    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [September 18, 2001]
    [Pages 1122-1124]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Honoring Charitable Organizations
    September 18, 2001

        Please be seated. Welcome.
        Last week America suffered greatly. Thousands of our citizens lost
    lives. Thousands were hurt, but thousands of our citizens rose to the
    occasion to help. Last week was a really horrible week for America, but
    out of our tears and sadness, we saw the best of America as well. We saw
    a great country rise up to help.
        Tens of millions of dollars and thousands of hours and tons of food
    and clothing have all been donated to help rebuild shattered lives.
    Americans' love for America was channeled through our Nation's great
    charities, and as President of this great land, nothing made me more
    proud. In the week since the attack, our compassionate and generous
    citizens have led the first phase in the war on terrorism. They have
    sustained and strengthened the homefront.
        Today I'm joined by representatives of charities which have brought
    relief to citizens in New York City and Virginia and Pennsylvania. We've
    got representatives of firefighters, police officers, entrepreneurs who
    have helped out all across America. We've got many good citizens here
    who represent the large national charities like the American Red Cross,
    the Salvation Army, and the United Way. We've got folks here in the
    Nation's Rose Garden who represent the community-based programs and
    faith-based programs, firefighter and police associations, local
    businesses, nonprofits. Large and small, these important charitable
    efforts are saving lives and, as importantly, are restoring hope.
        I'm also joined by Libby Pataki, the
    better half of the Governor of New York;
    Tony Carbonetti, the chief of staff to
    Rudy Giuliani; and my friends and former
    fellow

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    Governors--actually, they're Governors; I was a former Governor--Jim
    Gilmore and Tom Ridge. These Governors and their
    wives and the mayor of New York have shown
    impressive leadership--impressive leadership--in the face of the
    challenges that faced their cities and their States.
        They put public agencies on full alert to provide immediate
    assistance to victims and their families. And for all those who helped,
    our Nation is most grateful. They've called on the men and women of the
    National Guard to help maintain calm and order. And we thank those who
    wear the uniform as well. And they've led and supported valiant
    rescueworkers in New York City and northern Virginia, whose bravery is
    seared into our national consciousness.
        I was honored to be able to stand amidst the rescueworkers--and
    looked in their eyes and saw the determination that would make all
    Americans proud. In spite of their exhaustion, in spite of the fact that
    they had worked themselves into a state of total fatigue, they still
    wanted to keep fighting on for their fellow brothers and sisters trapped
    in the rubble.
        Mayor Giuliani, and Pataki, have led New York City through its most difficult
    of all days, and they have done so with class and bravery and
    distinction. And we owe them a debt of gratitude. The mayor, the
    Governors, all New Yorkers, have demonstrated the very best American
    values to a world that has been watching to see how our Nation would
    react.
        The world watches the great country called America, and they say,
    ``What will they do? What will Americans do?'' And what they've seen--
    the best of America. They've seen leadership; they've seen courage; and
    as importantly, they've seen compassion.
        Last evening marked the start of Rosh Hashanah. In Jewish teaching,
    this holy day is the anniversary of the creation of the world. It is a
    season of renewal and of hope, and people of every faith, all across
    America, embrace that spirit of renewal and hope.
        Funds in New York and Washington are providing food, clothing, and
    financial help to husbands and wives and sons and daughters who suffer
    mightily. Citizens near Ground Zero in New York have provided
    sandwiches, drinks, and clean clothes to the tired and hungry
    rescueworkers. And in one of America's greatest traditions, a handful of
    entrepreneurs from Springfield, Virginia, collected $600 by selling
    lemonade and gave it to the Red Cross. These acts of generosity and
    kindness are spreading all across America.
        There are challenges that remain for those who suffer today. Make no
    mistake about it: We've got a lot of work to do as a nation. And these
    good efforts, these good, charitable, compassionate efforts need the
    full support of Americans everywhere.
        People all across the country are asking how they can help. What can
    they do to provide hope? What can they do to help heal the wounds by
    helping their fellow Americans? Well, there are many ways to contribute.
    Local stores and businesses on Main Street America are collecting money
    to send to appropriate relief and help agencies. National media
    organizations are helping collect; Internet portals providing an
    interesting opportunity for people to contribute and provide their help.
    Many of the charities, themselves, welcome donations through web sites.
    So I urge my fellow Americans to continue contributing through web
    sites. If you're interested in helping, call up one of the great
    charities of America and contribute.
        Thus far, I'm proud to report, through the web sites of our
    charities, Americans have donated $55 million in 7 short days.
        Some of America's high-tech leaders, AOL/Time Warner and Microsoft,
    Amazon, eBay, Cisco Systems, and Yahoo have joined together in a private
    effort to encourage online giving so that we can funnel resources to
    help our citizens in need. They

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    have formed what's called the American Liberty Partnership. It has a web
    site called libertyunites.org. And this will help Americans find out how
    to help.
        If a concerned American wants to help a neighbor in need, even
    though the neighborhood might not be right next to each other, they can
    get on libertyunites.org and find out how to help. And I urge my fellow
    Americans to do so. Americans can not only make online donations, they
    can figure out where to send food, where to donate blood, where to give
    clothes. They can find out how best to donate their time.
        Now, it's important to realize that at this moment, many of our
    charities are overwhelmed by the public response. That's the kind of
    problem we like in America. But because the portals may be jammed,
    because the phones may be busy is not an excuse for Americans not to
    continue to fight to help their neighbors.
        And so, I ask my fellow Americans to be patient with those charities
    that want their help, to keep trying to give, to not lose sight of the
    mission. And that is, we'll fight terrorism on all fronts; we will not
    be terrorized so that our hearts are hardened.
        Nobody can threaten this country. Oh, they may be able to bomb
    buildings and obviously disrupt lives. But we're too great a nation to
    allow the evildoers to affect our soul and our spirit.
        Today I herald the soul and spirit of America with live examples of
    people who have made a huge difference in those who suffer and those who
    hurt. This is a great land. It's a great land, because our people are so
    decent and strong and compassionate.
        God bless.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:46 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Elizabeth Pataki, wife of Gov.
    George E. Pataki of New York; Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York
    City; Gov. James S. Gilmore III of Virginia and his wife, Roxane; and
    Gov. Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania and his wife, Michele.