"I want to talk about doing something bigger than yourself. Obviously, I may talk a little bit about the military."
U.S. Secretary of Navy Ray Mabus was in Hattiesburg Friday to speak at the USM morning graduation ceremony.
Amid his words of encouragement, he had a few things to say about the death of Osama Bin Laden.
"It showed what you can do when you've got seamless coordination between the military and intelligence."
But Mabus says it's bigger than that.
"That got a lot of publicity. We have literally hundreds of thousands of folks serving in uniform today. Everyone just as skilled, just as dedicated, just as patriotic."
One of those serving our country graduated on Friday.
"Very proud to be able to get my diploma cover from the Secretary of the Navy."
Christopher Martin was one of two students who are in the Navy that were presented their diplomas by Mabus.
"I'm excited to be able to take that knowledge that I've gained here back out to the fleet."
Martin will train junior sailors.
"I'll be engaged in doing anti-submarine warfare with the fleet on the East and the West coast."
But Martin is one of the few.
Mabus says 3 out 4 people in Mississippi don't qualify for the military.
"It's because of education. It's because of health and it's because of crime."
Martin also has a meteorology degree from Mississippi State University.
He credits his education to the Navy.
"Those opportunities have been given to me by the Navy. The funding and the assistance to get that education by the Navy has been phenomenal."
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