[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
[[Page 913]]
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.
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*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
[[Page 914]]
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
[[Page 915]]
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
[[Page 916]]
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.
[[Page 917]]
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.