We welcome President Barack Obama to the city of New London and today's 130th U.S. Coast Guard Academy commencement exercises. It is always an honor for the community to host the top elected leader of our nation and the commander in chief of its armed forces.

Presidents traditionally address the graduating classes of its military service academies on a rotating basis. After addressing the U.S. Military Academy Class of 2010 at West Point last year, President Obama makes his first congratulatory speech to the graduates of the Coast Guard Academy.

While the region always takes pride in knowing that the future Coast Guard officers who will defend, protect and serve this nation begin their careers here in New London, there is an added sense of satisfaction when the appearance of the president turns the nation's attention to the academy and its host city.

This has been a Connecticut week for President Obama. On Monday he congratulated the University of Connecticut men's NCAA basketball championship team at the White House. Today the president will be recognizing remarkable teamwork of another sort, one responsible for rescuing mariners and sometimes entire communities in distress, teamwork that disrupts criminal syndicates that would poison our neighborhoods with illicit drugs, and which guards the nation's ports from those intent on harm.

While President Obama's visit will be short, if he takes the time to take a closer look he will find a community that reflects his stated goal of "Winning the Future." In addition to the academy, New London is home to two other institutions of higher learning, Mitchell College and Connecticut College. Its confluence of ferry, rail and bus transportation services provide a ready model for growing mass transit options and reducing dependence on foreign oil.

This small urban community is in many respects as racially, ethnically and economically diverse as the changing face of the nation, with all the opportunities and challenges that presents. New apartments and condominiums in the downtown district reflect the resurgent urbanization seen across the country, one that recognizes the importance of walkable communities with their mix of artistic and cultural opportunities as a counterbalance to sameness of suburban sprawl.

When the city comes calling in the future for federal funds to help further the realization of its potential - and after November the city will have a directly elected mayor in charge to speak for it - we'd like, Mr. President, for you to recall the visit.

These have been challenging times for the president and the nation. There are deep divisions within the body politic about how to address the major challenges facing the country. The economy, while improved from the crisis situation confronting President Obama when he took office, remains sluggish, particularly when it comes to job creation. Alarming long-term deficit spending projections are of serious concern, but agreement on how to address the problem remains elusive. A health care plan to provide insurance coverage for most Americans, a plan endorsed by this newspaper, remains under attack by the opposing party that sees it as too much government intrusion.

Today, however, is a day when the president represents all the people. His visit comes as the nation still celebrates a military victory that severed the leadership of the al-Qaida terrorist organization. Under the administration of the Department of Homeland Security, the Coast Guard, directed by the new officers who graduate today, will continue to play its vital part in keeping our nation safe and its enemies at bay.

Enjoy the visit, Mr. President, and congratulations to our 229 Coast Guard Academy graduates.