    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [May 15, 2007]
    [Pages 581-583]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at the National Peace Officers Memorial Service
    May 15, 2007

        Thanks for coming. Please be seated. Thank you. Thank you,
    Chuck. I have been here ever since I've
    been the President, in an event like this, and it's fitting because this
    is a really important day for our country. It's a day we remember men
    and women who fell in the line of duty. Each swore an oath to uphold the
    law. Each assumed the responsibility of protecting neighbors and
    communities. Each has earned a place in our Nation's heart. We thank
    them for their lives of service, and we pray to an Almighty God that He
    bring comfort to you during this time of sorrow.
        I appreciate Chuck Canterbury,
    president of the Fraternal Order of Police. I thank the members of my
    Cabinet who have joined us today. I appreciate so very much Speaker of
    the House Nancy Pelosi for being here today. I
    thank Senator Leahy, Majority Leader Steny
    Hoyer, Minority Leader John Boehner, and all the Members of Congress who have joined us. I
    thank Aliza Clark, Jim Pasco. Father Vytas, thank you for
    your prayers. Appreciate Patrick

    [[Page 582]]

    Nigh, who sang the national anthem; Lee
    Greenwood, friend of law enforcement.
        I thank the police officers who are here. I am honored to be in your
    presence. I'm constantly amazed by your courage. I thank you for serving
    the United States of America.
        To the moms and dads, husbands and wives, and sons and daughters who
    have got a hole in your heart today: I bring a collective hug from the
    people of the United States of America.
        It takes a special kind of person to serve in law enforcement. Most
    people run from danger; law enforcement runs toward it. You've chosen
    one of the toughest jobs in the world, and I suspect during times of
    dangerous duty or lonely patrols, it might seem like the only person you
    can depend upon is each other. A day like today, I hope, not only helps
    our families but helps those who serve remember that a larger community
    here in this country stands with you, that we're grateful for your
    service.
        We saw this gratitude last year in Montgomery, Alabama, as thousands
    of citizens mourned a young officer named Keith Houts. Keith was shot during a routine traffic stop. He held
    on 2 days before succumbing. He was 30 years old. As expected, police
    officers from Alabama came to mourn him. That's what happens when a
    fellow officer dies in the line of service; the officers show up, but so
    did citizens he never met. Thousands and thousands of citizens came to
    honor this good man. An overflow crowd attended the funeral; every
    church pew was filled. Mourners stood. An anonymous citizen paid lodging
    expenses for members of Keith's family so they could make it to the
    service. The community embraced Keith's young widow, Ashley, who's here. She had been a wife just for 15 months.
    Ashley said this of her late husband: ``I know what he meant to me, but
    it is important to know what he meant to everyone else.''
        We've seen similar outpourings of support in other places. Last
    year, in Fairfax County, Virginia, thousands of strangers lined city
    streets to bid farewell to two officers, Vicky Armel and Michael Garbarino.
    They were shot while doing their duty. Those who gathered along one of
    the funeral routes included all kinds of people, total strangers paying
    homage: a grocery store cashier, a fellow from Belgium was there, a
    local resident who told a reporter she wanted to thank the police who,
    as she put it, ``worry so we don't have to.''
        We saw a similar scene in Colorado Springs after the murder of
    Kenneth Jordan. Cars stopped along the
    interstate as drivers watched the funeral procession from railings and
    bridges. Children were waving flags in honor of a good man. One man
    brought his sons to pay tribute to an officer who he said ``gave up his
    life up for us.'' Another held up a sign that said: ``God bless you and
    keep you safe. Thanks so much.''
        That sign sums up the feeling of millions of our fellow citizens:
    God bless you, and thanks so much. Laura and I
    feel the same way. You know, we shared the grief of the family of Steve
    Favela, who is a Honolulu police officer who
    died last year from injuries he suffered during a motorcade that was
    protecting us. His death is a reminder of the daily risks that each
    officer assumes.
        I don't know if you realize this, but police officers are routinely
    named among America's most respected profession. And that's why
    strangers mourn for the loss of life and honor those who serve. That's
    why so many children choose you as role models.
        With us today are young children who've lost their moms and dads in
    the line of duty. It's got to be awfully hard. The pain is fresh, and
    they feel that every time they come home, looking for a mom or dad they
    love. It's hard to understand the loss you've suffered, but hopefully,
    today you leave with the sense that there are all kinds of people
    praying for you and honoring

    [[Page 583]]

    your dad or mom; millions Americans grieve.
        When--I hope--you're older, you'll come to this ceremony again and
    find some comfort here. Perhaps you'll bring your own children and share
    your memories of your parents and the pride in what they did. You can
    tell them your parents were great because of what they risked. You can
    tell them they served a cause greater than themselves.
        We're proud of all our Nation's fallen police officers. We're sorry
    you're here, but now that you are, we care about you a lot, and we love
    you. We're grateful for what they have given us.
        May God bless you all. May God bless those who wear the uniforms of
    the United States of America. And may God continue to bless our country.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:38 p.m. on the West Grounds at the U.S.
    Capitol. In his remarks, he referred to Aliza Clark, executive board
    president, Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary; James O. Pasco, Jr.,
    executive director, Steve Young Law Enforcement Legislative Advocacy
    Center; Father Vytas Memenas, State chaplain, Illinois State Lodge,
    Fraternal Order of Police; Officer Patrick Nigh, St. Louis County Police
    Department; and entertainer Lee Greenwood. The Peace Officers Memorial
    Day and Police Week proclamation of May 11 is listed in Appendix D at
    the end of this volume.