    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [November 11, 2001]
    [Pages 1386-1387]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1386]]

    Remarks at a Veterans Day Prayer Breakfast in New York City
    November 11, 2001

        The President. Thank you very much. At ease.
        Audience member. Let's roll!
        The President. Let's roll.
        Thank you so much, Commissioner. I'm so
    pleased to be back in New York City to pay honor to our veterans, those
    from the New York State and New York City area and those all around
    America. It's such an honor to say on behalf of the American people,
    thanks for your service.
        It's such an honor to be in the presence of Cardinal Egan, a man who brings such comfort and solace to
    those who mourn and hope to those of us who live. So, Cardinal Egan,
    thank you so much for your leadership and your strength.
        And also, I am so pleased and thrilled to be with my friend the
    Governor, who is doing a fabulous job for
    the people of New York.
        And you know something, I'm going down to Crawford next Wednesday--
    that's Crawford, Texas, that is. There you go. [Laughter] And there's a
    new household name down there: Rudy. What
    a great job Rudy has done. He's done a fabulous job. And I agree with
    Rudy; he's being replaced by a really good man, Michael
    Bloomberg. Michael, good luck. Congratulations, and we appreciate you
    running.
        Leo, thank you for being here. You
    represent the best of those who came from the private sector to serve
    our Government. I want to thank you for your leadership at the VA.
        I also want to recognize a person who I became friends with in a
    very difficult moment, and that's Ms. Arlene
    Howard. Arlene, would you stand up for a second, please? [Applause] Good
    to see you, Arlene. Arlene is a veteran. She served in the United States
    Navy, as did her late husband, Robert. And she's a veteran of September
    the 11th in a sad way. Her son George was at the World Trade Center. She
    gave me something that I showed the Nation a while ago, the badge of
    George. It's a reminder of the wrong done to our country, Arlene. Thank
    you for that reminder. It is also a reminder of the great purpose of our
    great land, and that is to rid this world of evil and terror.
        The evil ones have roused a mighty nation, a mighty land. And for
    however long it takes, I am determined that we will prevail. And prevail
    we must, because we fight for one thing, and that is the freedom of our
    people and the freedom of people everywhere.
        And I want to thank the commissioner,
    who is a veteran as well--a veteran in the military and a veteran of a
    new kind of war, one fought here on the homefront. He represents the
    fabulous men and women who wear the uniform of the police and fire and
    rescue units, the Port Authority here in New York City, people who serve
    with such distinction and such courage that whenever an American hears
    the word ``police'' or ``fire,'' we think differently. We think
    differently about the job. We think differently about the character of
    those who serve on a daily basis. We think differently about those who
    go to work every single day to protect us and save us and comfort us.
    What a noble profession the commissioner represents, and what a great
    job he's done for New York City.
        And in a time of war, we look a little differently at our veterans,
    too. We pay tributes on Veterans Day, today, and they're made with a
    little greater feeling, because Americans have seen the terrible harm
    that an enemy can inflict. And it has left us deeply grateful for the
    men and women who rise strongly in the defense of our Nation. We
    appreciate the sacrifices

    [[Page 1387]]

    that our military is making today. We appreciate the sacrifices that
    their families make with them.
        When the call comes to defend our country, our military is ready and
    is making us proud. Al Qaida and the Taliban have made a serious
    mistake. And because our military is brave and prepared and courageous,
    they will pay a serious price.
        America has always needed such bravery and such people, and we have
    always found them amongst us. Generations of our service men and women
    have not only fought for our country in the past; they have upheld our
    honorable traditions and represented our country with courage and honor.
    And wherever our military has gone, they have brought pride to our own
    people and hope to millions of others.
        One veteran of World War II recalled the spirit of the American
    military and the relief it brought to suffering peoples. ``America,'' he
    said, ``has sent the best of her young men around the world, not to
    conquer but to liberate, not to terrorize but to help.''
        And this is true in Afghanistan today. And this has always been true
    of the men and women who have served our Nation. This Nation is
    freedom's home and freedom's defender. And we owe so much--so much--to
    the men and women, our veterans, who step forward to protect those
    freedoms.
        Our veterans gave America some of the best years of their lives and
    stood ready to give life itself. For all that, America's 25 million
    veterans have the deep respect of their fellow citizens and the enduring
    gratitude of a nation they so nobly served.
        May God bless our veterans, and may God continue to bless America.

    Note: The President spoke at 8:50 a.m. at the Park Avenue Seventh
    Regiment Armory. In his remarks, he referred to Commissioner Bernard B.
    Kerik, New York Police Department; Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of
    New York; Gov. George E. Pataki of New York; Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani
    and Mayor-elect Michael Bloomberg of New York City; and Deputy Secretary
    of Veterans Affairs Leo S. Mackay, Jr.