    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
    [November 24, 2007]
    [Pages 1490-1491]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    November 24, 2007

        Good morning. This week, our Nation celebrated Thanksgiving.
    American families and friends gathered together to express gratitude for
    all that we have been given. We give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy.
    We give thanks for the loved ones who enrich our lives. And we give
    thanks for the many gifts that come from this prosperous land.
    Thanksgiving is a time when we acknowledge that all of these things, and
    life itself, come not from the hand of man, but from Almighty God.
        Earlier this week, I visited Berkeley Plantation in Virginia. The
    story of this historic setting goes back nearly four centuries to
    another day of thanks. In 1619, a band of 38 settlers departed Bristol,
    England, for Berkeley. At the end of their long voyage, the men reviewed
    their orders from home. The orders said, quote, ``The day of our ship's
    arrival . . . shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of
    thanksgiving to Almighty God.'' In response, the men fell to their knees
    in prayer. And with this humble act of faith, the settlers celebrated
    their first Thanksgiving in the New World.
        Berkeley's settlers remind us that giving thanks has been an
    American tradition from the beginning. At this time of year, we also
    remember the Pilgrims at Plymouth who gave thanks after their first
    harvest in New England. We remember George Washington, who led his men
    in Thanksgiving during the American Revolution. We remember Abraham
    Lincoln, who revived the Thanksgiving tradition in the midst of a
    terrible civil war.
        Throughout our history, Americans have always taken time to give
    thanks for all those whose sacrifices protect and strengthen our Nation.
    We continue that tradition today, and we give thanks for a new
    generation of patriots who are defending our liberty around the world.
    We are grateful to all our men and women in uniform who are spending
    this holiday weekend far from their families. We keep them in our
    thoughts and prayers. And we especially remember those who have given
    their lives in our Nation's defense.
        One of these brave Americans was Lieutenant Michael Murphy. In June
    2005, this officer gave his life in defense of his fellow Navy SEALs.
    Michael was conducting surveillance on a mountain ridge in Afghanistan,
    when his four-man SEAL team was surrounded by a much larger enemy force.
    Their only escape was down the side of the mountain. The SEALs launched
    a valiant counterattack while cascading from cliff to cliff. But as the
    enemy closed in, Michael recognized that the survival of his men
    depended on calling back to base for reinforcements.
        With complete disregard for his own life, Michael Murphy moved into
    a clearing where he could get a signal. As he made the call, Michael
    fell under heavy fire.

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    Though severely wounded, he said thank you before signing off and
    returned to the fight. His heroism cost him his life and earned him our
    Nation's highest decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor. This weekend,
    we give thanks for the blessings of young Americans like Lieutenant
    Michael Murphy, who risk their own lives to keep us safe.
        We're also blessed by the many other Americans who serve a cause
    larger than themselves. Each day, our Nation's police and firefighters
    and emergency responders and faith-based and community volunteers
    dedicate their time to serving others. While we were enjoying our
    Thanksgiving turkeys, tens of thousands of these men and women were on
    the job, keeping their fellow citizens safe and bringing hope and
    compassion to our brothers and sisters in need. And their sacrifice
    reminds us that the true strength of our Nation is the goodness and
    decency of our people.
        Since America's first Thanksgiving, we have changed in many ways.
    Our population has grown. Our people have prospered. And we have become
    a great beacon of hope and freedom for millions around the world.
    Despite these changes, the source of all our blessings remains the same.
    We are grateful to the Author of Life who blessed our Nation's first
    days, who strengthened America in times of trial and war, and who
    watches over us today.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 2 p.m. on November 20 at Camp David,
    MD, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on November 24. The transcript was made
    available by the Office of the Press Secretary on November 23, but was
    embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office of the Press
    Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this address.