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Skriven 2007-05-15 23:31:06 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0705151) for Tue, 2007 May 15
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President Bush Attends the Annual Peace Officers' Memorial Service
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary May 15, 2007

President Bush Attends the Annual Peace Officers' Memorial Service United
States Capitol Washington, D.C.

˙ /news/releases/2007/05/20070515-1.wm.v.html ˙˙Presidential Remarks
˙˙Audio

˙˙˙˙˙ Peace Officers' Memorial Day and Police Week, 2007

12:38 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thanks for coming, please be seated. Thank you. Thank you,
Chuck. I have been here ever since I've been the President, in an event
like this, and it's fitting because this is a really important day for our
country. It's a day we remember men and women who fell in the line of duty.
Each swore an oath to uphold the law. Each assumed the responsibility of
protecting neighbors and communities. Each has earned a place in our
nation's heart. We thank them for their lives of service and we pray to an
Almighty God that He bring comfort to you during this time of sorrow.

I appreciate Chuck Canterbury, President of the Fraternal Order of Police.
I thank the members of my Cabinet who have joined us today. I appreciate so
very much Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, for being here today. I thank
Senator Leahy, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Minority Leader John Boehner
and all the members of Congress who have joined us. I thank Aliza Clark,
Jim Pasco. Father Vytas, thank you for your prayers. Appreciate Patrick
Nigh, who sang the National Anthem; Lee Greenwood, friend of law
enforcement.

I thank the police officers who are here. I am honored to be in your
presence. I'm constantly amazed by your courage. I thank you for serving
the United States of America. (Applause.)

To the moms and dads, husbands and wives, and sons and daughters who have
got a hole in your heart today, I bring a collective hug from the people of
the United States of America.

It takes a special kind of person to serve in law enforcement. Most people
run from danger -- law enforcement runs toward it. You've chosen one of the
toughest jobs in the world. And I suspect during times of dangerous duty or
lonely patrols, it might seem like the only person you can depend upon is
each other. A day like today I hope not only helps our families, but helps
those who serve remember that a larger community here in this country
stands with you, that we're grateful for your service.

We saw this gratitude last year in Montgomery, Alabama, as thousands of
citizens mourned a young officer named Keith Houts. Keith was shot during a
routine traffic stop. He held on two days before succumbing; he was 30
years old. As expected, police officers from across Alabama came to mourn
him, that's what happens -- when a fellow officer dies in the line of
service, the officers show up -- but so did citizens he never met.
Thousands and thousands of citizens came to honor this good man. An
overflow crowd attended the funeral; every church pew was filled. Mourners
had to stand. An anonymous citizen paid lodging expenses for members of
Keith's family so they could make it to service. The community embraced
Keith's young widow, Ashley, who's here. She had been a wife just for 15
months. Ashley said this of her late husband: "I know what he meant to me,
but it is important to know what he meant to everyone else."

We've seen similar outpourings of support in other places. Last year, in
Fairfax County, Virginia, thousands of strangers lined city streets to bid
farewell to two officers, Vicky Armel and Michael Garbarino. They were shot
while doing their duty. Those who gathered along one of the funeral routes
included all kinds of people -- total strangers paying homage -- a grocery
store cashier, a fellow from Belgium was there; a local resident who told a
reporter she wanted to thank the police who, as she put it, "worry so we
don't have to."

We saw a similar scene in Colorado Springs after the murder of Kenneth
Jordan. Cars stopped along the interstate, as drivers watched the funeral
procession from railings and bridges. Children were waving flags in honor
of a good man. One man brought his sons to pay tribute to an officer who he
said "gave up his life up for us." Another held up a sign that read: "God
bless you and keep you safe. Thanks so much."

That sign sums up the feeling of millions of our fellow citizens: God bless
you and thanks so much. Laura and I feel the same way. You know, we shared
the grief of the family of Steve Favela, a Honolulu police officer who died
last year from injuries he suffered during a motorcade that was protecting
us. His death is a reminder of the daily risks that each officer assumes.

I don't know if you realize this, but police officers are routinely named
among America's most respected profession. And that's why strangers mourn
for the loss of life and honor those who serve. That's why so many children
choose you as role models.

With us today are young children who've lost their moms and dads in the
line of duty. It's got to be awfully hard. The pain is fresh, and they feel
that every time they come home, looking for a mom or dad they love. It's
hard to understand the loss you've suffered, but hopefully today you leave
with the sense that there are all kinds of people praying for you and
honoring your dad or mom; millions of Americans grieve.

And I hope when you're older you'll come to this ceremony again, and find
some comfort here. Perhaps you'll bring your own children, and share your
memories of your parents and your pride in what they did. You can tell them
your parents were great because of what they risked. You can tell them they
served a cause greater than themselves.

We're proud of all our nation's fallen peace officers. We're sorry you're
here, but now that you are, we care about you a lot. And we love you. We're
grateful for what they have given us.

May God bless you all. May God bless those who wear the uniform of the
United States of America. And may God continue to bless our country.
(Applause.)

END 12:45 P.M. EDT
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