Mrs. Obama: Thank you.

[applause]

Thank you so much.

Thank you all; thank you.

Good afternoon, everyone.

It's so good to be here.

[applause]

We are so proud of you all.

Thank you all.

Please, I know you've been working hard,

so rest yourselves.

[laughter]

I am beyond thrilled to be here with all of you today,

and I want to start by thanking Larry

for that very kind introduction,

but more importantly for his tremendous leadership

of the DAV and for all of his outstanding service

to this country.

But most of all, I want to thank all of you here today --

the men and women who have served and sacrificed so greatly

on behalf of all Americans.

Truly, one of my greatest joys over these past few years

has been spending time with veterans

and military families like all of you.

I have laughed with your children at barbeques.

I've gone to baby showers with spouses.

I've learned so much during my many visits to military bases

across this country.

I've even smashed a champagne bottle

to christen a Coast Guard cutter.

[laughter]

And let me tell you, day after day,

I have been so inspired by your stories -- so inspired.

And I'm reminded of one of those stories today,

the story of a young man I met at Walter Reed.

His name is Sergeant Winder Perez, and he is 24 years old.

Now, a year and a half ago,

Sergeant Perez was on a combat mission in Afghanistan,

when he was hit by an RPG.

He collapsed, but the grenade stayed lodged in his left thigh

and it didn't go off.

Sergeant Perez's fellow Marines ran to his aid and together

they chose to carry him off the battlefield to safety,

even though they knew that any wrong move

would mean certain disaster.

Moments later, four pilots and medics chose to load him

onto a helicopter with the live explosive still in his leg,

transporting him 65 miles to the nearest medical station.

And finally, when they arrived, a nurse and explosive expert

chose to rush to his aid, finally dislodging the rocket

by hand and giving doctors a chance to save his leg --

which they did.

Now, just that part of Sergeant Perez's story tells you

everything you need to know about the men and women

of our armed forces.

But as all of you know very well,

stories like these don't end in the combat zone.

Since his injury, Sergeant Perez

has endured 30 or 31 surgeries --

he doesn't remember the exact number.

He has survived a heart attack and an aneurysm,

and he's fought through hundreds of hours

of rigorous physical therapy to strengthen his leg.

And time and again,

just when he's regained the strength to walk,

his doctors have told him that it's time for another surgery,

and then Sergeant Perez is back in a wheelchair,

starting all over again from square one.

But here is the thing:

You don't hear about any of that when you talk to Sergeant Perez.

What you do hear about is his mother,

who he will tell you has stayed by his side every single day.

You will hear about his gratitude

to those who saved his life,

to the family and friends who come from New York to visit,

and for the life he has in front of him.

Today, Sergeant Perez is walking again.

He's three months into an internship

with the Defense Intelligence Agency,

and he plans to spend the rest of his career

serving his country.

And when asked about everything he's been through,

Sergeant Perez puts it all in perspective by simply saying,

"I just think you've got to get back up."

That's all he said.

"You've got to get back up."

And as I look across this room, I see a group of people

who know how to get back up.

No matter what you've been through --

[applause]

-- no matter what the struggles you have faced,

you all get back up.

And that is what inspires me.

That's why, every day, I work to push myself harder

to live up to your example.

And that's why Jill Biden and I are working so hard

on Joining Forces,

because we want to honor and serve you and your families --

to make sure that you and your families have

the educational opportunities you need,

the support you've earned and the good jobs you deserve.

And if there is one thing that I want all of you to know today,

it's this: You will never have to get back up all on your own.

Not while we're here, never.

[applause]

And it's not just us.

You have got families who support you day and night.

You have countless neighbors and pastors,

business owners -- I've met them --

even strangers who will snap into action for you.

And one important person you have is a Commander-in-Chief

who doesn't simply understand your service and your sacrifice.

[applause]

Let me tell you something about this man,

he carries your stories with him every single day.

I have seen it in his eyes when he comes home from a visit

to a military hospital.

I've noticed the extra energy he gets

after a military commencement.

And I've heard the emotion in his voice after he talks

with the families of our fallen.

That is the well he draws from as Commander-in-Chief.

You are that well.

And that's why he has stood up for you

again and again and again,

and it's why he's going to keep fighting

for you and your families every single day.

So ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my husband,

our President Barack Obama.

[applause]

♪ ("Hail to the Chief" plays) ♪

The President: Hello, DAV.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Everybody, please have a seat.

Do we have an extraordinary First Lady?

[applause]

We will be celebrating our 21st anniversary in October.

The first time I saw her,

I knew she was something special.

[laughter]

She was a little more skeptical about me.

[laughter]

But persistence is the key.

You just got to stay on it.

Eventually, you can marry up.

[laughter]

To Michelle and Jill Biden and Joining Forces,

we are so proud of the work you've done

to help rally America around military families and veterans.

I'm inspired by what they are doing.

So thank you, Michelle, for your extraordinary work.

DAV, I was proud to join at your convention three years ago.

[applause]

It is wonderful to be back.

I want to thank your national commander, Larry Polzin.

Thank you so much to the entire leadership team --

Joe Johnston, Marc Burgess, Donna Adams,

all the incredible spouses and families of the DAV Auxiliary.

I want to thank Barry Jesinoski.

[laughter]

I got it.

[laughter]

They used to mispronounce Obama too.

[laughter]

I want to thank Barry and your great team in Washington.

Disabled American Veterans, like all veterans,

you carry in your hearts the story of brave service

that took you to every corner of the Earth.

As young men and women, you left home,

left everything and everyone you ever knew

because storm clouds gathered far across the sea.

You had your whole lives ahead of you,

but you were willing to risk all of it

for this land that we love.

Because you know, from hard experience,

what we must never forget --

our country endures because in every generation

there are Americans like you who stand beside her

and guide her and protect her.

You fought across the Pacific, island by island.

You fought into the heart of Europe, mile by mile,

freeing millions from fascism.

That's your legacy as veterans of the Second World War.

You held the line at the Pusan Perimeter

and survived the bitter cold of the Chosin Reservoir.

And on this 60th anniversary of the end of that war,

we salute all of our veterans of the Korean War.

[applause]

To our Vietnam veterans --

[applause]

-- you served with valor not just in the thick of the jungle,

but through intense urban combat.

And let it be remembered that you won every major battle

that you fought in.

[applause]

And so in the decades since,

whenever our country has needed you,

you said "send me" --

from the sands of Desert Storm to the mountains of the Balkans

to the villages of Afghanistan and Iraq --

and next year, your profound sacrifice will be recognized

in the heart of our nation's capital when our country

dedicates the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial.

[applause]

That memorial will honor your courage in war.

But it will also pay tribute to your bravery

in the other battle you have fought --

the fight to recover from the wounds of war.

And this may be your greatest triumph of all.

Because rather than being defined by what you lost,

by what you can't do, you've inspired America

with what you can do.

Maybe you lost your sight, but you can still see the truth

that our disabled veterans make extraordinary contributions

to our country every single day.

Maybe you lost an arm,

but you still have the strength

to pick up a friend or neighbor in need.

Maybe you lost a leg, but you still stand tall for the values

and freedoms that make America the greatest nation on Earth.

[applause]

I think of the wounded warrior who spoke for so many of you

when he said, "Your life will never be the same,

but that doesn't mean you can't go on to do amazing things

with the second chance you were given."

I think of wounded warriors across America

and how they've used that second chance --

volunteering in communities,

building homes, being a mentor to local kids,

showing up after tornadoes, after Hurricane Sandy

to help folks rebuild.

I think of the wounded warriors who reached out to the survivors

of the Boston Marathon bombing with the example of their own

recovery and with a simple message -- "We stand with you."

I think of all the inspiring wounded warriors

that Michelle and I have met --

their resilience, their resolve,

their determination to push through and to carry on.

That's the fighting spirit of our wounded warriors.

That's the spirit of DAV --

[applause]

-- dedicated not just to your own recovery,

but to taking care of each other.

Every day you work to ensure that America is fulfilling

its promises to our men and women who have served.

That's your mission.

And I want you to know it is my mission, too.

I believe that this work is more important than ever,