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US President George W. Bush
| | THE PRESIDENT:
Good morning. This Memorial Day weekend,
Americans pay tribute to those who have given their lives in the service
of our nation. As we honor the members of our Armed Forces who have died
for our freedom, we also honor those who are defending our liberties
today.
On Friday, I met with some of the courageous men and women who will
soon take their place in the defense of our freedom: the graduating class
of the United State s Naval Academy. These new officers will soon be
serving on ships, flying combat missions, and leading our troops into
battle against dangerous enemies. They are prepared for the challenges
ahead -- morally, mentally, and physically. The American people can be
confident that their freedom is in good hands.
Our citizens live
in freedom because patriots are willing to serve and sacrifice for our
liberty. And on Monday, I will lay a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery
in honor of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year marks
the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, a victory for freedom in
which more than 400,000 Americans gave their lives. Today a new generation
of Americans is making its own sacrifice on behalf of peace and freedom,
and some have given their lives.
In their hometowns, these soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines are
more than names on a roll of honor. They were friends and neighbors,
teachers and coaches, classmates and colleagues. Each was the most
important person in someone's life; each had hopes for the future, and
each left a place that can never be filled.
We mourn their loss, and we honor their sacrifice. We pray for their
families. And we take heart in knowing that these men and women believed
deeply in what they were fighting for. Christopher Swisher was a staff
sergeant from Lincoln, Nebraska, who joined the Army a year after
graduating from high school. He was killed in an ambush while on patrol in
Baghdad. Sergeant Swisher told his loved ones: "If anything happens to me,
I'm doing what I want to be doing -- I'm protecting my family and my
home."
Rafael Peralta also understood that America faces dangerous enemies,
and he knew the sacrifices required to defeat them. An immigrant from
Mexico, he enlisted in the Marine Corps the day after he got his green
card. Just before the battle of Fallujah, he wrote his 14-year-old
brother, "We are going to defeat the insurgents. Be proud of me, I'm going
to make history and do something that I always wanted to do." A few days
later, Sergeant Peralta gave his life to save his fellow Marines.
This Memorial Day, we remember Sergeant Peralta, Sergeant Swisher, and
all who have given their lives for our nation. And we honor them as we
continue to wage the war on terror and spread freedom across the world.
The people of Iraq and Afghanistan are determined to secure their freedom,
and we will help them. We're training Iraqi and Afghan forces so they can
take the fight to the enemy and defend their own countries, and then our
troops will return home with the honor they have earned.
Throughout our history, America has fought not to conquer but to
liberate. We go to war reluctantly, because we understand the high cost of
war. Those who have given their lives to defend America have the respect
and gratitude of our entire nation.
Thank you for listening. |