    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [December 21, 2005]
    [Pages 1894-1895]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to Caregivers at the National Naval Medical Center
    December 21, 2005

        Thanks for such a warm welcome. Laura and I
    are thrilled to be back at this unbelievable facility--unbelievable
    because of the buildings and the technology that's used here and the
    equipment but, more importantly, because of the decency and compassion
    and skill of our healers that work for our country.
        So first we want to thank you all for helping do a really important
    job. And that is to be able to say to our country, at any time anybody
    gets hurt anywhere, they're going to get the best medical care possible.
    And that's done right here at Bethesda, as well as Walter Reed. And so
    we're here to thank the nurses and the docs and the healers and the
    volunteers who help put the smile on the faces of those who have been
    hurt as well as their families.
        One of the great blessings of our country is the fact that there are
    millions of compassionate souls who are willing to try to make
    somebody's life better.
        I want to thank Admiral Robinson
    and Dr. Winkenwerder, Admiral
    Arthur. I want to thank General
    Kiley and Lieutenant General Peach
    Taylor, as well as Major General
    Farmer. And thank Tom Travis, as well--happens to be his birthday, by the way.
    [Laughter] His wife said, ``You're birthday
    gift is to say hello to the President,'' not a really good gift.
    [Laughter] Anyway. [Laughter]
        We're serving in an amazing time. I say, ``We're serving,'' because
    we're serving together. It is a time when this Nation of ours is facing
    unbelievable challenges. There is an enemy that still lurks, that wants
    to bring harm to the American people. And we've got to do everything in
    our power to protect the American people; that is our solemn duty. There
    is a fantastic opportunity, as we defeat this enemy, to lay the
    foundation for peace for generations to come.
        We have a great opportunity as a generation called to act, called to
    protect America, to seize the moment and defeat this ideology with
    freedom. You know, I like to tell people about how--``amazed'' isn't the
    right word--but how stark this story I'm about to tell you is to me,
    what an amazing contrast it is about Japan.
        You know, my dad, as an 18-year-older
    signed up--in the United States Navy, by the way. [Applause] There you
    go. And there were a lot of 18-year-old and 19-year-old and 20-year-old
    kids, and some older people, too--[laughter]--to fight against a sworn
    enemy which had attacked us.
        Laura and I just got back from the Far East,
    and I sat down at the table with the Prime Minister of Japan, talking about how to keep the peace, talking about
    how to deal with North Korea, talking about how--and thanking him, by
    the way, for sending

    [[Page 1895]]

    troops to Iraq to help this young democracy develop. And it was that
    contrast between what 41 did and what 43 is doing--that would be my dad
    and me. [Laughter] To sit down with a dad--which we're going to do here
    over Christmas--who fought the Japanese, and his son is helping to keep
    the peace with the Japanese, something had to have happened.
        And one of my predecessors, Harry Truman, recognized the power of
    freedom to transform an enemy into an ally; that's what happened. And so
    Japan adopted a Japanese-style democracy. And in that democracies don't
    fight each other, in that democracy is the best way to encourage a
    peaceful world, it's working.
        And what we're seeing today is brave troops and committed citizens
    who are not only determined to chase down the killers and bring them to
    justice before they hurt us again, but understand that by spreading
    freedom and democracy, we're battling an ideology of darkness with an
    ideology of hope. And we're laying that foundation for peace for
    generations to come. The task at hand is one that requires determination
    and discipline and great faith in the ideals of human freedom and human
    liberty.
        And so coming here today is a chance to not only thank you for being
    a part of this incredible team of healers but also, being a part of this
    historic moment. Someday, an American President will be sitting down
    with a duly elected leader of Iraq, working hard to keep the peace, and
    future generations of Americans will be saying, ``Thank God this
    generation of America stood strong for what we believe.''
        And so on behalf of a grateful nation, thanks for doing your duty.
    Thanks for serving. Thanks for being an important part of this march for
    freedom, and thanks, most of all, for bringing comfort and aid and
    solace to those who have been hurt on the battlefield and their
    families.
        We wish you a Merry Christmas and a blessed 2006. May God bless your
    work, and may God continue to bless the United States.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:34 a.m. In his remarks, he referred to
    Adm. Adam M. Robinson, USN, commander, National Naval Medical Center;
    Maj. Gen. Kenneth L. Farmer, Jr., USA, commanding general, North
    Atlantic Regional Medical Command and Walter Reed Army Medical Center;
    Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Travis, USAF, commander, 89th Medical Group, and
    his wife, Sally; and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan.