    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [July 5, 2003]
    [Pages 838-839]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    July 5, 2003

        Good morning. Every Fourth of July, we take special pride in the
    first generation of Americans, the men and women who waged a desperate
    fight to overcome tyranny and live in freedom. Centuries later, it is
    hard to imagine the Revolutionary War coming out any other way. Yet
    victory was far from certain and came at great cost.
        Six years passed from the fighting at Concord Bridge to the victory
    at Yorktown, 6 years of struggle and hardship for American patriots. By
    their courage and perseverance, the Colonies became a country. That land
    of 13 States and fewer than 4 million people grew and prospered. And
    today, all who live in tyranny and all who yearn for freedom place their
    hopes in the United States of America.
        For more than two centuries, Americans have been called to serve and
    sacrifice for the ideals of our founding, and the men and women of our
    military have never failed us. They have left many monuments along the
    way, an undivided Union, a liberated Europe, the rise of democracy in
    Asia, and the fall of an evil empire. Millions across the world are free
    today because of the unselfish courage of America's veterans.
        The current generation of our military is meeting the threats of a
    new era and fighting new battles in the war on terror. People in every
    branch of the service and thousands of Guard and Reserve members called
    to active duty have carried out their missions with all the skill and
    honor we expect of them. This Nation is grateful to our men and women in
    uniform.
        On this Fourth of July weekend, we also remember the brave Americans
    we've lost in Afghanistan and Iraq. We honor each one for their courage
    and sacrifice. We think of the families who miss them so much. And we
    are thankful that this Nation produces such fine men and women who are
    willing to defend us all.
        At this hour, many are still serving, sacrificing, and facing danger
    in distant places. Many military families are still separated. Our
    people in uniform do not have easy duty, and much depends on their
    success. Without America's active involvement in the world, the
    ambitions of tyrants would go unopposed, and millions would live at the
    mercy of terrorists. With America's active involvement in the world,
    tyrants have learned to fear, and terrorists are on the run.
        This Nation is acting to defend our security, yet our mission in the
    world is broader. The Declaration of Independence holds a promise for
    all mankind. Because Americans believe that freedom is an unalienable
    right, we value the freedom of every nation. Because we are committed to
    the God-given worth of every life, we work for human dignity in every
    land. We protect our friends and raise up former enemies to be our
    friends. We bring food and disaster relief to the nations of the world
    in times of crisis. And in Africa, where I will go next week, the United
    States of America is leading the effort to fight AIDS and save millions
    of lives with the healing power of medicine. Just as our enemies are
    going to know the strong will of America, people

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    across this Earth are seeing the good and generous heart of America.
        As citizens of this good Nation, we can be proud of our heritage and
    confident in our future. The ideals of July 4th, 1776, still speak to
    all humanity, and the Revolution declared that day goes on. As we
    celebrate our independence in 2003, we still place our trust in divine
    providence. We still pledge our lives and honor to freedom's defense.
    And we will always believe that freedom is the hope and the future of
    every land.
        May God continue to bless the United States of America. Thank you
    for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 11:01 a.m. on July 3 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on July 5. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    July 4 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office of
    the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this
    address.