Obama gives final remarks at Joint Base Andrews

Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Former President Barack Obama had a few more parting words Friday before getting on a plane to leave town.

Obama took the opportunity to thank the staff at Joint Base Andrews before his departure.

"We have really been milking this goodbye thing," he joked at the event. "So it behooves me to be very brief.

"I've said before and I'll say again -- when we started on this journey, we did so with an abiding faith in the American people and their abilities, our abilities, to join together to change the country in ways that would make life better for our kids and our grandkids.

"Change didn't happen from the top down, it happened from the bottom up."

Supporters cheered Obama during his remarks, repeating the phrase, "yes we can," which was Obama's central theme for his 2008 campaign.

"To all of you who have put your heart and soul, not just into our campaigns, but to making school better, to making sure our veterans got the care they need," he added in his closing comments. "We could not be prouder of you. I could not be prouder.

"We look forward to continuing this journey with all of you."

After giving his remarks, the now-former president and former first lady Michelle Obama, who will continue to live in Washington, left on a vacation to California.