Ronald Reagan

“ They are the heart of our Armed Forces which sustain our freedom and way of life. The duties they perform in accomplishing their mission are a necessary and permanent part of this country's defense mechanism. Upon their shoulders lies the defense of our Nation. ”

“ We all should recognize the great sacrifices and significant contributions made to the Nation by our fellow citizens whose traditional role of service to the Nation as soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coast guardsmen is older than the Nation itself. ”

“ For more than two hundred years, the American men and women who have so proudly served-and are currently serving-as Noncommissioned Officers and Petty Officers have been regarded as the backbone of the Armed Forces of the United States. ”