“We have just returned from the Oval Office fee and so on behalf of the President of the United States, it is my honor that from now on the men and women of the United States Space Force will be recognized as guardians,” Pence said. An event celebrating the first year of the Space Force.
On Friday, Pence opened his remarks by sending greetings from President Donald Trump, calling him “the founder of the United States Space Force,” who has been “enthusiastic” of the service since conceiving the idea.
Trump did not have any other events on his schedule that contradicted the event on the White House grounds, so it was not clear why he was not present, although the public schedule does not include all of the president’s activities. The White House did not respond to CNN inquiries about why Trump did not attend the event.
The vice president said the space force has become stronger that day since its inception, and the chief of space operations for his work, led by the service, J.P. Raymond praised. Pence also noted that Col. Mike Hopkins, who is currently aboard the International Space Station, transferred from the Air Force to the Space Force as early as Friday.
“Today we are making history, with the first two installations in the history of the United States Space Force, to name this new branch of service,” Pence said at Cape Canaveral at the time.
Both bases will now be known as Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Patrick Space Force Base.
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