    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [May 25, 2005]
    [Pages 876-880]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks With President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia on the Observance of Asian Pacific
    American Heritage Month
    May 25, 2005

        President Bush. Thank you for coming. Good afternoon, and welcome to
    the White House. I am glad you're here. I'm proud to be with you to
    celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. And we are joined by a
    very special guest, a close friend of America, a man with whom I just
    had a very good visit, President Yudhoyono from Indonesia. Welcome, Mr.
    President.
        Before we award our volunteer of the year awards, the President has
    graciously offered to give some remarks. And, unfortunately, I'm going
    to give some too. [Laughter] Before I begin I do want to introduce
    Agus and Edhie, the President's sons. Welcome. We're glad you're
    here. Agus will be getting married on July the 8th.
        This is a time to celebrate the achievement of millions of Americans
    of Asian Pacific ancestry. Today, Asian Pacific Americans are making
    their mark in all walks of life, including business and politics and
    education and community service and the arts and science.

    [[Page 877]]

        I'm fortunate to have many Asian American in my Cabinet and in my
    administration, two of whom are here with us today. I want to thank the
    Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao, for joining
    us, and the Secretary of Transportation, Norm Mineta.
        Andrew Natsios of USAID is here.
    Andrew, it's good you're here, because we're going to be talking about
    tsunami relief in a minute.
        I want to thank Betty Wu, who is the Chairman
    of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian American and Pacific
    Islanders. I want to thank all the Commission members who are here
    today.
        I want to thank my friend Ambassador Sichan Siv from the United Nations. Where is he? Where is Sichan?
    There he is. Welcome, Sichan. You did a fine job. I'm glad Martha is here.
        Delegate Eni from Samoa,
    thank you for coming, sir. Proud you're here. Is Lisa here? Senator
    Murkowski just came in from the State of
    Alaska. Proud you're here.
        I see we got a lot of members of the diplomatic corps who are here.
    Welcome, Ambassadors. Thank you for coming. Proud you're here.
        And again, Mr. President, thank you for joining us as we celebrate
    Asian Pacific Heritage Month.
        Indonesia and America may be on the opposite sides of the ocean, but
    we have a lot in common. We are both among the world's largest
    democracies. We both share a belief that our great diversity is a source
    of strength. And when the tsunami hit, citizens from both our countries
    took it upon themselves to come to the aid of those in distress.
        The tsunami that began in the Indian Ocean struck Indonesia just 2
    months after the President came into office. I understand that when the
    tsunami hit, His Excellency was in a remote province of his country. And
    the moment he heard what happened, he rushed to the scene. He didn't
    hesitate. He rushed to not only help but to make a personal assessment
    of what needed to be done. After declaring a national emergency, he
    moved quickly to clear away the bureaucratic obstacles and visa
    requirements so that the path would be clear for international relief
    workers.
        By acting with skill and courage, Mr. President, you helped bring
    your country together in a time of great crisis. And thank you for that
    kind of leadership.
        And the people of Indonesia responded in kind. Religious
    organizations and businesspeople and the Indonesian Red Cross and
    thousands of ordinary citizens traveled at their own expense to the
    hard-hit province of Aceh to pitch in, to do their duty as a citizen of
    a free democracy.
        And the need was great. More than 125,000 Indonesians have been
    confirmed dead. Think about that. Another 37,000 are missing. More than
    half a million have been forced from their homes. Your fellow citizens
    provided first aid, and you helped evacuate victims and distributed
    relief supplies. And it was a good example of how government and
    individuals work together.
        But it was also important for the world to respond. And I'm proud of
    the response of the United States Government and her people. Our United
    States military was on the scene with an aircraft carrier. And we had
    sailors and marines working around the clock to show the people of your
    part of the world that our hearts are big, that we care about people
    from all walks of life, that the compassion of America runs deep and
    strong.
        Shortly after the disaster struck, the United States pledged $350
    million in aid for the region. Providing relief, our country has really,
    I hope, showed that we're a friend when you've got a problem. But a
    friend doesn't quit when a problem persists. And so earlier this month,
    Congress approved my request for additional tsunami relief and
    reconstruction help, bringing total U.S. aid to more than $850 million.
        The people of your country need to know and the people of the
    countries affected by the tsunami relief need to know

    [[Page 878]]

    that when America gives a pledge to help, we'll keep our word, and that
    when America says that we stand with you, we mean it. So, Mr. President,
    please take this message back to the people of Indonesia.
        Finally, I'm proud that volunteers from our Asian Pacific American
    community were among those who stepped forward to help the victims of
    the tsunami relief--of the tsunami. Their efforts ranged from serving on
    humanitarian missions to raising money to rebuilding an orphanage.
    Americans from all over our country, from all walks of life, used their
    time and talents and compassion to make a difference. Heck, I even
    called on two former Presidents--[laughter]--41 and 42--[laughter]--
    Bush and
    Clinton--[laughter]--to join together to send a message that we're not
    talking politics; we're talking about helping people get their feet back
    on the ground--get their feet back on the ground. We're talking about
    helping to save lives. That's the American spirit, Mr. President. That's
    how we like to do things in this country.
        And today we've gathered to honor some of our fellow citizens with
    volunteer service awards. People from the Asian Pacific community have
    heard the call to serve something greater than themselves. And before we
    present those awards, however, Mr. President, I'm honored to welcome you
    to the White House and welcome you to the podium so that you can deliver
    a few remarks.
        Please welcome the President.
        President Yudhoyono. President Bush, distinguished guests, ladies
    and gentlemen. Thank you, Mr. President, for inviting me to join you
    here today. I stand before you here to deliver a message of thanks from
    a grateful nation halfway around the world.
        My country, Indonesia, suffered most from the horrible tsunami last
    December. Some 200,000 people were killed in a matter of minutes, and
    over 500,000 survivors lost their homes.
        When I arrived in Aceh the day after the tsunami, almost everything
    close to the sea had been destroyed, flattened to the ground, swept by
    the waves. Nothing had ever prepared us for something like this--
    nothing. It was under these circumstances that we experienced an
    incredible display of global solidarity immediately after the tsunami,
    and it was during this desperate time that American servicemen came and
    helped.
        The USS Abraham Lincoln arrived with its much-needed helicopters to
    help deliver food and supplies to survivors that could not be reached by
    land. And USS hospital ship Mercy provided medical care to the injured
    and the sick, at a time when we were all worried that more people would
    die from diseases than from the tsunami.
        I remember my heart almost sank one day when I heard that a U.S.
    Seahawk helicopter had crashed. But I was glad to hear directly from
    Ambassador Lynn Pascoe that the crews were all right, even though their
    Seahawk had to make an emergency landing on a paddy field. And not
    surprisingly, the crews were itching to get back into action to save
    lives.
        America has every reason to be proud for what your Government, your
    heroism, and your volunteers have done for the tsunami victims. This was
    a time for valor and selfless sacrifice. The tsunami produced a lot of
    heroes, heroes who saved lives, heroes who gave hope to those who are
    suffering. And Americans were among these heroes. You all should be
    proud of that.
        The funds that have been collected from millions of Americans will
    be very helpful to help the Acehnese rebuild their lives. But I want you
    to know what really mattered was that they all came from the heart. What
    really mattered was that each of you reached not so much into your
    pocket as into the new depth of your conscience, compassion, and
    solidarity. What really mattered was that you saw the pain of others and
    tried to help. And with all

    [[Page 879]]

    our tears, words, and deeds, what we all did together was to prove that
    the greatest wrath of nature was no match for the greater force that is
    the human spirit.
        I said something earlier about reaching out. Let me read you a
    letter from Maggie, a third-grader from K-4 Elementary in Charlevoix,
    Michigan, which, through some good fortune, I managed to obtain from
    AmeriCorps. Maggie was writing to a tsunami kid she did not know. This
    is what Maggie wrote: ``Dear friends: Hi. My name is Maggie. I am sorry
    what happened in your country. I have heard some things about it. I hope
    your family and friends are okay. In church, I pray for you and your
    country. In school, we are raising money for your country. We have a
    loose-change bucket, and kids bring money in. Also, we are making
    tsunami bracelet to raise money, too. I have made you one. I hope you
    like it. I will continue praying for you and your country in church.
    Your friend, Maggie.''
        I faxed Maggie's letter to Aceh, to be passed on to an Acehnese
    youngster. And a few days later, I received a response letter from Nada
    Lutfiah, a young girl from Banda Aceh. That is what Nada looks like.
        President Bush. There's your picture. Is this her?
        President Yudhoyono. Yes, sorry. This is her. [Laughter] Nada looks
    like--[applause]. Nada Lutfiah. Nada wrote to Maggie, and I translate
    into English. ``My good friend: Hello, friend. My name is Nada Lutfiah.
    I was so happy and my heart was touched to receive the letter you sent
    us. My family, my dad, mom, older brother, and younger brother have
    disappeared, and now I live with my cousins. I hope you are healthy and
    well where you are. I am so glad you are paying attention to us here. I
    hope to receive your bracelet in the coming days, because I want to wear
    it on my arm to remind me that I have new friend. Your friend, Nada.''
        I have asked my Ambassador Soemadi to personally deliver Nada's
    letter and photo to Maggie in Michigan.
        These two letters are extraordinary, both in the words they conveyed
    and in the fact that two youngsters from entirely different background
    made a connection: An American girl who prays at church, collects loose
    change, and make bracelet for tsunami kids two oceans away; an
    Indonesian Muslim girl who lost all her family and wants to kill the
    pain and is eager just to be a kid again, just like Maggie. I think the
    world will be a better place if all of us start to have connections and
    conversation the way Maggie and Nada did.
        I thank you very much.
        President Bush. Mr. President, thank you very much for such a
    powerful speech. And it's in that spirit of compassion that we--it's my
    honor to now award the volunteer awards.
        Commander, please read the citations.

    [At this point, Lt. Col. Steven T. Fisher, USA, Army Aide to the
    President, read the citations, and the awards were presented.]

        President Bush. Mr. President, I hope you can tell by the short
    presentation of--to some of our great citizens that the true strength of
    America, our true strength lies in the hearts and souls of our citizens.
        I'm proud that you've joined us today. Thank you all for coming. May
    God bless our respective countries, and may God continue to bless the
    American people.

    Note: The President spoke at 4 p.m. in the East Room at the White House.
    In his remarks, he referred to Ambassador Sichan Siv, U.S.
    Representative to the U.N. Economic and Social Council, and his wife,
    Martha; and Eni Faleomavaega, American Samoa's Representative to the
    U.S. Congress. President Yudhoyono referred to U.S. Ambassador to
    Indonesia B. Lynn Pascoe; and Indonesia's Ambassador to the U.S. Soemadi
    Brotodiningrat. The Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month proclamation
    of May 3 is

    [[Page 880]]

    listed in Appendix D at the end of this volume.