THE
PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. (Applause.) Thank you. Welcome to
the White House. Laura and I are honored that you're here today. We
recognize a group of Americans whose bravery and commitment to their
fellow citizens showed us the true meaning of heroism.
The 442 names you just heard belong to men and women of uncommon
valor and decency and honor. On one of the worst days our country has
ever witnessed, we witnessed the courage of some of the finest people
our country has ever produced. And their sacrifice will always be
remembered.
I want to thank the Attorney General. I welcome members of the
United States Congress and the United States Senate who have joined us
-- Bill Frist, Senator Schumer, Congressman Fossella, Congressman
Crowley. By the way, thank you for bringing your mother. Congressman
Wolf, Congressman Smith, Congressman King, Congressman McCarthy,
Congressman Israel. I want to thank Ray Kelly, the Police Commissioner
of the great city of New York. (Applause.) I thank all the fire chiefs,
police chiefs, and Port Authority personnel. I particularly want to
thank the men and women who are on the front line of making us safe --
thank you all for coming today. (Applause.)
The 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor honors the public safety officers who
gave their lives on September the 11th. On that day, firefighters,
police officers, emergency medical technicians, Port Authority personnel
and other public safety officers performed their jobs with extraordinary
distinction in the face of unspeakable terror.
We're grateful to the families and friends who have come here to
honor their memory. We know that the sense of loss you feel does not
disappear with time. Four years later, you still miss your loved ones.
America admires your courage in the face of such terrible pain. And your
loved ones will always have the thanks and admiration and respect of a
grateful nation.
When America has been challenged, there has always been citizens
willing to step forward and risk their lives for the rest of us. Over
the last 11 days in Louisiana and Mississippi and Alabama, we have again
seen acts of great compassion and extraordinary bravery from America's
first responders. Firefighters and police, and U.S. Coast Guard men and
women, and National Guardsmen and active duty forces, disaster and
medical assistance teams, search and rescue units from all over the
United States have descended on the Gulf Coast to help the victims of
Hurricane Katrina. They have faced the storm's destruction with valor
and determination, and their hard work has saved lives in the face of
great adversity.
We're still at the beginning of a huge effort. The tasks before us
are enormous. Yet so is the heart of the United States. We're grateful
to the emergency personnel -- (applause.) We are grateful to the
emergency personnel who are working to assist victims and restore
communities affected by this disaster. In these difficult days, we have
again seen the great strength and character and resolve of America. And
we will continue to work to help the people who are struggling.
In every community we depend on those who carry the badge, who
keep the peace and protect our citizens. And in times of national
crisis, all Americans are grateful to those who answer the alarms and
run toward danger and provide urgent care. Those who place their own
lives at risk for others must be recognized and honored by their fellow
citizens.
And four years ago, America saw the unparalleled heroism of our
nation's public safety officers. We lost brave rescue workers who gave
their lives so that others could live. We lost many other citizens who
assisted in the rescue efforts, and whose courage and sacrifice that day
made them extraordinary.
On September the 11th, 2001, America lost Firefighter Donny Regan of
Rescue Company 3 in Bronx. During his 17-year career with the New York
City Fire Department he was cited six times for bravery. And today, our
nation honors Donny's final act of courage. His son, Peter, lost a
father on September the 11th; today, he carries on his father's legacy.
Peter followed his dad's footsteps to the fire department. Today he is
defending our freedom as a reservist with the 3rd Battalion 25th Marine
Regiment in Iraq. (Applause.)
On September the 11th, 2001, America lost Firefighter Ronnie Gies of
Squad 288 in Queens. Ronnie had been with the New York Fire Department
since 1988. He rushed downtown to the World Trade Center. A video of the
day showed Ronnie on his way into the towers. His wife said, "You see
him straight on, carrying equipment, with such a look of determination."
His own son, Tommy, graduated from the FDNY Academy last August, and is
now a member of Ladder 147 in Brooklyn. And we're grateful for Tommy's
courage and service. (Applause.)
On September the 11th, 2001, America lost Senior Court Officer Thomas
Jurgens, one of about 25 New York State Court officers who responded
after the plane hit the first tower. Thomas' last radio transmission
came from inside the burning tower, after he'd been warned to get out
because the danger was too great. He refused to leave his post. His last
words before signing off were, "There are people here who need our
help."
On September the 11th, 2001, America lost New York City Police Officer
Moira Smith. Moira is remembered by friends for her fearless spirit on
and off the job. She ran with the bulls in Spain. And in 1991, she ran
into a subway tunnel to rescue dozens of people trapped in one of the
worst subway accidents in New York history. On September the 11th, 2001,
she ran toward danger once again, into the burning towers of the World
Trade Center. A broker she helped to safety remembers her steady blue
eyes and her even voice. The next day's papers carried an image of Moira
helping an injured man out of the tower, before she rushed back in to
save others. And the tower collapsed around her. One of Moira's
colleagues said, "She could have saved herself, but nothing would have
stopped her saving one more person."
These are some of the examples, only a few of the examples, of the
extraordinary bravery that took place that day. All the brave men and
women we recognize today brought credit to the uniform, and honor to the
United States of America. (Applause.)
And one way our nation can honor their sacrifice is to win the war on
terror. (Applause.) On September the 11th, 2001, we saw the future that
terrorists intend for us. And I made a decision: America will not wait
to be attacked again. We will take the fight to the enemy, and we'll
defend our freedom. (Applause.)
Since that day we've taken the fight to the enemy. We're hunting down
the terrorists in mountains in Afghanistan, in tribal regions of
Pakistan, in the deserts of Iraq, and on islands of Southeast Asia, and
the Horn of Africa. We're fighting the terrorists and we're fighting
their murderous ideology, by spreading the hope of freedom across the
broader Middle East. Free nations are peaceful nations, and by advancing
freedom's cause, we are laying the foundation of peace for our children
and our grandchildren. (Applause.)
We will succeed. And the legacy of peace and freedom we leave behind
will be the greatest memorial to your fallen family members and friends.
(Applause.)
The heroes of September the 11th will not be here to see that day.
But their moms and dads and children and grandchildren can know a proud
America will always stand in the long shadow of their service and
sacrifice, and a proud nation will always remember them.
May God bless you all, and may God forever bless the memories of
those who sacrificed on behalf of our citizens. (Applause.)