Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Saturday, May 28, 2016

I’d like to thank all of you for welcoming me so warmly to Tinker Air Force Base. This is Memorial Day weekend here in the United States, and I’m pleased to have this opportunity to express gratitude for the contributions of both Canadians and Americans in uniform.

As commander-in-chief of Canada, I’m always delighted to meet with members of the Canadian Armed Forces wherever I go.

After all, wherever you go, you make a difference.

This is true here at Tinker, where all of you are contributing to the important and long-standing defence partnership between Canada and the U.S.

You’re our eyes in the sky.

I recently had the chance to visit North Bay, home to 22 Wing. While there, I learned about Canada’s contributions to NORAD and how we’re working together with our U.S. partners to keep North America safe.

Tomorrow, I have the privilege of visiting NORAD’s Cheyenne Mountain Complex, in Colorado. I’m eager to learn even more about how we’re collaborating across borders.

NORAD plays such an important role in maintaining our security, but it’s just one of the roles you play here. For many years, your collaboration has stood as proof of how well Canada and the United States work together.

What impresses me most, whether it’s American personnel in North Bay, or Canadian personnel in Oklahoma, is how seamlessly U.S. and Canadian forces have integrated.

You’re not a Canadian team at a U.S. base, but one team working toward a common goal.

I’d like to extend my gratitude to our hosts, the United States Air Force, for being so welcoming.

I also want to thank you and your families. Your service to Canada and the world sets an example we can all follow.

Your professionalism and sense of duty make me proud. They make our country proud.

Thank you again for all that you do.