    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
    [July 4, 2007]
    [Pages 912-917]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Independence Day in Martinsburg, West Virginia
    July 4, 2007

        Thank you all. Thanks for the warm welcome. Happy Fourth of July.
    I'm thrilled to be here in Martinsburg. This is the fourth Independence
    Day that I have spent in the great State of West Virginia since I've
    been your President. I appreciate General Tackett's introduction. Thank you, sir. You read it just like I
    wrote it. [Laughter]
        I love coming to your State because it's a State full of decent,
    hard-working, patriotic Americans. And I can't think of a better way to
    celebrate the Fourth of July than to spend it with some of what we call
    the Mountain State's bravest and most dedicated citizens, the men and
    women of the West Virginia Air National Guard.
        I am proud to stand with the 167th Airlift Wing. I like your slogan:
    ``Mountaineer pride, worldwide.'' I'm also honored to be with West
    Virginia's great military families. Some of you have your loved ones
    deployed overseas on this Fourth of July. I know that. And I know it may
    be hard to enjoy the fireworks and the picnics and the other
    celebrations while they're away on dangerous duty in a faraway land. And
    so I've come today to express our affection--the affection of the United
    States of America for the military families who stand strong in the face
    of the difficult struggle we face to secure the United States of
    America. We're blessed to have our military families in the United
    States, and I'm blessed to be here with you. Thanks for letting me come
    by.
        Speaking about Laura--speaking about
    families, Laura sends her love. She would be with me, but I told her to
    fire up the grill. [Laughter] Don't tell her I said that. [Laughter]
        I thank Brigadier General Terry Butler,
    commander, West Virginia Air National Guard, and his wife Susan. I want to thank Eric
    Vollmecke--he's the 167th Wing Commander--and his wife
    Sigrid.
        I appreciate being here today with a really fine United States
    Congresswoman, Shelley Moore Capito,
    and her husband Charlie. You don't
    have to worry about her supporting the military. When we've got somebody
    in harm's way, she understands what I understand, that that military
    person and his or her family deserve the very strongest support from the
    Federal Government at all times.
        I enjoyed reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with some of the
    children from our military families. I thought they handled their tasks
    quite well. I appreciate Major Dave Reynolds,
    chaplain, for giving the blessing. I thank the 249th Army Band of the
    West Virginia Army National Guard for

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    playing here today. But most importantly, thank you all for coming.
    Thanks for being here.
        The Fourth of July is a day for celebration and a day for gratitude.
    Across America, our citizens are going to come together for parades and
    pyrotechnic displays and readings from our Declaration of Independence.
    It's a grand celebration. It's a great day to be an American.
        And when we carry on these festivities, it's important you know
    we're carrying on a grand tradition. This isn't the first time our
    country has celebrated the Fourth of July. As a matter of fact, I would
    like to read a couple of paragraphs from a 19--1777 newspaper. And
    here's what it said on the first anniversary of the declaration, as it
    described the scene in Philadelphia: ``The Fourth of July was celebrated
    with joy and festivity, fine performances, a number of toasts, followed
    by a discharge of artillery and small arms''--don't do that today.
    [Laughter] ``And at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks, and
    the city was beautifully illuminated.''
        This newspaper article from Philadelphia in 1777 went on to say:
    ``Thus may that glorious and memorable day be celebrated through America
    by the sons of freedom, from age to age till time shall be no more.''
    We're still celebrating and rightly so.
        Our first Independence Day celebration took place in a midst of a
    war, a bloody and difficult struggle that would not end for 6 more years
    before America finally secured her freedom. More than two decades
    [centuries]* later, it is hard to imagine the Revolutionary War coming
    out any other way, but, at that time, America's victory was far from
    certain. In other words, when we celebrated the first Fourth of July
    celebration, our struggle for independence was far from certain.
    Citizens had to struggle for 6 more years to finally determine the
    outcome of the Revolutionary War.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        *White House correction.
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        We were a small band of freedom-loving patriots taking on the most
    powerful empire in the world. And one of those patriots was the founder
    of Martinsburg, West Virginia, Major General Adam Stephen. Of course, it
    wasn't West Virginia then, but it was Martinsburg. [Laughter] He crossed
    the Delaware with Washington. He helped secure America's victory at the
    Battle of Trenton, and he later went--and later, when the liberty was
    won, delivered stirring remarks in the Virginia House of Delegates that
    helped secure ratification of our Constitution.
        On Independence Day, we give thanks. We give thanks for our
    Founders; we give thanks for all the brave citizen soldiers of our
    Continental Army who dropped their pitchforks and took up muskets to
    fight for our freedom and liberty and independence.
        You're the successors of those brave men. Those who wear the uniform
    are the successors of those who dropped their pitchforks and picked up
    their muskets to fight for liberty. Like those early patriots, you're
    fighting a new and unprecedented war, pledging your lives and honor to
    defend our freedom and way of life. In this war, the weapons have
    changed and so have our enemies, but one thing remains the same: The men
    and women of the Guard stand ready to put on the uniform and fight for
    America.
        In this war against radicals and extremists, in this war on terror,
    you're showing that the courage which won our independence more than two
    centuries ago is alive and well here in West Virginia. Since the attacks
    of September the 11th, 2001, every operational unit of the West Virginia
    National Guard has been deployed, and some are on their second and third
    deployments.
        One member of the 167th Airlift Wing, Master Sergeant Richard
    Howland, has been deployed seven times since
    the 9/11 attacks, and this good man just volunteered to go to Baghdad
    for an eighth deployment in September. Our fellow citizens should listen
    to what Richard has said, what this

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    volunteer has said. He said, ``It is my patriotic duty to do whatever I
    can to help. It feels good--that I'm keeping a lot of people safe.''
    We're an incredible nation that has produced men like Richard Howland
    and you, who in the face of danger wear the uniform of the United States
    of America and step forward in freedom's defense. And I thank you for
    that.
        Since September the 11th, members of the West Virginia Air National
    Guard have earned seven Bronze Stars and four Purple Hearts. Two of
    those Purple Hearts were awarded to Staff Sergeants Brad
    Runkles and Derek Brown. They're here today. You're not related to them, are
    you? [Laughter]
        Brad and Derek are
    childhood friends. They grew up right here in Martinsburg, and they
    signed up together to serve in the West Virginia Guard. In 2004, they
    were driving together in the lead gun truck of a convoy in Iraq when
    their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb. Brad and Derek made it out,
    but they suffered burns on their hands and faces. They recovered from
    their wounds, and in May of last year, they both reenlisted.
        Today is the day to celebrate courage in the face of adversity. I
    want you to hear what Derek says. He said:
    ``This war is something that has to be done, either over there or here.
    And I think it's best we fight it over there,'' he said. ``I'm proud to
    serve my country like those before me for the cause of freedom.''
    America is proud to have citizens like Derek and Brad that we call
    neighbors and friends and defenders of the peace.
        And your service is needed. We need for people to volunteer to
    defend America, because in this war, we face dangerous enemies who have
    attacked us here at home. Oh, I know the passage of time has convinced
    some--maybe convinced some that there--danger doesn't exist. But that's
    not how I see it, and that's not how many of you see it. These people
    want to strike us again. We learned on September the 11th that in the
    age of terror, the best way to do our duty, which is to protect the
    American people, is to go on the offense and stay on the offense. And
    that's exactly what we've been doing against these radicals and
    extremists.
        It is best that we take the fight to where the enemy lives so we
    don't have to face them where we live. And so, since 9/11, that's
    precisely the strategy we have followed. In Afghanistan, where I know
    some of you have been deployed and some of you are deployed, we removed
    a regime that gave sanctuary and support to Al Qaida as they planned the
    9/11 attacks which killed nearly 3,000 citizens. They found safe haven.
    That's what they like. They like a place where they can plot and plan in
    relatively--in security, all aiming to come and harm the citizens of the
    greatest face for liberty in the world. Today, because we acted, the
    terrorist camps in Afghanistan have been shut down, 25 million people
    have been liberated, and the Afghan people have elected a Government
    that is fighting terrorists instead of harboring terrorists.
        This enemy of ours, they have got an ideology. They believe in
    something. In other words, the attacks are just a tactic to enable them
    to spread their dark vision of the world. Perhaps one way to
    differentiate between our thoughts is, just think about religion. In the
    great country of the United States, we believe that you should be able
    to worship any way you see fit, that you're equally American regardless
    of your religious beliefs. They believe that if you don't worship the
    way they see it, then they're going to bring you harm.
        We believe in an Almighty; we believe in the freedom for people to
    worship that Almighty. They don't. They don't believe you should worship
    the way you choose. They believe the only way you should worship is the
    way they choose. And therefore, they will do anything they can to spread
    that ideology. And it's our charge; it's our calling to keep the
    pressure on these people, to defend America, and to spread an

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    ideology of hope and an ideology of peace so that the kids who came up
    here to give the Pledge of Allegiance will be able to live in peace and
    security.
        There's more than one front in this war against these radicals and
    extremists. And obviously, the toughest front of all is in Iraq. In that
    country, we removed a cruel dictator who harbored terrorists, paid the
    families of Palestinian suicide bombers, invaded his neighbors, defied
    the United Nations Security Council, pursued and used weapons of mass
    destruction. The world is better off without Saddam Hussein in power.
    And today, U.S. and coalition troops are standing with the Iraqis--
    troops and the nearly 12 million Iraqis who voted for a future of peace.
    We're opposing ruthless enemies who want to bring down Iraq's democracy
    and turn that nation into a terrorist safe haven.
        Earlier this year, I announced a new strategy in Iraq, under the
    leadership of General David Petraeus and
    new Ambassador Ryan Crocker. Our goal is to
    help the Iraqi Government protect their population so they can make
    progress toward reconciliation and build a free nation that respects the
    rights of its people and upholds the rule of law and is an ally against
    these extremists and terrorists and killers. And so we sent
    reinforcements to help the Iraqis secure their neighborhoods and go
    after the terrorists and insurgents and militias that are inciting
    sectarian violence and help get the capital under control.
        It's a tough fight, but I wouldn't have asked those troops to go
    into harm's way if the fight was not essential to the security of the
    United States of America. Many of the spectacular car bombings and
    killings you see are as a result of Al Qaida, the very same folks that
    attacked us on September the 11th. A major enemy in Iraq is the same
    enemy that dared attack the United States on that fateful day.
        Al Qaida hasn't given up its objectives inside Iraq, and that is to
    cause enough chaos and confusion so America would leave, and they would
    be able to establish their safe haven from which to do two things: to
    further spread their ideology and to plan and plot attacks against the
    United States. If we were to quit Iraq before the job is done, the
    terrorists we are fighting would not declare victory and lay down their
    arms; they would follow us here, home. If we were to allow them to gain
    control of Iraq, they would have control of a nation with massive oil
    reserves, which they could use to fund new attacks and exhort economic
    blackmail on those who didn't kowtow to their wishes. However difficult
    the fight is in Iraq, we must win it. We must succeed for our own sake.
    For the security of our citizens, we must support our troops, we must
    support the Iraqi Government, and we must defeat Al Qaida in Iraq.
        Victory in this struggle will require more patience, more courage,
    and more sacrifice. And we've lost some good men and women in this
    fight. And so on this Fourth of July, we pause to remember the fallen
    and the grieving families they have left behind. We hold them in our
    hearts, we lift them up in our prayers, and we pledge to honor their
    memory by finishing the work for which they have given their life.
        Here at Martinsburg Air National Guard Base, you're living in a
    wonderful and caring community. Over the course of this struggle, you've
    looked out for each other, and you've given strength to each other in
    difficult moments. One of the community leaders making a difference on
    this base is Joy Enders. A couple of you heard of
    her.
        In case you haven't ever heard of Joy, she's
    the president of the 167th Airlift Wing Family Readiness Group. She and
    other members of the group make it their mission to care for the
    families of our deployed guards men and women. Before one recent
    deployment, they took pictures of all the deploying airmen and created
    iron-on transfers to place on pillowcases for the

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    children of the deploying troops. It's a simple act, but it's an act of
    love and compassion that gave the children a sense that their moms and
    dads were nearby, even though they were deployed a thousand miles away.
        Our military families miss their moms and dads and husbands and
    wives and sons and daughters, and they look forward to welcoming their
    loved ones home. And we all long for the day when there are far fewer
    service men and women in Iraq. The time will come when Iraq has a
    stable, self-sustaining government that is an ally against these
    extremists and killers. That time will come when the Iraqi people will
    not need the help of 159,000 American troops in their country. Yet
    withdrawing our troops prematurely based on politics, not on the advice
    and recommendation of our military commanders, would not be in our
    national interest. It would hand the enemy a victory and put America's
    security at risk, and that's something we're not going to do.
        Our troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other fronts in the war on
    terror are serving in a cause that is vital and just. And on this Fourth
    of July, I ask every American to find a way to thank the men and women
    who are defending our freedom and the families that support them. There
    are many ways to show your gratitude. There are many ways for our fellow
    citizens to say ``thanks'' to the men and women who wear the uniform and
    their families. You can send a care package. You can reach out to a
    military family in your neighborhood with a mom or dad on the
    frontlines. You could ask somebody: ``What can I do to help you? What do
    you need?'' You can carpool. You can be on a bended knee and pray for a
    soldier and their families.
        To help find ways to help, the Department of Defense has set up a
    web site. I would hope our fellow citizens all across the United States
    would call up americasupportsyou.mil. At this web site,
    americasupportsyou.mil, you can learn about efforts in your own
    community as to how you can support our troops.
        As we celebrate our independence on this Fourth, we can have
    confidence in the enduring principles of our founding. The words of the
    declaration hold a promise for all mankind, and those ideals continue to
    inspire millions across the world.
        Recently, Laura and I traveled to Prague, the
    Czech Republic, where I spoke to a conference of dissidents and
    democratic activists from 17 nations on 5 continents. I was proud to
    represent our country at that historic meeting. I was proud to tell
    those brave souls that America stands with them in their struggle for
    liberty because we believe in the universality of liberty. I personally
    believe that freedom is a gift from an Almighty to every man, woman, and
    child on the face of the Earth.
        I looked out in that audience, and I saw men and women who believe
    in the power of freedom to transform their countries and to remake the
    world. And I saw that those who live in tyranny and yearn for freedom
    still place their hopes in the United States of America.
        For the past 6\1/2\ years, it's been a privilege to be the President
    of such a good and decent nation that inspires and holds out hope for
    people all across the world. It's an awesome experience and a humbling
    experience to hold a powerful office like President. That brings with it
    the great honor of being the Commander in Chief of the finest military
    the world has ever known. Because of the service of our military men and
    women, because our Nation has got a military full of the bravest and
    most decent people that I've ever met, America remains a beacon of hope
    for all around the world; America remains the place where peace has the
    best chance to be encouraged. We're doing the hard work now so
    generations of American kids can grow up in peace. It's necessary work,
    it's important work, and I thank you for your sacrifices.

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        May God bless you, and may God bless America.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:21 a.m. in the West Virginia Air National
    Guard 167th Airlift Wing C-5 Maintenance Hangar. In his remarks, he
    referred to Maj. Gen. Allen E. Tackett, USA, Adjutant General, West
    Virginia National Guard; and David H. Petraeus, USA, commanding general,
    Multi-National Force--Iraq.