in washington __PUNCT__ weep on the airport tarmac __PUNCT__

in time __PUNCT__ my father __PUNCT__ the son of a legendari naval leader __PUNCT__ would rise to an even greater command than hi father had __PUNCT__

dure the vietnam_war __PUNCT__ he command all u. __PUNCT__ forc in the pacif __PUNCT__ at the top of a chain of command that includ __PUNCT__ near the bottom __PUNCT__ hi son __PUNCT__ a naval aviat on yanke station in the tonkin gulf __PUNCT__ and later a prison of war in hanoi __PUNCT__

my father seldom spoke of my captiv to anyon outsid the famili __PUNCT__ and never in public __PUNCT__

he prai on hi knee everi night for my safe return __PUNCT__

he would spend holidai with the troop in vietnam __PUNCT__ near the dmz __PUNCT__

at the end of hi visit __PUNCT__ he would walk alon to the base perimet __PUNCT__ and look north toward the citi where i wa held __PUNCT__

yet __PUNCT__ when duti requir it __PUNCT__ he gave the order for b __PUNCT__ 52 to bomb hanoi __PUNCT__ in close proxim to my prison __PUNCT__

i have live a bless life __PUNCT__ and the first of my bless wa the famili i wa born into __PUNCT__

i had not onli the exampl of my distinguish male relat __PUNCT__ and their long_tradit of militari_servic __PUNCT__

i wa fortun to grow up under the influenc of strong __PUNCT__ capabl __PUNCT__ accomplish women __PUNCT__ first among them __PUNCT__ my mother __PUNCT__ the formid roberta mccain __PUNCT__ her ident twin __PUNCT__ rowena __PUNCT__ my strict and impos patern grandmoth __PUNCT__ catherin __PUNCT__ and equal impress matern grandmoth __PUNCT__ myrtl __PUNCT__

for much of my childhood __PUNCT__ my mother wa the parent who rais me __PUNCT__ my sister and brother __PUNCT__

my father wa often at sea __PUNCT__ and she bore all the respons of both parent __PUNCT__

she move us from base to base __PUNCT__ often drive us across countri on her own __PUNCT__ manag our household __PUNCT__ paid the bill __PUNCT__ saw to our educ and religi upbring __PUNCT__ and made of our itiner childhood __PUNCT__ an interest __PUNCT__ excit time __PUNCT__ rich with fascin experi __PUNCT__

she wa and is a resili woman __PUNCT__ extrovert __PUNCT__ uncomplain __PUNCT__ forthright and determin __PUNCT__ who greet everi challeng as an opportun to measur on strength of charact and learn about the wider_world beyond our immedi environ __PUNCT__

the famili i wa born to __PUNCT__ and the famili i am bless with now __PUNCT__ made me the man i am __PUNCT__ and instil in me a deep and abid respect for the social_institut that wield the greatest influenc in the format of our individu charact and the charact of our societi __PUNCT__

i mai have been rais in a time when govern did not dare to assum the respons of parent __PUNCT__

but i am a father in a time when parent worri that threat to their children well __PUNCT__ be ar prolifer and undermin the valu thei have work to impart to them __PUNCT__

that is not to sai that govern should dictat to parent how to rais their children or assum from parent ani part of that most person and import respons __PUNCT__

no govern is capabl of care for children as attent and wise as the mother and father who love them __PUNCT__

but govern must be attent to the impact of it polici on famili so that it doe not through inattent or arrog make it harder for parent to have the resourc to succe in the greatest work of their live __PUNCT__ rais their children __PUNCT__

and where govern ha a role to plai __PUNCT__ in educ __PUNCT__ in combat the threat to the secur and happi of children from onlin predat __PUNCT__ in help to make health_care afford and access to the least fortun among us __PUNCT__ it must do so urgent __PUNCT__ effect and wise __PUNCT__

tax_polici must not rob parent of the mean to care for their children and provid them the opportun their parent provid them __PUNCT__

govern_spend must not be squander on thing we do not need and can't afford __PUNCT__ and which don't address a singl american concern for their famili secur __PUNCT__

govern can't just throw monei at public_educ while reinforc the failur of mani of our school __PUNCT__ but should __PUNCT__ through choic and competit __PUNCT__ by reward good_teacher and hold bad teacher account __PUNCT__ help parent prepar their children for the challeng and opportun of the global_economi __PUNCT__

govern must be attent to the impact on famili of parent who have lost job in our chang economi that won't come back __PUNCT__

our program for displac worker ar antiqu __PUNCT__ repetit and ineffect __PUNCT__

mani were design for a time when unemploy wa season or a temporari consequ of an econom_downturn __PUNCT__ not for a time when system chang wrought by the grow global_economi have __PUNCT__ while promis undreamt of opportun for ourselv and mani histor poor societi __PUNCT__ have cost too mani parent the job thei had assum would be their for life __PUNCT__

with the loss of work and the resourc it provid famili __PUNCT__ come just as injuri loss to the emot health of famili __PUNCT__

work provid more than an incom __PUNCT__

it is a sourc of self __PUNCT__ worth __PUNCT__ pride and sens of purpos __PUNCT__

children_learn as much from observ as instruct __PUNCT__

the mother or father who ha lost hope along with their job can unintention impart that hopeless to their children __PUNCT__

a welfar check can't give a parent a sens of purpos __PUNCT__

and among the most import_thing children can inherit from their parent is a sens of purpos __PUNCT__ and an aspir to be part of someth bigger than themselv __PUNCT__

my parent taught me that __PUNCT__ and i will alwai be indebt to them __PUNCT__

but like mani young_peopl __PUNCT__ i didn't understand the lesson veri well until later in life when i need it most __PUNCT__

as a boi __PUNCT__ my famili legaci __PUNCT__ as fascin as it wa to me __PUNCT__ often felt like an imposit __PUNCT__

i knew from a veri earli_ag that i wa destin for annapoli and a career in the navi __PUNCT__

in reaction __PUNCT__ i often rebel in small and petti wai to what i perceiv as an encroach on my free will __PUNCT__

i conced that i rememb with affect the unruli passion of youth __PUNCT__ and how thei govern my immatur sens of honor and self __PUNCT__ respect __PUNCT__

as i grew older __PUNCT__ and the challeng to my self __PUNCT__ respect grew more vari and seriou __PUNCT__ i wa surpris to discov that while my sens of honor had matur __PUNCT__ it defens matter even more to me than it did when it wa such a vulner thing that ani empti challeng threaten it __PUNCT__

like most peopl __PUNCT__ when i reflect on the adventur and joi of youth __PUNCT__ i feel a long for what is lost and cannot be restor __PUNCT__

but though the happi pursuit of the young prove ephemer __PUNCT__ someth better can endur __PUNCT__ and endur until our last moment of life __PUNCT__

and that is the honor we earn and the love we give when we work and sacrific with other for a caus greater than our self __PUNCT__ interest __PUNCT__

for me that caus ha long been our countri __PUNCT__

i am a lucki __PUNCT__ lucki man to have found it __PUNCT__ and am forev grate to those who show me the wai __PUNCT__

what thei gave me wa much more valuabl and last than the tribut i onc paid to vaniti __PUNCT__

i am the son and grandson of admir __PUNCT__

my grandfath wa an aviat __PUNCT__ my father a submarin __PUNCT__

thei were my first hero __PUNCT__ and their respect for me ha been on of the most last ambit of my life __PUNCT__

thei gave their live to their countri __PUNCT__ and taught me lesson about honor __PUNCT__ courag __PUNCT__ duti __PUNCT__ persever and leadership that i didn't fulli grasp until later in life __PUNCT__ but rememb when i need them most __PUNCT__

i have been an imperfect servant of my countri for mani year __PUNCT__

but i am their son __PUNCT__ and thei show me how to love my countri __PUNCT__ and that ha made all the differ for me __PUNCT__ my friend __PUNCT__ all the differ in the world __PUNCT__