[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
[October 7, 2007]
[Pages 1292-1295]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
Remarks at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg,
Maryland
October 7, 2007
Thank you all. Thank you. Please be seated. Thanks for the warm
welcome. David, thank you very much for
your introduction. Nothing better than being introduced by an old fire
chief. And I thank you for your service, Dave.
It is such an honor to be here. I was telling Laura on the phone--she didn't make it, and I apologize, and
so does she--
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but I said, I'm going down the hill--I was up at Camp David--I'm going
down the hill to be with some remarkable people and their families and
to honor those who served. I said, I can't wait to go and to--be in
their midst because I hold the firefighters in such high regard. I have
a deep respect in my soul for people who serve our communities.
As David mentioned, far too often we
go to sites that have been devastated by natural disaster, for example.
Every time, the firefighters are there--every time. It's clear that the
people here who wear the uniform have a different view of jurisdiction
than a lot of our citizens. You know, from New York after 9/11 to New
Orleans after Katrina, there were firefighters from around the country
there to help. The bond between the firefighters is obviously unique; it
is definitely a source of strength. And it's a reminder that the work
here is a calling, not a job.
I want to thank the foundation for working hard to ensure that the
families of those who have died in--are well treated. I want to tell you
today that the Hometown Heroes Act will be fully implemented. This
program will be administrated the way it was intended to be
administrated. That's the least we can do as we honor the families of
those who have died in the line of service.
I also am amazed at the compassion I see amongst those who wear the
uniform for their comrades. Anyway, thanks for having me. I'm sorry it's
under these circumstances that we have to be together. I hope our
presence can help heal your hearts just a little bit. And I'm looking
forward to giving you a hug if you want a hug or smiling for a picture
if you want to smile for a picture. But most of all, I'm looking forward
to honoring your loved ones.
I want to thank Steny Hoyer for joining
us. He is--he respects you like I respect you, and he can pay tribute
about as eloquently as anybody I have heard. I appreciate
Roscoe Bartlett--he's the
Congressman from this district--for joining us as well.
I want to thank the mayor of Emmitsburg, Mayor Hoover, for joining us. I appreciate Chief Cade. I want to thank my friend Hal Bruno,
who is the chairman of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. I
want to thank the members of the board of directors who are here. I
appreciate you all coming.
You know, it takes a special kind of person to be a firefighter. It
begins with a different sense of direction. When an area becomes too
dangerous for everybody else, you take it over. When others are looking
for the exits, our firefighters are looking for the way in. When the
frightened occupants of a burning building are rushing down the
stairwell, our firefighters are going the opposite direction, up the
stairs and toward the flames.
And you wonder where people like this get their courage. I'm sure a
lot of it has to do with how they were raised or the examples of other
firefighters in the communities in which they live. But the truth of the
matter is that courage also comes from the community of firefighters.
You work as teams; you share meals together. And when tragedy strikes,
your dedication to one another ensures that no family will ever have to
face the pain alone.
Your presence here is a sign of that camaraderie. I see grieving
widows sitting side by side with a firefighter in uniform--it's the
camaraderie of respect and compassion. Today 91 new names go up on this
memorial. It is sometimes said of your fallen comrades that they lost
their lives in the line of duty. On this day, at this place, we say more
accurately: The men and women we honor are people who gave their lives
in the line of duty.
We honor the service and sacrifices of firefighters like Kevin
Apuzzio of New Jersey. Kevin started his career at age 16 when he joined
an emergency medical unit. In college, he signed up for the East
Franklin
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Volunteer Fire Company. Kevin was killed when he was trying to rescue a
75-year-old woman from her burning home. At Rutgers University, where
Kevin was a student, they have named a public safety training center
after him. And the president of the
school put it simply: ``We want people to know that a hero walked on
this campus.''
We honor the service and sacrifice of firefighters like Amy
Schnearle-Pennywitt of Michigan. Amy grew up dreaming of becoming a
firefighter, and she achieved that dream. On a freezing morning in 2006,
the Ann Arbor Fire Department responded to a crash on an icy highway.
And Amy arrived on the scene and then was fatally struck by a pickup
truck that had skidded out of control. In a tribute, the local newspaper
called firefighters like Amy the backbone of our society. I believe that
too. The editorial put it this way: ``We call them. And they come.''
We honor the service and sacrifice of firefighters like Destry
Horton. Destry worked for two fire departments in Oklahoma, the local
department in Chickasha and the Grady County Fire Department. Destry was
killed because he gave up a day of golfing so he could go help his
comrades battling the wildfires in southern Oklahoma. He suffered
terrible burns, and those burns would take his life. I found it
interesting that at his funeral, a contingent of firefighters from New
York showed up to pay their respects. Here's what one of them said, he said, ``It's sort of payback from after
September the 11th when we had firefighters from around the world who
came to show their support for us. This is a brother, and we wanted to
be here.''
We are here this afternoon for the same reason. That's why we're
here. We're here for the friends and neighbors who risked their lives to
keep us safe. And we're here for the colleagues who answered a call and
did not come home. We're here for the brave moms and dads who left
behind families that now need our love and our strong support.
Families of our fallen firefighters have suffered a terrible loss.
No words can ease the ache in your hearts. At this difficult time, we
will try to help by taking you in our arms. We offer you our heartfelt
and sincere compassion. We hope it is some comfort to know that your
loved ones will live on forever in the memory of the communities they
served so well.
To the colleagues of those who have fallen: Your fellow firefighters
knew the risks when they took the oath of service. Take pride in the
example they have set. Honor their memory by carrying on the fine work
that they were so proud to do by your side.
And to all Americans: Across our great country, homes still stand
and families can go about their lives because firefighters put
themselves in harm's way to protect us. So when you walk by a firehouse
or see an ambulance on a street corner, take a moment to go up and say
thank you. I ask my fellow Americans to pray for their safety, and pray
that we live lives worthy of the sacrifices made by those whose names we
add to this memorial today.
I appreciate you having me. I ask for the Almighty's blessings on
you, and may He continue to bless the United States of America.
Note: The President spoke at 10:38 a.m. In his remarks, he referred to
R. David Paulison, Director, Federal Emergency Management Agency, who
introduced the President; Mayor Jim Hoover of Emmitsburg, MD; Gregory B.
Cade, Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistant Administrator for
the U.S. Fire Administration; Richard L. McCormick, president, Rutgers
University; and Richard Schmidt, firefighter, New York City Fire
Department.
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