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This year, we're celebrating the 75th 

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anniversary of the desegregation of the 

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US Armed Forces. Americans of 

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all backgrounds have bravely served in 

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the US military throughout our 

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country's history. But for far too 

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long, white troops and other service 

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members of color were forced to serve 

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in segregated units. They fought in 

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combat even as they battled 

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discrimination at home. And 

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finally, on July 26th, 1948 

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President Truman ordered equality of 

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treatment and opportunity for all 

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persons in the armed forces without 

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regard to race, color, religion 

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or national origin. You know, our 

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military has made tremendous progress 

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since then. Today some 44% of our 

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active duty force are people of color 

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and Americans from all walks of life 

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serve alongside one another and they 

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grow as leaders and they contribute to 

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our military at the highest levels. 

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You know, one of my mentors was the 

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late General Colin Powell. He served 

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as the first black chairman of the 

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Joint Chiefs of Staff and he once said 

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that no matter the color of your skin, 

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the color of our guts and the color of 

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our courage and the color of our blood 

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is the same as everyone else's. Our 

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outstanding military is the strongest 

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fighting force on earth because it 

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draws on the full talents of all of our 

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citizens. That's the American way, 

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one nation indivisible. So 

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on this important anniversary let's 

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continue the noble work of those who 

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ended segregation. Let's hold true to 

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the values that make America a beacon. 

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And let's keep working together to make 

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America stronger and safer and our 

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world more secure.