    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [July 2, 2005]
    [Pages 1170-1171]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    July 2, 2005

        Good morning. Laura and I wish all Americans
    a happy Fourth of July weekend. I look forward to celebrating
    Independence Day with the people of Morgantown, West Virginia. On the
    Fourth of July, we remember the vision and conviction of America's
    Founders. We remember the ideals of liberty that led men from 13
    Colonies to gather in Philadelphia and pen a declaration of self-evident
    truths. And we remember the extraordinary personal courage that made
    their efforts a success. Doctor Benjamin Rush said that signing the
    Declaration of Independence was ``like signing your own death warrant.''
    He signed it anyway--right above his fellow Pennsylvania delegate,
    Benjamin Franklin.

        On Independence Day, we are also mindful that the promises of the
    Declaration have been secured by the service and sacrifice of every
    generation. America's first defenders were mostly farmers, artisans, and
    shopkeepers who waged a desperate fight for independence. Our Union was
    preserved through the costly battles of the Civil War, including one at
    Vicksburg that ended on Independence Day, 1863. And we live in freedom
    because Americans prevailed in the hard-fought struggles of the

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    20th century from the Marne and Normandy to Iwo Jima and Inchon Bay.
    America is home to 25 million military veterans, and we will always be
    grateful for their unselfish courage.
        Today, a new generation of Americans is defending our freedom
    against determined enemies. At posts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and around
    the world, our men and women in uniform are taking the fight to the
    terrorists overseas, so that we do not have to face the terrorists here
    at home. And by freeing millions from oppression, our Armed Forces are
    redeeming a universal principle of the Declaration that all are created
    equal, and all are meant to be free. Those who serve today are taking
    their rightful place among the greatest generations that have worn our
    Nation's uniform.
        The burden of war falls especially hard on military families, and I
    thank them for the support they give our troops in their vital work.
    Some of America's finest men and women have given their lives in the war
    on terror, and we remember them on Independence Day. We pray for the
    families who have lost a loved one in freedom's cause. And we know that
    the best way to honor the lives that have been given in this struggle is
    to complete the mission, so we will stay in the fight until the fight is
    won.
        In this time of testing, all our troops and their families can know
    that the American people are behind them. On this Fourth of July
    weekend, I ask every American to find a way to thank men and women
    defending our freedom by flying the flag, sending letters to our troops
    in the field, and helping the military family down the street. The
    Department of Defense has set up a web site, americasupportsyou.mil. You
    can go there to learn about private efforts in your own community. At
    this time when we celebrate our freedom, we will stand with the men and
    women who defend us all.
         In the summer of 1776, John Adams called the American Revolution
    ``the most complete, unexpected, and remarkable of any in the history of
    nations.'' And 229 years later, history has proved him right. The Fourth
    of July is a day to be proud of our heritage as freedom's home and
    defender. It is a day to be confident in the future, because the spirit
    of our Founders still shapes the conscience of our country. Above all,
    it is a day to give thanks to God for His many blessings on America and
    for the privilege to call ourselves citizens of this special land. I
    hope all Americans enjoy a memorable and safe Independence Day
    celebration.
         Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 7:50 a.m. on July 1 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on July 2. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    July 1 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office of
    the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this
    address.