[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

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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.