[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[February 26, 1991]
[Page 179]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 179]]


Remarks at a Retirement Ceremony for General Maxwell R. Thurman in 
Arlington, Virginia
February 26, 1991

    Thank you very, very much. And let me salute our Secretary of
Defense, the Chairman of our Joint Chiefs, the Chief of Staff of the 
Army, Secretary of the Army behind me, Members of Congress that are here 
today, and so many friends of our honoree, our most distinguished 
General Thurman.
    I'm sorry to kind of hit and run, but I wanted to come over here and 
pay my respects to Max. To all of you here today, his friends, his 
admirers, thank you very much. To all those in uniform and in the 
service, through your devotion to our common defense, you show the same 
spirit and commitment that we're now seeing shine so brilliantly in the 
actions of every single man and woman now serving in the Persian Gulf.
    Secretary Cheney and General Powell just came over to the White 
House for a briefing, and I got a good update from them. And as I noted 
earlier today, we are not only on schedule, we are ahead of schedule. No 
Commander in Chief has ever been so proud of America's men and women in 
uniform.
    This is Max Thurman's day. And they say you can't keep a good man 
down, and the man we honor this afternoon certainly proves it. A 
distinguished officer of the field artillery; two tours in Vietnam; four 
stars; commander in chief of the Southern Command; a general who is as 
human as he is professional, as generous as he is just.
    General Thurman has devoted his career, his entire career, to 
helping all around him reach their fullest potential. His life and work 
are a testament to the power of an individual. And his brilliant role in 
the liberation of Panama was a fitting grace note to a great career. By 
assuring the freedom of the Panamanian people, General Thurman has 
played a crucial role in the revival of democracy in this, our own 
precious hemisphere.
    At home and abroad, America has been fortunate to have Maxwell 
Thurman in uniform. He's been the man who never shirked responsibility. 
I've been told, for instance, that General Thurman was standing outside 
the Papal Nunciature when somebody asked who was responsible for the 
loud music. He immediately said, ``I am the music man--CINC music.'' 
Nobody argued from there on.
    If you can't keep a good man down, it's also true that it's hard to 
see a good man go, especially in time of war. General Thurman, your 
retirement from service, as well-earned as it is, leaves a great void. 
Simply stated, there is no more dedicated officer in the United States 
Army. A generation of service men and women, some of whom will rise to 
match your rank, now go forward with your leadership in their minds and 
your example in their hearts. Your devotion to service has brought honor 
to your nation, and your commitment to America has inspired admiration 
in all of us. Thank you, sir.

                    Note: The President spoke at 4:03 p.m. in the 
                        Ceremonial Hall at Fort Myer Army Base. In his 
                        opening remarks, he referred to Secretary of 
                        Defense Dick Cheney; Colin L. Powell, Chairman 
                        of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Gen. Carl E. 
                        Vuono, Army Chief of Staff; and Secretary of the 
                        Army Michael P. W. Stone.