South Jersey is home to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, one of the finest military installations in the world, and it was my honor to represent the base and all of those who serve there.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I do belong to Jersey. There's no doubt about that in my mind. They have been so loyal and so good to me; how could I possibly belong any place else?
Personally, in my home, the district in central New York, the Air National Guard base, not 5 years ago, the commandant came through and said, This is one of the sorriest looking bases I have ever seen.
Anyone who's grown up or lived on the Jersey Shore knows the place is unique.
I stay in Jersey - it's home, man. It's home. And I think that's the foundation of the true strength of the communities where we live in America.
I was raised in New Jersey - Long Branch.
My uncle and my grandfather both worked in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
When the USS New Jersey is commissioned, it will be a source of pride for everyone in our state for decades.
But it's been a great, humbling - and I've been very honored to have the opportunity to serve and to lead and to be the representative of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who are in Washington. And it's been the greatest honor of my life.
My dad was a Marine. He was one of the Montford Point Marines. Those are the equivalent of the Tuskegee Airmen for Marines. He's a tough, tough guy.
I grew up in a Navy family.
No opposing quotes found.