    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [August 4, 1994]
    [Pages 1429-1430]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1429]]

    Remarks Honoring Recipients of the Young American Medals for
    Bravery and Service
    August 4, 1994

        Thank you. Thank you so much, General Reno. And thank you, ladies
    and gentlemen, for being here. I would like to thank Janet Reno for the
    superb job she has done as the Attorney General of the United States and
    for the human face she has put on law enforcement in this country and
    the understanding she has brought as a career prosecutor to this work,
    the understanding that really is embodied in these awards today, which
    is that we have a job to do here in Washington but what really makes
    America great and what really makes America work is what happens on the
    streets, in the schools, in the neighborhoods, in the workplaces of
    America every day.
        I want to thank the Director of our Office of Drug Policy, Lee
    Brown, for being here; two Congressmen from the areas of two of the
    honorees today, Congressman Jerry Costello of Illinois and Congressman
    Steve Schiff of New Mexico, thank you for being here. I understand the
    Mayor of Belleville, Illinois, Roger Cook, is here. I thank the members
    of the Young American Medals Committee; the Administrator of the DEA,
    Tom Constantine; and Eduardo Gonzalez, the Director of the Marshals
    Service, who are also here.
        Last year was my first opportunity to engage in this ceremony. I
    just loved it. And the Attorney General was right. This job of mine is
    an interesting and diverse job, and on most days it's quite a wonderful
    job. But it rarely is so filled with joy as when you can recognize the
    wonder of the work of our young people.
        I think of our mission here in our administration at this time as
    the timeless one of trying to secure a future for our young people, so
    that every person in this country, without regard to their region or
    race or income or background, can live up to the fullest of their God-
    given abilities. In this time, at the end of the cold war and at the
    beginning of a new era that is not yet fully clear to Americans, moving
    into a global economy with new opportunities and, to be sure, new
    troubles as well, that means as a minimum that here we have to restore
    economic growth and opportunity. We have to help people to rebuild the
    strength of our communities and our families. We have to empower
    individuals to do more for themselves. In short, we've got to make this
    Government work for ordinary citizens in a world we're working to make
    more peaceful and prosperous.
        Now, in the last few weeks, we've had some pretty good news on that.
    Our economy is clearly coming back. For the first time in 10 years it's
    predicted that all 50 States will have economic growth next year. We had
    a peace agreement signed here between Jordan and Israel last week, which
    must have brought joy to the hearts of every American that has seen that
    troubled region torn for so long. There are many good things happening.
    The largest, toughest, smartest crime bill in the history of the United
    States is in final debating stages and about to be voted on in the
    Congress. For the first time in the history of our country, both Houses
    of Congress are considering a bill to provide health care coverage to
    all Americans.
        But still, we have to recognize that in the end it is still true
    that the strength of this country is what happens on Main Street, what
    happens in the schools, what happens where ordinary Americans live and
    work.
        Today we celebrate the best of our young people for their courage
    and their commitment. We know that life requires both to be fully
    successful. And we know that our country is still around now after 218
    years because we've been blessed with an abundance of both.
        I must tell you that when I got up this morning and, as is my custom
    early in the morning, I wandered around, I did some of my routine, and
    then I sat and read the schedule for the day and I read the stories of
    these young people, I was reminded of a line that I used in my Inaugural
    Address but sometimes here in the heat of battle I forget: ``There is
    nothing wrong with this country that cannot be fixed by what is right
    with this country.'' Today we honor in dramatic and breathtaking fashion
    what is right with this country.
        The first recipient of the Young American Medal for Bravery is Carlo
    Montez Clark of Belleville, Illinois. He was on his way to a convenience
    store when he noticed smoke coming

    [[Page 1430]]

    from a nearby building. He tried twice to get into the building, but was
    overcome by smoke. Finally, on the third try he got into the building,
    risking his own life, and saved the life of an elderly woman who
    suffered from emphysema. Let's give him a big hand. [Applause] Thank
    you.
        Now I would like to recognize, for service, Robyn Mae Davis of
    Albuquerque, New Mexico. She's worked hard to spread the important
    message of the dangers of alcohol abuse among young people. She tried to
    get the New Mexico State Fair to refrain from serving alcohol for a day
    or so; they declined. So she organized a human chain around the New
    Mexico State Fair in protest of their policy. As a result, for 4 days
    the fair was completely alcohol-free. I wonder if she would like to join
    my congressional lobbying staff. [Laughter] Good for you, Robyn, and
    congratulations.
        Our second winner of the Young American Medal for Bravery is Brandon
    Sisco of Texarkana, Texas. When Brandon's school bus made a routine
    stop, a young girl got off the bus and was attacked by two ferocious
    dogs. She was bitten many times. Brandon jumped off the bus and bravely
    fought off the dogs, guided the 6-year-old to safety inside the bus
    where he comforted her until paramedics arrived. At considerable risk to
    himself, he saved the young girl's life. Let's give him a round of
    applause. [Applause]
        Our final recipient is Amanda Stewart of Keyes, Oklahoma. In 1990
    Amanda was paralyzed in a car accident. She began a three-State campaign
    to raise consciousness regarding the dangers of drinking and driving.
    She told her peers they should think first about getting into a car with
    someone who had been drinking. She asked them to think before driving
    off first without fastening a seat belt. After an experience which would
    have crushed the spirits and broken the will of many people, even people
    2 or 3 times her age, this brave and beautiful young woman has doubtless
    inspired countless young people to change their behavior, to secure a
    better future for themselves. And in the process, she has exercised
    influence, power, and goodness far beyond anything that anyone might
    have imagined. Thank you, Amanda, for your commitment and your courage.
        Ladies and gentlemen, let me close with what I always think of at
    moments like this. These young people have reminded us, as the Attorney
    General has said, of the power of one person to make a difference. Each
    of us in our own way have that power. And I think we would all admit,
    starting with the President, that every day at the end of the day we
    have done less than we might have done to exercise that power that is
    within us all, divinely inspired and given to us for whatever time we're
    on this Earth. Let's look at them and remember our obligations to make
    the most of every day.
        Thank you, and bless you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 4:32 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House.