[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
[November 26, 2005]
[Pages 1764-1765]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



The President's Radio Address
November 26, 2005

    Good morning. This week we gather with our loved ones to give thanks 
for the many blessings in our lives. Each family has its own traditions, 
yet we are united as a nation in setting aside a day of gratitude. We 
are thankful for our family and friends who fill our lives with joy and 
love. We are thankful for the abundance of this prosperous land. We are 
thankful for the freedom that makes possible the enjoyment of all these 
gifts. And we acknowledge with humility that all these blessings and 
life itself come from Almighty God.
    On Thanksgiving and throughout the year, we are grateful to the men 
and women of our Armed Forces for securing the peace in these dangerous 
times. Many members of our Armed Forces are observing this holiday in 
places far from home. They are serving with courage and skill in Iraq, 
Afghanistan, and elsewhere to defend our freedom and extend the 
blessings of freedom to others. In the past year, these brave Americans 
have continued to fight terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them 
here at home. And they have helped the people of Iraq and Afghanistan 
hold historic and successful elections. They are America's finest, and 
we thank them today and every day for their service and sacrifice.
    This week we also extend our gratitude to our military families who 
are making great sacrifices to advance freedom's cause. Many of our 
service men and women have endured long deployments and separations from 
home. Many of those they leave behind must deal with the burden of 
raising families while praying for the safe return of their loved ones. 
All Americans honor and appreciate the commitment and sacrifice of our 
military families.
    We think especially this week of those military families who are 
mourning the loss of loved ones. Every person who dies in the line of 
duty commands the eternal gratitude of the American people. The military 
families who mourn the fallen can know that America will not forget 
their sacrifice, and they can know that we will honor that sacrifice by 
completing the noble mission for which their loved ones gave their 
lives.
    The Thanksgiving holiday reminds us that, ``To whom much is given, 
from him much will be required.'' As we count our blessings, we are 
mindful of the need to

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share our blessings and gifts with others, and America is moved to 
compassionate action. This compassionate spirit was seen again this 
year, when Americans rallied to help their neighbors in need after the 
destruction caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We pray for continued 
strength as we rebuild these communities and return hope to our fellow 
citizens.
    The universal call to love a neighbor also extends beyond our 
shores, moving us to help people in other lands. Our Nation has begun to 
help the millions of people in Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan who are 
suffering after last month's devastating earthquake in South Asia. I 
urge you to visit the web site of the South Asia Earthquake Relief Fund 
at southasiaearthquakerelief.org to find out how you can help. And to 
help others in need in your hometown, across America, and around the 
world, please visit the USA Freedom Corps web site at 
usafreedomcorps.gov.
    This week of Thanksgiving, we ask that God continue to bless our 
families and our Nation. Laura and I wish you all 
a happy and safe Thanksgiving weekend.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 8:20 a.m. on November 23 at the Bush 
Ranch in Crawford, TX, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on November 26. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
November 25 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The 
Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
transcript of this address.