Text 4175, 73 rader
Skriven 2007-03-03 23:31:02 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0703033) for Sat, 2007 Mar 3
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President Bush Tours Storm Devastation at Enterprise High School in Alabama
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary March 3, 2007

President Bush Tours Storm Devastation at Enterprise High School in Alabama
Enterprise High School Enterprise, Alabama

˙˙White House News


9:24 A.M. CST

THE PRESIDENT: The heart of a community like Enterprise, Alabama, is the
school. And today I have walked through devastation that's hard to
describe. Our thoughts, of course, go out to the students who perished. We
thank God for the hundreds who lived. I want the folks of Enterprise to
know that to the extent the government can, our federal government can, in
working with the state, we'll help rebuild the school system, this high
school. We can never replace lives, and we can't heal hearts, except
through prayer. And I know -- I want the students to know, and the families
to know that there's a lot of people praying for them.

I met with the president of the Student Body, who recognizes that the end
of her senior year is going to be difficult. But as a student leader, she
will have the opportunity to help people rebuild, and that she will learn
that out of the devastation -- and the classmates will learn, that out of
the devastation can come hope and a better tomorrow.

And so we ask for the blessings on the students and their families. We ask
for the blessings on the principal and the administrator. We thank this
good community for rallying strongly by the side of those who have been
affected. And I thank the people of Enterprise for the warm welcome I have
received here.

The people of America have got to know that the citizens here, even though
affected by devastation, have shown great courage and compassion for their
citizens in need. And it's really part of the strength of the United States
to know that they're such decent folks.

God bless everybody. Thank you all.

Q How did it look from the air, sir?

THE PRESIDENT: It looks as bad from the air as it looks from the ground.
And you can see right here the effects of the storm. But the biggest effect
of the storm is the shattered lives. We can rebuild buildings, and the
fundamental question is, will the spirit stay strong in Enterprise,
Alabama. I predict that it not only will stay strong, it will be
strengthened. That's my prediction. And it's easy to tell when you talk to
the people, whether it's young or old, this town refuses to be devastated.
This town is a town full of people that will not -- will not succumb to the
effects of the storm. The Mayor is strong; the Principal of the school is
strong; the Lieutenant; and the children, the high school seniors.

And so it's a -- these are very tough times for the people here. And there
are going to be tough times for the people in Georgia that were affected.
And I just hope they know that a lot of people are praying for them, that a
lot of strangers that they'll never have met care for them, and that out of
this rubble will emerge a better tomorrow, because that's the commitment
that I hear here in Enterprise. And the role of the government is going to
help, to the extent that we can.

Thank you all.

END 9:27 A.M. CST
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http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/03/20070303-3.html

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