2008 Republican National Convention: Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Lt. Gen. Carol Mutter (USMC - Ret.)

SAINT PAUL, Minn., Sept. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Below is the text of remarks that will be delivered as part of the 2008 Republican National Convention's program this evening. The text is "as prepared for delivery" and it is embargoed until delivery. Full text will also be available later tonight on the 2008 Republican National Convention's media portal at portal.GOPConvention2008.com under "Speeches."

    (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080114/RNCLOGO )

    LT. GEN. CAROL MUTTER (USMC - RET.)

Good evening.

I am honored to join you tonight to support a great man and a great American -- Senator John McCain -- the next President ofthe United States.

Like Senator McCain, I've had the privilege of serving our country in uniform.

I served 31 years inthe United States Marine Corps -- becoming the first woman in the Corps to earn the rank of three-star general and the first woman nominated to that rank in the Armed Forces.

But tonight I want to talk to you about another woman who earned a unique and honored distinction in our nation's history... The daughter of another Marine I served with more than 25 years ago, Major Megan McClung.

She was the first female Marine officer ever killed in combat and the highest ranking woman killed inIraq.

Megan was killed by a roadside bomb in al-Anbar province in 2006.

She was a public affairs officer and her advice to young Marines talking to the press was simple: "Be bold. Be brief. Be gone."

And this year in Megan's memory, the Women Marines Association and her family will award the first annual Major Megan McClung Memorial Scholarship to a deserving college student.

I tell you about Megan because it's so important that we remember the sacrifices our brave men and women are making every day.

Megan, like so many young airmen, soldiers, sailors, coastguardsmen, and marines, was proud to serve her country without pomp or circumstance and she accepted the risk.

And that is why it is imperative that we elect a President who appreciates the gravity of their commitment and their sacrifice.

We live in a dangerous world...

Where enemies don't talk about timelines or retreat, and where old foes are emboldened enough to resurrect old ambitions.

We live in a world where the enemy can accept a short-term setback for a long-term gain.

This is the world we live in, and in such a world we cannot afford to be impatient.

The challenges we face as a nation are plenty and complicated.

The next Commander-in-Chief must not only know how to defeat an enemy but know how to inspire a nation with more than platitudes and cliches.

Our brave men and women in uniform are doing their part. It is time that we do ours.

I know that John McCain will be the kind of Commander-in-Chief who will never forget what's at stake or who pays the ultimate price.

Thank you.

About the Republican National Convention

The 2008 Republican National Convention will be held atSaint Paul's Xcel Energy Center from Sept. 1-4, 2008. Approximately 45,000 delegates, alternate delegates, volunteers, members of the media and other guests are expected to attend the convention.Minneapolis-Saint Paul is expected to receive an estimated $150-$160 million positive economic boost from the four-day event. For more information about the 2008 Republican National Convention, please visit our website at www.GOPConvention2008.com and join our social network sites on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and YouTube.

Paid for by the Committee on Arrangements for the 2008 Republican National Convention. Not Authorized By Any Candidate or Candidate's Committee.

SOURCE 2008 Republican National Convention

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