[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
[October 30, 2001]
[Pages 1325-1327]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
Remarks Announcing the Lessons of Liberty Initiative in Rockville,
Maryland
October 30, 2001
Thank you all very much. Sit down. Behave yourself. [Laughter] Thank
you for the warm welcome. [Laughter] I'm honored to be here to announce
a national effort to bring together veterans and students all across
America during the week of Veterans Day, to give our young examples of
duty and courage at a time when both are sorely needed.
I want to thank Senator Dole for being here. I
appreciate his eloquence and his service to the country. He is a--
[applause]. I want to thank the two members of my Cabinet who traveled
with me today, Secretary Principi and
Secretary Paige, both of whom represent
the best of public service. I want to thank Congresswoman Connie
Morella for being here, as well.
Rebecca, thank you for opening up your
beautiful school. I want to thank you, and I want to thank the teachers
who are here. Teaching is such a noble profession. And if some of you
students are wondering what you might want to do when you get older,
think about teaching.
I also want to thank the students and the veterans and my fellow
Americans. I can assure you it makes some of us old guys feel warm in
our hearts when we see the enthusiasm you have for your school
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and the love you have for your country. I am proud to be standing with
the Patriots.
We're a nation of patriots. The attacks of September the 11th and
the attacks that have followed were designed to break our spirit. But
instead, they've created a new spirit in America. We have a renewed
spirit of patriotism. We see it in the countless flags that are flying
everywhere in America. We hear it in familiar phrases that move us more
deeply than ever before. We all know that this is one Nation, under God.
And we pray that God will bless America, the land that we all love,
regardless of our race, regardless of our religion, regardless of where
we live.
We have a renewed appreciation of the character of America. We are a
generous people, a thoughtful people who hurt and share the sadness when
people lose their life or when people are hurt. We've helped each other
in every way we know, in donations, in acts of kindness, in public
memorials, in private prayer. We have shown in difficult times that
we're not just a world power, that we're a good and kind and courageous
people.
As we pursue the enemy in Afghanistan, we feed the innocents. As we
try to bring justice to those who have harmed us, we find those who need
help. The events of these 7 weeks have shown something else. They have
shown a new generation, your generation, that America and the cause of
freedom have determined enemies, that there are people in this world who
hate what America stands for. They hate our success; they hate our
liberty. We have learned all too suddenly that there are evil people who
have no regard for human life and will do whatever it takes to try to
bring this mighty Nation to its knees.
On the Korean War Memorial in Washington are these words: ``Freedom
is not free.'' Our commitment to freedom has always made us a target of
tyranny and intolerance. Anyone who sets out to destroy freedom must
eventually attack America, because we're freedom's home. And we must
always be freedom's home and freedom's defender. We must never flinch in
the face of adversity, and we won't.
You've been learning this by studying your history--at least some of
you by studying your history. [Laughter] Now you're learning the price
of freedom by following the news. You're learning that to be an American
citizen in a time of war is to have duties. You're learning how a strong
country responds to a crisis by being alert and calm, resolute and
patient.
And you're the first students who ever learned the--who have had to
learn the reality that we're having to fight a war on our own land.
You're the first generation of students who has ever witnessed a war
fought in America. This is a two-front war we fight. On one front is the
homefront. Our Government is doing everything we possibly can to disrupt
and deny and destroy anyone who would harm America again. And the truth
of the matter is, the best way to fight for the homeland is to find the
terrorists wherever they hide, wherever they run, and to bring them to
justice.
I also want to make it clear that the doctrine I laid out to the
United States Congress is a doctrine this Nation will enforce. It says
clearly that if you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you
provide sanctuary to a terrorist, if you fund a terrorist, you are just
as guilty as the terrorist that inflicted the harm on the American
people.
Our Nation gave those who harbor the Al Qaida organization ample
opportunity to respond to reasonable demands. Our demands were just, and
they were fair. We said very simply, ``Turn over Al Qaida. Send the
terrorists out of your land. Release the innocent Americans and other
foreigners you hold hostage in Afghanistan, and destroy Al Qaida
terrorist camps and training activity camps.'' And we gave them ample
opportunity to respond, and they chose the
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wrong course. And then--they will now pay a price for choosing the wrong
course.
This is a nation that is resolved to win. And win we must, not only
for your generation but for generations to come.
This country has always been able to count on men and women of great
courage. From the day America was founded, 48 million have worn the
uniform of the United States. More than 25 million veterans are living
today, some of whom are with us at Wootton High, and you may know some
of them in your families. I know one such veteran. He fought in World
War II, like Senator Dole--my dad.
We must remember that many who served in our military never lived to
be called veterans. We must remember many had their lives changed
forever by experiences or the injuries of combat. All veterans are
examples of service and citizenship for every American to remember and
to follow.
In 12 days, on Veterans Day, we will honor them. We will remember
the Bob Doles of the world. We will remember a generation that liberated
Europe and Asia and put an end to concentration camps. We will remember
generations that fought in the cold mountains of Korea and manned the
outposts of the cold war. We will remember those who served in the
jungles of Vietnam and on the sands of the Persian Gulf. In each of
these conflicts, Americans answered danger with incredible courage. We
were equal to every challenge. And now a great mission has been given a
new generation, our generation, and we vow not to let America down.
Today I have a special mission for our veterans and a special
request of our schools. I ask all public, private, and home schools to
join our Lessons for Liberty initiative by inviting a veteran to speak
to your students during the week of Veterans Day. I'm particularly
pleased to announce that Wootton High has already put out the call, and
Ron Ten Eyck has answered. Ron's a veteran of
World War II. You need to listen to what he has to say.
Lessons of Liberty is supported by veterans groups all across
America: American Legion, VFW, Military Order of the World Wars, as well
as education groups all across our country. Anyone interested in
participating in this important event should go to this web page,
www.va.gov, and then click on Veterans Day.
In addition to launching Lessons of Liberty, I will sign a
proclamation in a minute asking all Americans to observe the week of
November 11th as National Veterans Awareness Week. In these difficult
days here in America, I ask all of us, children and adults, to remember
the valor and sacrifice of our veterans. American veterans have
extraordinary stories. We should listen to them. American veterans
preserved our world and freedom, and we should honor them. American
veterans show us the meaning of sacrifice and citizenship, and we should
learn from them.
Americans should always honor our veterans. At this moment, we
especially need the example of their character. And we need a new
generation to set examples of its own, examples in service and sacrifice
and courage. These veterans have shaped our history, and with their
values, your generation will help guide our future.
God bless. May God bless America.
Note: The President spoke at 1:52 p.m. in the auditorium at Thomas S.
Wootton High School. In his remarks, he referred to former Senator Bob
Dole; Rebecca Newman, principal, Thomas S. Wootton High School; and Ron
Ten Eyck, commander, American Legion Post 86, Rockville, MD. The Office
of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of
these remarks. The Veterans Day proclamation of October 30 is listed in
Appendix D at the end of this volume.