"Thank You For Your Courage... For Your Sacrifice"
On his last Veterans
Day as commander in chief, President Bush paid tribute to all those
who have worn the uniform of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine
Corps and Coast Guard during a speech Tuesday at the USS Intrepid
Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City.
"Today we send a clear message to all who have worn the uniform:
Thank you for your courage, thank you for your sacrifice, and thank
you for standing up when your nation needed you most," he told the
crowd of about 5,000, which included 2,500 veterans and about 500
members of the active military.
Like the many veterans who have served in the military, Bush
noted that the Intrepid has also served the nation well. Launched
on April 26, 1943, and commissioned on Aug. 16, 1943, the Intrepid
took part in the World War II invasion of the Marshall Islands and
played a key role in the amphibious assault on Okinawa and the
Battles of Leyte Gulf.
Following the war's end, the Intrepid continued to serve, Bush
said.
"As the United States raced into the new frontier of space, the
Intrepid stood by to retrieve astronauts returning to Earth," Bush
said. "During the Cold War, she patrolled the Mediterranean and
helped force the surrender of pro-Castro terrorists who had
hijacked a freighter in the Caribbean, and did three tours off the
waters of Vietnam."
After more than 30 years at sea, the Intrepid was decommissioned
in 1974, destined to be scrapped. But thanks to the work of the
Intrepid Museum Foundation, Bush said, the Intrepid moved to New
York City, and "since 1982, she has been a museum that educates new
generations of Americans about the high price that those who came
before them paid for their freedom."
"Even as a museum, the Intrepid still answered the call to
service," the president said. On September 11, 2001, following the
terrorist attack on New York, the Intrepid was used as an emergency
command center, with first responders launching helicopters from
the decks. Bush said the ship, "which helped defeat the great
totalitarian threats of the 20th century – was front and
center in the opening moments of a new struggle against the forces
of hatred and fear.
"The war on terror has required courage; it has required resolve
equal to what previous generations of Americans brought to the
fields of Europe and the deep waters of the Pacific," he said. "And
I'm proud to report to my fellow citizens, our armed forces -- the
armed forces of this generation -- have showed up for the fight,
and America is more secure for it.
"They are representative of the finest our nation offers. And
they have the support of strong and caring and loving families," he
continued. "And so on this Veterans Day, not only do we honor those
who have worn the uniform, those who are wearing the uniform -- we
honor their families."
Bush said the nation has a moral obligation to support military
families and veterans. He noted that he has worked with Congress to
nearly double the funding for servicemembers and to implement
recommendations to ensure "we have a mental health care system and
physical health care system worthy of the sacrifice of those who
have worn the uniform."
"It has been my privilege to work with the United States
Congress to expand education benefits for both members of our
military as well as our veterans," he said. "It has been my
privilege to say loud and clear to our veterans, 'We love you, we
respect you, and we thank you for serving the United States of
America.'"
Upon arrival in New York, Bush said he was honored to travel
with these men and women who volunteered to serve the nation in a
time of war.
"Veterans have inspired troops such as these. Veterans have
inspired me," the president said. "I was raised by a veteran. I
appreciate the commitment to our country that the veterans have
made. I am committed to making sure that today's veterans get all
the health care and support they need from the federal government
for agreeing to serve in a time of danger.
"Our nation is blessed because our liberties have been defended
by brave men and women in the past," he said. "And we are blessed
to have brave men and women defend our liberties today."
During his speech, Bush noted that he is often asked what he's
going to miss about the presidency once he leaves office.
"The truth of the matter is, I will miss being the commander in
chief of such a fabulous group of men and women -- those who wear
the uniform of the United States military," he said.
(Aero-News thanks Linda D. Kozaryn, American Forces Press
Service)