Cummings spoke about his fondness for the Maritime Industries Academy, which, he said has "no shortage of outstanding students." He saluted some of the dozens of local politicians and maritime industry leaders in the audience, including a Baltimore County councilman, Maryland's transportation secretary and the deputy administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration. To Winter, Cummings said, "I cannot tell you how grateful I am."
The secretary took the podium shortly before 2. He started off by showing on a screen set up in front of the flag a Navy recruitment advertisement that resembled a rock video. He talked about the reasons that people join the armed forces: to see the world, to further their education, to serve their country.
"We want you," Winter said. "We need you. We need many, many people. We need the best people we can get. ... We make an effort to reach out to all walks of life. ... We're committed to developing the diversity of our Navy."
He offered a few fast facts about the work of the Navy and the Marine Corps, which he also oversees, with personnel totaling 900,000. Seventy percent of the Earth's surface is covered by water. Eighty percent of the world's population lives close to an ocean. Ninety percent of the world economy travels by sea.
He told students to "act in such a way that we are comfortable having you." The Navy, he said, is looking for "drug-free behavior."
Then, at 2:10, Winter said he would be happy to take questions. Brooks quickly took the microphone back, asking the students to give the secretary a standing ovation. "I know your schedule is very busy because there is a war," he said, leading the students in Maritime's school song as Winter and Cummings were ushered out.
Asked later why students didn't have an opportunity to ask questions, Cummings said he didn't see any hands raised. "We have a tight schedule," he said. "We made a commitment to keep it on time." Brooks said other speakers will come to Maritime to answer students' questions about the Navy.
Jerome Spence, 14, peered into the room where school officials and staff members from Cummings' office were eating sandwich wraps. He was looking for Winter, who was already headed back to Washington. "Is he here?" the boy asked. "He said if we wanted to talk to him ... "
Eighteen-year-old Ebboni Ruley, the company commander for the school's naval JROTC unit, was a little disappointed that she did not get to hear from Winter. She had left the cafeteria to put the color guard equipment away and missed the speech. But, she said with a smile, "I got to shake his hand. Twice."
sara.neufeld@baltsun.com
For more on Maritime Industries Academy, see The Sun education blog at www.baltimoresun.com/InsideEd.
