In the years between the world wars, a young married couple in Italy packed up what few belongings that they had and boarded a boat for a new world....

Today we pay tribute to their son -- Leon Panetta -- a man who hasn’t simply lived up to the American Dream but has helped to protect it for all of...

By the time I came to office, Leon Panetta was already regarded as one of our nation’s finest public servants, with an extraordinary career across...

By then, Leon had every right to expect that he could return home. And I’ll admit that when we first asked him to stay on and lead the Pentagon,...

And just think of the progress under his watch. Because we ended the war in Iraq, and are winding down the war in Afghanistan, our troops are coming...

Because we forged a new defense strategy, we’ll be better prepared for the future, better prepared to meet the threats that we face without larger...

And since we are now just weeks away from deep, automatic cuts to federal spending, including defense, let me say this. There is no reason -- no reason...

Leon, this, too, will be part of your legacy, for no one has raised their voice as firmly or as forcefully on behalf of our troops as you have. You've...

Leon, from your first day in uniform until today, your dedicated service to America has spanned nearly 50 remarkable years. And as you review these...

Ladies and gentlemen, our Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta. (Applause.)

Let me also take this moment to thank Michelle and Jill Biden for the work -- outstanding work that they’ve done in leading the Joining Forces initiative,...

As we used to say when I was in the Army, there isn’t anyone I’d rather be in the foxhole with than Marty Dempsey. I cannot tell you what a privilege...

Let me remember the words of President Harry Truman who once said, “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.” And that's just what I did....

It’s been 50 years of public service, and I have always, and will always, cherish the deep and lasting friendships that I’ve made here in Washington....

I can also remember when I was first elected to the House of Representatives, there was a member that I think the President may recall by the name of...

In all seriousness, Mr. President, I want to express my deepest thanks to you for the opportunity to serve this country again as a member of your administration....

Thank you, Mr. President, for your strong support in what was a very tough decision. The memory of that operation and the team that helped put it together...

And I’ll always remember the moments of grief, when this nation has rendered final honors to our fallen heroes, and when we’ve had to comfort their...

For more than a decade of war, our democracy has depended on the men and women of the United States military to bear the awesome burden and to preserve...

We developed and we have begun implementing a new defense strategy for the 21st century that protects the strongest military power in the world and...

We are keeping faith -- keeping faith with and caring for our returning veterans and wounded warriors. I am particularly proud that we've expanded...

I am confident that under the leadership of the President and the leaders in the Congress that we can, and we must, stay on the right path to build...

We've overcome wars. We've overcome disasters. We've overcome economic depressions and recessions. We've overcome crises of every kind throughout...

We've been married 50 years. She has endured extended absences and long hours and the demands that come with public service. But she has always been...

God bless America. God bless you. And God bless the men and women in the Department of Defense. (Applause.)