NEW LONDON, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - Over 250 cadets of the United States Coast Guard Academy swore their oaths during the 141st Commencement Ceremony Wednesday after hearing about the importance of their roles for the nation from U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris.
In her remarks, Harris praised the cadets for their hard work and stressed that the world needed their leadership.
"The world you graduate into is unsettled. It is a world where long-established principles now stand on shaky ground," Harris said.
Harris emphasized that their work in the Coast Guard will play a vital role in advancing the nation's interests abroad.
She specifically referenced Russia's invasion of Ukraine where, she said, fundamental principles are under threat, such as the belief that all people have a right to choose their own leaders and that borders should not be changed by force.
However, "if our nation is to be strong abroad, it must also be strong at home," Harris said.
Harris acknowledged the recent mass shooting in Buffalo, New York. The coast guard, she said, has a role to play in bettering the nation, as do all Americans.
According to Harris, the cadets' work will support American efforts in other ways, such as cybersecurity. She mentioned that this is the first class in the institution's history to have a degree in cyber-systems, which earned a round of applause from the audience.
Many graduates will be starting their careers by joining Coast Guard Cutters. Some will be continuing their education in flight school, but Harris said they will all represent the nation's core values wherever they serve.
"President Joe Biden and I, we view our cadets as our eyes and ears and hands and hearts wherever you serve, at home or abroad. You are doing the critical work. You will be doing the critical work to protect our country," she said.