[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
[May 15, 2003]
[Pages 492-494]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
Remarks at the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast
May 15, 2003
Thank you all. Thank you all very much. Sientese. Gracias,
Luis. Jr. El honor es mio. It is an honor to be
here again this year. I'm so pleased that you would have me back for the
National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast. I'm really pleased this is becoming
a tradition in Washington, DC.
It is important and it is good to begin the day with prayer and
fellowship. Prayer is an opportunity to praise God for His works and to
thank Him for His blessings. Prayer turns our minds to the needs of
others, and prayer changes our hearts as we seek God's will.
I want to thank you for reminding the Nation and our Capital about
an even greater source of strength and authority. I want to thank my
friend Luis Jr. for being a general in the army
of compassion. He is what I like to call a social entrepreneur.
I want to thank the Members of the United States Congress who are
with us today. I see Senator Bill Frist, the leader of the United States
Senate. Senator Frist, thank you for coming. I
was told one of the leaders of the House, Nancy Pelosi, is to be here. I'm not going to try to read off every
single name of every single person in the Congress who may or may not be
here; I'll probably skip one and add one that isn't. [Laughter] But let
me just tell you, I'm honored to be working with them. It's a fine group
of our fellow citizens, all working together to try to do the best thing
on behalf of the American people.
I want to appreciate Gaddi Vasquez, who
is the Director of the Peace Corps, who's with us today. Donde esta?
Hey, Gaddi, thank you for coming.
I think the Mayor is here. Mr.
Mayor, I appreciate you coming. I'm honored to have you here. I always
like to tease the Mayor about the potholes in front of the White House.
[Laughter] There aren't any. Says to me he's doing a pretty darn good
job.
[[Page 493]]
I want to thank Reverend Jose Martinez and
Manuel Vasquez. I want to appreciate the
beautiful musicians who sang today. I'm honored that the students from
St. Rita's Catholic School in Alexandria are with us today. Thank you
all for coming. I appreciate the pastors who are here and the leaders
from around our country. Welcome back to Washington.
Last May, when I came, you honored me with a special gift, a
bilingual Bible that was made for me in Mexico. And this Bible means a
lot because with it came a promise. You promised that you were praying
for me. There is no greater gift that a President can receive. I have
felt the comfort of those prayers, and I am really grateful. Thank you
from the bottom of my heart.
Hispanic Americans bring many gifts to this Nation, hard work and
strong cultural traditions and patriotism. Above all, the Hispanic
community lives every day por los valores de fe y familia. Your good
works and reverence bring compassion to our country and honor to
Almighty God.
In the last several weeks, we have learned the names of some
exceptional young men and women who have shown the strength and
character of America. At the National Naval Medical Center, I met Master
Gunnery Sergeant Guadalupe Denogean.
Sergeant Denogean is an immigrant from Mexico who served in the Marine
Corps for 25 years. This spring he was wounded near Basra, and he was
sent back to America for treatment. When asked if he had any requests,
the good sergeant just had two, a promotion for the corporal who helped
rescue him, and he wanted to be an American citizen.
I was honored to be with the sergeant the day he received a Purple
Heart and took the oath of citizenship. It was an amazing experience, a
truly American experience, to be in the hospital where he was recovering
from his wound, to see this son of Mexico raise his right hand and
pledge to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. He
had kept that oath for decades before he took it, and I'm proud to call
him my fellow American.
Our country is proud of all the Hispanic Americans who serve in
uniform. We're deeply grateful for those who have died in the cause of
our security and in the cause of freedom. We honor their memory. We pray
for their families. We honor the communities and the churches where they
learned the value of service and sacrifice.
Because of their sacrifices, America is a more secure country.
Because of their sacrifices, the world will be a more peaceful place.
And because of their sacrifices, people who had lived in bondage under
the strong arm of a brutal dictator are now free.
America is blessed by their sacrifices, and America is also blessed
by the sacrifices that you make every day as you care for the sick,
house the homeless, feed the hungry, and preach the Word--la palabra.
In the Book of James, we are reminded that faith without works is
dead. By loving a neighbor as you'd like to be loved yourself, you prove
every day that faith is alive. By your work and prayers, you have formed
your own army, an army of compassion. And by living your faith, you
bring hope to those who need it most.
It is appropriate that the group sponsoring this breakfast has the
name Nueva Esperanza--New Hope. Hope allows us to dream big, to pray
bold, and to work hard for a better future. I want to thank you for your
abiding hope, for your steadfast faith, and for your acts of love. I
want to thank you for helping to keep prayer an important part of our
national life. May God continue to invigorate you as you work to make
this country a compassionate home for anybody. May God continue to
invigorate you as you reach out to help a neighbor in need.
This country needs your compassion. We need your works. We need your
love. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless America.
[[Page 494]]
Note: The President spoke at 7:38 a.m. in a ballroom at the Capital
Hilton. In his remarks, he referred to Rev. Luis Cortes, Jr., founder
and president, Nueva Esperanza; Mayor Anthony A. Williams of Washington,
DC; Rev. Jose Martinez, Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal Movimiento
Internacional, Region del Este; and Manuel Vasquez, vice president,
North American Division, Seventh Day Adventist Church. The Office of the
Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of these
remarks.