    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [July 4, 2003]
    [Pages 835-838]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the 100th Anniversary of Flight in Dayton, Ohio
    July 4, 2003

        The President. Thank you all very much. Thanks for the warm welcome.
    Want to be seated? Be seated. [Laughter] It's kind of a long speech.
    [Laughter] Thanks for coming. It's great to be in the great State of
    Ohio. I am proud to be at Wright-Patt, the birthplace, the home, and the
    future of aerospace.
        I had the honor of meeting Amanda Wright Lane and Steve Wright, descendants
    of the Wright brothers. They were quick to remind me that Dayton is
    where the Wright brothers first drew up the plans for their flying
    machine. I wonder what Wilbur and Orville would have thought if they'd
    have seen that flying machine that I came in on today. [Laughter]
        I'm truly honored to join you in celebrating the 227th anniversary
    of our Nation's independence. The Fourth of July, 2003, finds our
    country facing many challenges, and we're rising to meet them. Today and
    every day, the people of this land are grateful for our freedom, and we
    are proud to call ourselves citizens of the United States of America.
        I want to thank Governor Bob Taft and the First
    Lady of Ohio for their friendship and their
    leadership for the State of Ohio.
        I appreciate so very much my friends Senator George
    Voinovich and Senator Mike
    DeWine for coming out to greet with me today and
    to be here with you all. They're great United States Senators. I want to
    thank Congressman Michael Turner,
    Congressman David Hobson, and Congressman John
    Boehner for their service to the State of
    Ohio.
        I was so honored that a great American, former Senator John
    Glenn, and his wife, Annie, came out to say hello at the airport, and I'm honored
    they are here today. I want to thank them for coming.
        I appreciate members of the State government: The Lieutenant
    Governor, Jennette Bradley, is with us
    today; Treasurer Joe Deters; and Doug
    White, the senate president. I want to thank the
    mayor of the city of Dayton, Mayor McLin, for
    coming today as well and all those involved with city government.
        I appreciate the generals on this base that make this fantastic base
    function so well, starting with Les Lyles,
    the commander. I want to thank Brad Tillson, who is the chairman of Inventing Flight Commission,
    and John Barry, who is chairman of the Air Force
    Museum Foundation.
        Today when I landed, I had the opportunity to meet a fellow citizen
    named Becky Lundy.
        Audience member. Yeah!
        The President. Somebody has heard of her. [Laughter] Becky
    Lundy is the spouse of a active duty Air Force
    member. What makes her unique is she's a volunteer at

    [[Page 836]]

    the Family Support Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. She takes
    time out of her day to comfort those who need comfort. She understands
    that service to our country means helping somebody in need.
        Listen, we're a strong and powerful nation because we've got a great
    military. But we're also strong because we're a nation of fine hearts.
    If those of you are looking for some way to serve your country, go to
    usafreedomcorps.gov on your Internet. Look up a place to help a neighbor
    in need. Join the armies of compassion, just as Becky Lundy does. We are
    changing America one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time, and we
    need your help.
        But most of all, I want to thank you all for coming today. I
    appreciate the families from this base and citizens from all across the
    State of Ohio who have come to celebrate our Independence Day. During
    the last year, people at this base have met hardships together. You
    looked out for each other. You've given strength and support to our men
    and women in uniform. Like military communities across the country, you
    have played a vital part in our Nation's cause, and America is grateful.
        Every year on this date, we take special pride in the founding
    generation, 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 way other than it--how it came out. Yet
    victory was far from certain and came at great cost. Those brave men and
    women were certain only of the cause they served, the belief that
    freedom is the gift of God and the right of all mankind.
        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. The 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 American veterans. And today
    we honor our veterans.
        And today we honor the current generation of our military, which is
    answering the call to defend our freedom and to bring freedom to others.
    The 23,000 men and women of Wright-Patt, military and civilian, have
    been crucial to our victories in Afghanistan and in Iraq.
        Research done at this base has helped give America the finest Air
    Force in history. The Predator drone, which is serving us so well
    overseas, was developed right here. Doctors and specialists from this
    base cared for wounded soldiers and for wounded prisoners. Many critical
    medical evacuations were carried out by the skillful pilots and crews of
    the mighty 445th Wing of Wright-Patt. C-141s from this base transported
    troops and equipment to serve in both Operation Enduring Freedom and in
    Operation Iraqi Freedom. And B-1 bombers supported from this base made
    their presence known in Baghdad, striking the dictator's regime until
    the regime was no more.
        Our United States military is meeting the threats of a new era.
    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 the honor we expect of them. This Nation is grateful to
    the men and women who wear our Nation's uniform.
        And on this Fourth of July, we also remember the brave Americans we
    have lost. We honor each one for their courage and

    [[Page 837]]

    for their 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. May God rest their souls.
        Our Nation is still at war. The enemies of America plot against us,
    and many of our fellow citizens are still serving and sacrificing and
    facing danger in distant places. Many military families are 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 Americans' active involvement in the world,
    tyrants learn to fear, and terrorists are on the run.
        By killing innocent Americans, our enemies made their intentions
    clear to us. And since that September day, we have made our own
    intentions clear to them. The United States will not stand by and wait
    for another attack or trust in the restraint and good intentions of evil
    men. We are on the offensive against terrorists and all who support
    them. We will not permit any terrorist group or outlaw regime to
    threaten us with weapons of mass murder. We will act whenever it is
    necessary to protect the lives and the liberty of the American people.
        America's work in the world does not end with the removal of grave
    threats. 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. We protect our
    friends, and we 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'll go next week, the United
    States is leading the effort to fight AIDS and save millions of lives
    with the healing power of medicine.
        Just as our enemies are coming to know the strong will of America,
    people across the Earth are seeing the good and generous heart of
    America. Americans are a generous people because we realize how much we
    have been given. On the Fourth of July, we can be grateful for the unity
    of our country in meeting great challenges, for the renewal of
    patriotism that adversity has brought, and for the valor we have seen in
    those who defend the United States.
        In recent events, we have learned the names of some exceptional
    young men and women who have shown the strength and character of
    America. At a hospital in Washington, I met Master Gunnery Sergeant
    Guadalupe Denogean, an immigrant from
    Mexico who has served in the Marine Corps for 25 years. In March, he was
    wounded in combat in Basra and sent back to America for treatment. When
    I asked if he had any requests, the Master Gunnery Sergeant had just
    two. He wanted a promotion for the colonel who rescued him, and he
    wanted to be an American citizen.
        I was there the day that Guadalupe Denogean took the oath of citizenship. From the hospital
    where he was recovering, this son of Mexico raised his right hand and
    pledged to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of
    America. He had kept that oath for decades before he took it. I'm proud
    to call him a fellow American.
        To be an American, whether by birth or choice, is a high privilege.
    As citizens of this good Nation, we can all 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. On July the
    4th, 2003, we still placed 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.

    [[Page 838]]

    Note: The President spoke at 12:13 p.m. outside the U.S. Air Force
    Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. In his remarks, he referred
    to Gov. Bob Taft of Ohio and his wife, Hope; Mayor Rhine McLin of
    Dayton, OH; Gen. Les Lyles, USAF, commander, Air Force Materiel Command;
    and former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq.