1of10Vice President Mike Pence, right, and second lady Karen Pence, left, acknowledge military personnel after addressing the Army 10th Mountain Division soldiers, many of whom have recently returned from Afghanistan, in Fort Drum, N.Y., Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021.Adrian Kraus/APShow MoreShow Less2of10Vice President Mike Pence delivers remarks to Army 10th Mountain Division soldiers, many of whom have recently returned from Afghanistan, in Fort Drum, N.Y., Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021.Adrian Kraus/APShow MoreShow Less3of10Vice President Mike Pence delivers remarks to Army 10th Mountain Division soldiers, many of whom have recently returned from Afghanistan, in Fort Drum, N.Y., Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021.Adrian Kraus/APShow MoreShow Less4of10Vice President Mike Pence delivers remarks to Army 10th Mountain Division soldiers, many of whom have recently returned from Afghanistan, in Fort Drum, N.Y., Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021.Adrian Kraus/APShow MoreShow Less5of10Vice President Mike Pence, left, and second lady Karen Pence wave following remarks to Army 10th Mountain Division soldiers, many of whom have recently returned from Afghanistan, in Fort Drum, N.Y., Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021.Adrian Kraus/APShow MoreShow Less6of10U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., introduces Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence to speak to Army 10th Mountain Division soldiers, many of whom have recently returned from Afghanistan, in Fort Drum, N.Y., Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021.Adrian Kraus/APShow MoreShow Less7of10Second lady Karen Pence introduces Vice President Mike Pence to deliver remarks to Army 10th Mountain Division soldiers, many of whom have recently returned from Afghanistan, in Fort Drum, N.Y., Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021.Adrian Kraus/APShow MoreShow Less8of10Vice President Mike Pence walks to the podium to deliver remarks to Army 10th Mountain Division soldiers, many of whom have recently returned from Afghanistan, in Fort Drum, N.Y., Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021.Adrian Kraus/APShow MoreShow Less9of10Vice President Mike Pence meets with soldiers following his remarks to the Army's 10th Mountain Division, many of whom have recently returned from Afghanistan, in Fort Drum, N.Y., Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021.Adrian Kraus/APShow MoreShow Less10of10Vice President Mike Pence meets with soldiers following his remarks to the Army's 10th Mountain Division, many of whom have recently returned from Afghanistan, in Fort Drum, N.Y., Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021.Adrian Kraus/APShow MoreShow Less
FORT DRUM, N.Y. (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence and his wife made their final official appearance together Sunday with a visit to Fort Drum, where they thanked the 10th Mountain Division and their families for their service.
“I’m here to deliver a very simple message to each and every one of you on behalf of your commander and chief, and every American," Pence said. "Thank you for your service. And to the 1st Brigade combat team, welcome home.” The 1st Brigade recently returned from Afghanistan.
Karen Pence, speaking before her husband took the podium, became emotional and briefly faltered as she addressed the troops. “It is such an honor to be with you — here I go — for our very last trip as vice president and second lady of the United States,” she said.
The Pences thanked the sailors at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California on Saturday.
Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris will be sworn in as Pence’s successor on Wednesday. Her husband, Doug Emhoff, will become the nation’s first second gentleman.
