"In this political climate, I'd rather stay away from New York and other coastal cities. After what the Spanish did to them in the last war, I'm surprised anyone wants to go live there."
After the catastrophic (from the Americans perspective) Spanish-American War, which saw the bombardment of multiple coastal cities, fear and panic would grip the coasts of the United States, and the military would come to dominate politics. The years following would see the passing of the two ocean navy act, which mandated that the United States maintain a navy as large and powerful at any other country in both the atlantic and pacific oceans.
"To you mothers, who for years sent your sons across the seas to fight for Russia as we sought to contain the extremists in Europe, I say this. Do not weep for those who could not return. Mother Russia has embraced your sons as her own, and they are at peace as she shelters them from the cold and wind. By their actions, they have taken their place amongst the heroes of legend, and they will be remembered and honored as true Russians, for as long as Russians exist to remember our fallen brothers."