with kyle, but also with his wonderful family and anybody who has had a chance to get to know this young man knows you re not going to get a better example of what you want in an american or a marine. despite all the attention, he s still the same humble guy from gilbert, south carolina, population of about 600. i guess today it s only population 590 something. these days, he s also at the university of south carolina, just a normal college student, he says, cheering for the gamecocks. you notice ta kyle doesn t hide his scars. he s proud of them and the service that they represent. and now he tells me this and, you know, so i m just quoting him. he says the girls, they really
those who treat them an opportunity to do what they need. this is an wonderful opportunity to ask kyle s medical team who are here to stand. i see their amazing work every time i visited bethesda, every time i visit walter reed. it s pretty rare where you ve got a job where you just know you re doing god s work every single day and they do an incredible job. thank you. thank you for the miracles you work for our wounded troops and veterans. kyle says he ll wear this medal for all who serve and for those who didn t make it back and for those who struggle still. so today we also honor two
amen. that brings us to the conclusion of the ceremony, but not the reception and party. and so i want to thank everybody again for being here, especially kyle s wonderful family and his parents. and i understand that the food here at the white house is pretty good. i already told kyle s brother that she should be chowing down. that goes for everybody else, as well. and i think the drinks are free. it s still early in the afternoon. thank you very much, everybody. let s give one more round of applause to our latest medal of honor, kyle carpenter. president obama awarding the medal of honor to 24-year-old
members of his team who made the ultimate sacrifice in that deployment, kyle s friends, lance corporal timothy jackson and lance corporal dakota r. hughes of louisiana. and our thoughts are also with the marine who kyle saved that day, his brother, nick. i had the opportunity to meet nick, as well, nearly two years after the blast on one of my visits to walter reed. nick suffered grievous wounds. as a result of traumatic brain injury, he couldn t speak for more than a year. he also endured multiple surgeries. today his recovery continues. he lives at home with his family in plymouth, massachusetts, where he is watching this ceremony. so, nick, on behalf of all of us, i want you to know we honor your sacrifice, as well. your perseverance is an inspiration. and just as kyle was there for you, our nation will be there for you and your family as you grow stronger in the years
and by the way, he s only 24 years old and says i m just getting started. in other words, kyle is a shining example of what our nation needs to encourage. the veterans who come home and use their incredible skills and talented to keep our country strong. and we can all learn from kyle s example. as we prepare for the reading of the citation, i d like to close with his own words, a message i think for every american. it took a life changing event to get me to truly appreciate the precious and amazing life i have been blessed with. please take it from me, enjoy every day to the fullest, don t take life to seriously, always try to make it count. appreciate the small and simple things. be kind and help others. let the ones you love always know you love them. and when things get hard, trust there s a bigger plan and that you will be stronger for it. pretty good message.