it's a little awkward receiving something like this in the presence of so many of you. the fact is, i stand here today as a grateful american and as a free american not because one thing i have ever done but because of the things that you, in this auditorium have done. [ applause ] >> have you gone when your country called. [ applause ] >> you have put on the uniform of this nation. you have traveled half way around the world. have you gone to places whose names you could not even pronounce at the time you got there some of you came back with one of your arms or legs left in the country where you fought there to keep battles from being fought here. most of us have been able to live in this country without fearing that we would step on a land mine in our neighborhoods. our fear that somehow there would be a bomb placed on the