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May 20, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011 (New London, Connecticut) Republic of the Marshall Islands President Jurelang Zedkaia administers the oath of office to Cadet First Class Jefferson Bobo, the first Marshallese ever to graduate from U.S. armed forces Academy, at the 130th commencement exercises at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.
In his commencement address before the 229 graduates, dignitaries, families, friends, and faculty, President Barack Obama acknowledged Marshallese Cadet Bobo and said, "This Academy welcomes cadets from all over the world, including two dedicated young men in your class from the Marshall Islands and Romania. Obama also thanked President Zedkaia of the Marshall Islands, as well as King George Tupou from Tonga."
Republic of the Marshall Islands' President Jurelang Zedkaia, who traveled to the U.S. with a delegation from the nation's capital of Majuro, administered the oath of service to Bobo. Cadet Jefferson Bobo, who hails from Ebeye Island on Kwajalein Atoll, was a guest program student and 2007 graduate of Kwajalein High School at the United States Army Kwajalein Atoll.
The Compact of Free Association between the U.S. and the RMI enables Marshallese to serve in the U.S. armed forces. President Obama said that the Marshall Islands and Tonga are two of America’s closest partners among the Pacific Island nations. "Their citizens serve bravely alongside our forces, including in Afghanistan. And we are very, very grateful. So thank you so much for your presence."
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