[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
[May 19, 2004]
[Pages 905-907]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at the Sons of Italy Foundation Gala
May 19, 2004

    The President. Thank you all. Please be seated.
    Audience member. Mr. President!
    The President. I promised the Prime Minister you'd behave yourselves. [Laughter] It's great for the 
son of Barbara to be here with the Sons of 
Italy. [Laughter] Thank you for having me. I'm honored.
    It's a privilege for me to join you all as we celebrate the 
achievements and contributions of Italian Americans. I'm especially 
pleased to join you in welcoming our great friend the Prime Minister of 
Italy, Silvio Berlusconi. At this crucial 
moment in history, America and Italy are standing together as proud 
friends and strong allies in the cause of freedom. Our two peoples are 
bound together by affection and respect, and today, Americans feel 
respect and gratitude for the leadership of the Prime Minister.
    I appreciate Charlie; thank you for 
being the honorary chairman of this event. I thank Phil as well for being the host. I want to thank Joe 
Sciame, who is the chairman of the Sons of 
Italy Foundation, Paul Polo, who is the 
president. Our Ambassador to Italy is with us, Mel Sembler. I appreciate the job he is doing on behalf of the 
American people. Sergio Vento is with us, who 
is the Italian Ambassador to the United States. And Sergio, I appreciate 
your leadership.
    I know there are some Members of Congress and the Senate here. I see 
Santorum and Lieberman, and I appreciate you both being here. Thanks for coming. I 
would recognize the other Members of Congress by name, but you evidently 
are not here or have lousy seats. [Laughter]
    I appreciate the fact that we've got scholarship and award 
recipients who are with

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us, and I appreciate the distinguished guests who are here as well.
    This annual event is an opportunity to express well-justified pride 
in the Italian ancestry of millions of Americans. The immigrant journey 
to America could be difficult. Families were often separated, and life 
in a new country brought its hardships. But this country, the United 
States, is fortunate that generations of Italian families made the 
journey. They brought to our country strength of character, a deep faith 
in God, love of family, and an appreciation of freedom. Without 
question, America is a better place for the influence of the sons and 
daughters of Italy.
    In so many aspects of American life, it is hard to think of this 
country without the Italian influence. The life of our country has been 
richer because of names like DiMaggio and Lombardi, Capra and Sinatra, 
LaGuardia, Scalia, and Giuliani. Countless of other Italian Americans, less well 
known, have excelled in every field, from the artisans who carved the 
figure of Lincoln that overlooks the Mall right here in Washington, to 
business leaders, to educators, to many good priests and nuns who have 
kindly looked after Italian parishes here in America. It was an Italian 
American, Mother Frances Cabrini, whose mission to build hospitals and 
orphanages for poor immigrants made her America's first saint. Of 
course, that's the official count--every Italian American man will tell 
you his mother is the saint. [Laughter]
    From our Nation's beginnings, the sons and daughters of Italy have 
been fierce defenders of American liberty. Italians crossed the Atlantic 
to fight with us in the Revolutionary War. In later struggles, dozens of 
Italian Americans would receive the Medal of Honor. One of these was 
Marine Sergeant John Basilone. For 3 days, he battled an entire enemy 
regiment at Guadalcanal with nothing but his own machine gun, leading 
General Douglas MacArthur to call him ``a one-man army.''
    Sixty years ago, Allied troops freed Rome, and next month the Prime 
Minister and I will meet in that city to 
commemorate its liberation. The sacrifices of that terrible war were 
shared by both our countries and helped to forge our determination to 
resist tyranny wherever it exists. For more than five decades, Italy has 
shown great resolve and courage as a member of NATO. In the past 3 
years, America and Italy have been steadfast allies in the war on 
terror.
    The war on terror continues in Iraq. We're standing together in that 
desperate country as a part of a strong coalition. America appreciates 
the contributions and sacrifice of nearly 3,000 soldiers that Italy has 
deployed in that country. We honor the memory of 19 Italians killed by a 
terrorist's bomb last November and the memory of the Italian 
soldier killed this week.
    And we honor the courage of men like Fabrizio 
Quattrocchi, a baker who went to Iraq 
to work as a security guard. He was kidnaped by terrorists and faced his 
killers with the bravest defiance. Just before he was murdered, he stood 
up and shouted, ``Now I will show you how an Italian dies!'' In that 
moment, this good man from Genoa showed us that and more: He showed us 
how a hero lives.
    Now all our efforts in Iraq are approaching a crucial moment. The 
Prime Minister and I had a strategy 
session on how to help the Iraqis realize their liberty. I appreciate 
his good, strong advice. On June 30th, our coalition will transfer its 
authority to a sovereign Iraqi government. With the assistance of the 
United Nations and our coalition, Iraqi citizens are currently making 
important decisions about the nature and the scope of that interim 
government.
    In time, Iraq will be a democratic nation at the heart of the Middle 
East. This will send a powerful message from Damascus to Tehran that 
democracy and freedom can bring hope to lives in every culture. And this 
advance of freedom will bring greater

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security to America, to Italy, and to all who love freedom.
    As June 30th approaches, the enemies of freedom grow even more 
desperate to prevent the rise of democracy in Iraq. That's what you're 
seeing on your TV screens, the desperate tactics of a hateful few, 
people who cannot stand the thought of free societies in their midst. 
They're targeting brave Iraqis who are leading toward democracy, such as 
Mr. Salim, who was assassinated in 
Baghdad on Monday. They're murdering Iraqi policemen, who stand as 
symbols of order. They kill foreign aid workers who are helping to 
rebuild Iraq. They attack our military. You see, their goal is to 
undermine the will of our coalition and to drive us out before our 
mission is complete. They will not succeed. They will not shake the will 
of America or our coalition.
    My resolve is firm. The resolve of the Prime Minister of 
Italy is firm. The resolve of the American 
people is firm. Our military is skilled and determined. We all 
understand the stakes are high for America and the world. We will not be 
intimidated by thugs and assassins. We will win this essential victory 
in the war on terror.
    These are historic times. This is an historic moment. The world 
watches for any weakness. They will see no weakness in America. They 
will see no weakness in Italy. We will answer every challenge. U.S. 
soldiers and Iraqi security forces are systematically destroying the 
illegal militia in the south of Iraq. Coalition forces are working with 
Iraqis in Fallujah to end control by Saddam 
loyalists and foreign fighters. We're building up Iraqi security forces 
so at some point, they can safeguard their own security. We're flexible 
in our methods, but our goal is unchanging. Iraq will be free. Iraq will 
be a democratic nation.
    The sons and daughters of Italy who are serving and sacrificing with 
us in this cause have earned the gratitude of the American people. We're 
honored to call the Italian Republic one of our closest friends and 
strongest allies in the world. We are proud of the great Italian 
heritage in America. I thank each of you for carrying this heritage 
forward.
    I thank you for your warm welcome tonight. And I ask for God's 
blessing on the United States of America.

Note: The President spoke at 7:50 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. In his 
remarks, he referred to Charles Gargano, honorary gala chairman; Philip 
R. Piccigallo, executive director and chief executive officer, Sons of 
Italy Foundation; Rudolph W. Giuliani, former mayor of New York City; 
Iraqi Governing Council President Izz al-Din al-Salim, who was killed in 
a suicide car bomb attack on May 17 in Baghdad; and former President 
Saddam Hussein of Iraq.