President Bush at Arlington
May 26th, 2008 at 12:36pm Mark Noonan
Today’s speech:
Thank you. Mr. Secretary, thank you for the kind introduction. Members of my Cabinet, members of the administration, Admiral Mullen, members of the United States Congress, Senator Warner and Congressman Skelton, members of the military, our veterans, honored guests, families of the fallen: Laura and I are honored to be with you on Memorial Day and thank you for coming.
A few moments ago, I placed a wreath upon the tomb of three brave American[s] who gave their lives in service to our nation. The names of these honored are known only to the Creator who delivered them home from the anguish of war — but their valor is known to us all. It’s the same valor that endured the stinging cold of Valley Forge. It is the same valor that planted the proud colors of a great nation on a mountaintop on Iwo Jima. It is the same valor that charged fearlessly through the assault of enemy fire from the mountains of Afghanistan to the deserts of Iraq. It is the valor that has defined the armed forces of the United States of America throughout our history.
Today, we gather to honor those who gave everything to preserve our way of life. The men and women we honor here served for liberty. They sacrificed for liberty. And in countless acts of courage, they died for liberty. From faraway lands, they were returned to cemeteries like this one, where broken hearts received their broken bodies — they found peace beneath the white headstones in the land they fought to defend.
It is a solemn reminder of the cost of freedom that the number of headstones in a place such as this grows with every new Memorial Day. In a world where freedom is constantly under attack and in a world where our security is challenged, the joys of liberty are often purchased by the sacrifices of those who serve a cause greater than themselves. Today we mourn and remember all who have given their lives in the line of duty. Today we lift up our hearts especially those who’ve fallen in the past year.
We remember Army Specialist Ronald Tucker of Fountain, Colorado. As a young man, Ronnie was known for having an infectious smile and a prankster’s sense of humor. And then he joined the United States Army, which brought out a more mature side in him. Ronnie transformed from a lighthearted teenager into a devoted soldier and a dutiful son who called his mother every day from his post in Iraq. In his final act of duty, less than a month ago, he worked with other members of his unit to build a soccer field for Iraqi children. As he drove back to his base, an enemy bomb robbed him of his life. And today our nation grieves for the loss of Ronnie Tucker.
We remember two Navy SEALS — Nathan Hardy of Durham, New Hampshire, and Michael Koch of State College, Pennsylvania. Nate and Mike were partners in the field and they were close friends in the barracks. Through several missions together, they had developed the unique bond of brotherhood that comes from trusting another with your life. They even shared a battlefield tradition: They would often head into battle with American flags clutched to their chests underneath their uniform. Nate and Mike performed this ritual for the last time on February the 4th — they both laid down their lives in Iraq after being ambushed by terrorists. These two friends spent their last few moments on earth together, doing what they loved most — defending the United States of America. Today, Nathan Hardy and Mike Koch lay at rest next to each other right here on the grounds of Arlington.
The men and women of American armed forces perform extraordinary acts of heroism every single day. Like the nation they serve, they do not glory in the devastation of war. They also do not flinch from combat when liberty and justice are embattled. Ronald Tucker, Nathan Hardy and Mike Koch make clear, they do not waver — even in the face of danger.
And so today, here in Washington and across our country, we pay tribute to all who have fallen — a tribute never equal to the debt they are owed. We will forever honor their memories. We will forever search for their comrades, the POWs and MIAs. And we pledge — we offer a solemn pledge to persevere and to provide the security for our citizens and secure the peace for which they fought.
The soil of Arlington and other sites is filled with liberty’s defenders. It is nourished by their heroism. It is watered by the silent tears of the mothers and fathers, and husbands and wives, and sons and daughters they left behind. Today we pray for God’s blessing on all who grieve and ask the Almighty to strengthen and comfort them today and everyday.
On this Memorial Day, I stand before you as the Commander-in-Chief and try to tell you how proud I am at the sacrifice and service of the men and women who wear our uniform. They’re an awesome bunch of people and the United States is blessed to have such citizens.
I am humbled by those who have made the ultimate sacrifice that allow a free civilization to endure and flourish. It only remains for us, the heirs of their legacy, to have the courage and the character to follow their lead — and to preserve America as the greatest nation on earth and the last best hope for mankind.
May God bless you and may God bless America.
Entry Filed under: Holiday Observances, Patriotism, President Bush, Republicans, War on Terror
24 Comments
1. SEW | May 26th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Barry Gaffe Obama has the silver tongue? To the MSM and Moonbat cultists maybe. And W is known as chimp? Try calling Barry Some Obama chimp. Hussein’s speech in Philly was one great speech? when he refused to throw “Reverend Wright” under the bus, but did so several weeks later for repeating his same “snippets.”
Thank you W for a great speech.
2. Carl | May 26th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I, for one, am thankful for all American troops, both past and present who have served this country. On March 31st, my father-in-law passed away. He was a Marine in the Pacific Theater during World War II and stationed in Guam. He didn’t like to talk about the experiences he had there. At his funeral a Marine honor guard presented my Mother-in-law with the flag that draped his coffin. It was an extremely moving ceremony. So this Memorial Day is a little more poignant for my wife and myself.
I hope you have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day. I invite you and your readers to my blog to see my Memorial Day tribute.
3. Casper | May 26th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
SEW,
It’s truly sad that your first response to President Bush’s speech is a hate filled tirade towards another American. I feel sorry for you.
That said, i have spent the morning thanking the members of my family that have served this great country. Sadly, I have two fewer to thank this year.
4. Mark Noonan | May 26th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Casper,
It might have been a bit out of place, but it is tiresome this continual leftwing assertion that President Bush is dumb, or that he’s a poor speaker…perhaps if, over the past 7 years, we hadn’t had to put up with quite so much hatred then we, ourselves, would be more circumspect?
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6. SEW | May 26th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Casper, Will you also thank GWB for his service to this great country in the National Guard, and his 7 1/2 years as Commander in Chief? After the 7 1/2 years liberals have slandered both, regardless of the topic?? You know, BDS?? Or is it only on Memorial Day in which you are proud of the military and the only Commander in Chief in recent history willing to protect our freedom?
7. Casper | May 26th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
SEW,
I am proud of our military every day of the year and those that know me know that.
As for Bush, I think he gave a great speech today.
8. FmrMarine | May 26th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
casper
>>>As for Bush, I think he gave a great speech today.<<<
Real nice, to bad he wasnt cigaring a 21 YO INTERN or getting BJ’s in the oval office like your cowardly draftdodging impeached, disbarred, fined, adulterous, lying, piece of crap you leftie trolls so much love.
9. Casper | May 26th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
FmrMarine,
I have never defended Clinton. I hold him at about the same level of regard I hold Bush. So feel free to insult him as much as you want. That said, it’s too bad you feel the best response to a compliment for Bush is to insult someone else.
10. SEW | May 26th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Amazing how the liberals slander GWB’s National Guard service, yet have nothing to say about Hussein Obama’s zero military record. Change and Hope. Change and hope molded by a racist, America hating Reverend, terrorist friends and political fundraiser and Chicago Rezko corruption. A wife full of hatred for America. Yet Bush/Cheney are again slandered for their connections to evil big oil.
Where is Dan Blather when there is something of factual substance to report? This is Memorial Day, not Christmas. Thank you present and past US military, Fake War Hero and Murtha excepted, slanderers of our military. Democrats. Has anyone ever heard liberals criticize Kerry or Murtha for their slanders? No, Kerry was ’swiftboated.’ No, just ‘Bush’ for his factual Guard service!
Thank you Dubya for ignoring the tinfoil noise.
11. TVman | May 26th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Deleted - off topic.
12. Faceplant | May 26th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Deleted - off topic.
13. Faceplant | May 26th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Deleted - off topic.
14. Faceplant | May 26th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Deleted - off topic.
15. Casper | May 27th, 2008 at 12:01 am
SEW,
No one on this thread slandered Bush’s national guard record until you brought it up twice. Personally, I prefer to thank everyone who has served this country, no matter which party he or she is in.
16. Faceplant | May 27th, 2008 at 2:22 am
Deleted - complains about comment policy.
17. Faceplant | May 27th, 2008 at 2:25 am
Deleted - complains about comment policy.
18. Penny wise | May 27th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Nice speech but he gets to go home an hug his daughters. It would have been better had Bush taken the opportunity to reconsider and demand McCain support the new GI bill. I believe the NY Times said it best, “having saddled the military with a botched, unwinnable war, having squandered soldiers’ lives and failed them in so many ways, the commander in chief now resists giving the troops a chance at better futures out of uniform.”
19. DM | May 27th, 2008 at 8:45 am
”…unwinnable war…”
Ye of so little faith. No wonder the right questions your support for the military.
20. Penny wise | May 27th, 2008 at 10:44 am
19. DM | May 27th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Has nothing to do with support of military. This war is not winnable militarily by any stretch of the imagination. Cons just like this war for the government money redistributed to war profiteers, about $3 trillion and climbing. Hell our troops can’t even buy gas for our military vehicles as cheap as local Iraqis, even though the country floats on oil.
This is a civil war where peace can only come from some form of reconciliation from within. The only military solution would have our military, which they are capable of, pick a side and totally obliterate every man women and child Shia or Sunni. Let the victor dominate. And even this course would be short lived because some would survive to hate another day.
21. DM | May 27th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
The question is not “if” we can win the war, only the utterly incompetent cannot see it. And I did not say it would be won purely by military means. But by in large thru military advances of might and numerous strategies of advancing the native people this war CAN be won. Those stuck by a political agenda have a great deal riding on “our” failure in this war and will project every possible negative aspect, true or untrue, to advance their “personal” position.
For you to suggest that this war cannot be won says either you have NO faith in our military and country or a personal agenda to see us fail or both.
One of the really sad things is the cost to winning this war both in lives and monetarily increases when people like you spout your “we can’t win” line given hope to the enemy to hold out.
22. Faceplant | May 27th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Your so transparent it isn’t even funny. DM’s post about whether we can win the war stays, despite the fact that it is quite clearly off topic.
SEW first post in a thread about Bush’s memorial day speech by calling Barack Obama a chimp. Yet that stays. In fact SEW’s only posts in this entire thread consisted of calling Obama a chimp, and sliming all liberals. Explain to me how that is possibly on topic. You can’t because it isn’t. Yet you leave those alone. Weird, huh?
Oh, and let’s not forget the gems by former Marine like this one…
“Real nice, to bad he wasnt cigaring a 21 YO INTERN or getting BJ’s in the oval office like your cowardly draftdodging impeached, disbarred, fined, adulterous, lying, piece of crap you leftie trolls so much love.”
But I suppose that’s clearly on topic right? That’s what I thought.
In fact what topic are we discussing? Considering that one of the things this post was under was “President Bush” why is it that the discussion of President Bush is off topic?
If you actually applied the rules equally then I wouldn’t be complaining. But this has nothing to do with comment policy. You delete the posts you can’t respond to, and use “comment policy” as your excuse. And the fact that you only delete posts by those that you don’t agree with, makes it obvious. Like I said, it’s easier to win an argument when you control the content isn’t it?
Now I’m pretty sure this post will get deleted as well. But that’s just typical of those like you that cannot win an argument on it’s merits.
Your side slimes war veterans all the time when it’s politically expedient. You know it, and everybody else knows it.
23. Dennis | May 28th, 2008 at 12:05 am
10. SEW | May 26th, 2008 at 9:04 pm “Amazing how the liberals slander GWB’s National Guard service, yet have nothing to say about Hussein Obama’s zero military record.”
How is Bush’s National Guard service better than Obama’s community service? Obama could have been raking in large money after gaining a Harvard law degree, but instead turned his energy and talent toward helping others who were having a harder time realizing the American dream. His political career has been an extension of the public service begun during his college years.
Talk is cheap. Political talk and posturing without actions behind it is particularly cheap. Mr. Bush never put himself at combat risk by his National Guard service, and I defy you to name one period in his career he has inconvenienced himself to put himself at the service of others less fortunate. Giving up golf does not count. Nor does gambling with the lives of others in a utopian quest to make over another nation in a war that does not have the support of a majority of the American people.
Obama not only speaks well, he has put himself at the service of others his entire adult life - while Mr. Bush merely bounced from one failed business scheme to another, until finally riding his daddy’s coattails into politics. If Mr. Bush had the good sense of his own daddy we wouldn’t be in a scenario where the nation is squabbling over the meaning of victory or surrender. In all the wars that really were necessary, that was never a question.
The very fact that such arguments preoccupy us today is manifest evidence of the folly of this venture. Not to mention the tanking dollar, America’s unprecedented foreign debt and various economic disasters seen and as yet unseen in the wake of this war. The founding fathers saw the possibility of this day and warned us against it. Obama heeded them, Mr. Bush did not.
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