What is the purpose of the speech?

As you all know, we are here today to say farewell to our much loved company president, Philip Brown.(95)Now that we have finished our superb lunch, we can take a few minutes to reflect on his achievements. In 1965, after 4 years of heroic service in the U. S. Marines, Philip Brown returned to his home with nothing except a great determination to succeed. Working nights to pay for his education and support his wife and young son, he successfully completed an engineering degree. Starting with our company in 1969,(96)he soon showed brilliance not only as an engineer but also as a leader. Always keen to produce the highest possible standard of work, he rose rapidly to become a key member of our senior management. We will miss him both as a personal friend to many of us, and as our most successful president.(97)