    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [June 2, 2008]
    [Pages 743-745]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Presenting Posthumously the Congressional Medal of Honor to
    Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis
    June 2, 2008

        Good morning. Welcome to the White House. A week ago, on Memorial
    Day, the flag of the United States flew in halfstaff in tribute to those
    who fell in service to our country. Today we pay special homage to one
    of those heroes: Private First Class Ross Andrew McGinnis of the United
    States Army. Private McGinnis died in a combat zone in Iraq on December
    the 4th, 2006, and for his heroism that day, he now receives the Medal
    of Honor.
        In a few moments, the Military Aide will read the citation, and the
    Medal will be accepted by Ross's mom and
    dad, Romayne and Tom. It's a privilege to
    have with us as well, Becky and
    Katie, Ross's sisters.
        I also want to thank the other distinguished guests who have joined
    us: Mr. Vice President; Secretary Jim
    Peake of Veterans Affairs; Secretary Pete
    Geren of the Army; Secretary
    Michael Wynne of the Air Force; General Jim
    ``Hoss'' Cartwright, Vice
    Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. I appreciate other members of the
    administration for joining us.
        I want to thank Members of the United States Congress who have
    joined us today: Steve Buyer, John
    Peterson, Louie Gohmert. Thank you all for coming. I appreciate the
    chaplain for the prayer. We welcome
    friends and family members of Ross, as well as members of the 1st
    Battalion, 26th Infantry, including Charlie Company, that's with us
    today.
        We're also joined by Private
    McGinnis's vehicle
    crew, the very men who witnessed his incredible
    bravery. We welcome Sergeant First Class Cedric Thomas, Staff Sergeant
    Ian Newland, Sergeant Lyle Buehler, and Specialist Sean Lawson.
        A special welcome to the prior recipients of the Medal of Honor,
    whose presence here is--means a lot to the McGinnis family. Thank you
    for coming.
        The Medal of Honor is the Nation's highest military distinction.
    It's given for

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    valor beyond anything that duty could require or a superior could
    command. By long tradition, it's presented by the President. For any
    President, doing so is a high privilege.
        Before he entered our country's history, Ross McGinnis came of age
    in the town of Knox, Pennsylvania. Back home, they remember a slender
    boy with a big heart and a carefree spirit. He was a regular guy. He
    loved playing basketball. He loved working on cards--cars. He wasn't too
    wild about schoolwork. [Laughter] He had a lot of friends and a great
    sense of humor. In high school and in the Army, Ross became known for
    his ability to do impersonations. A buddy from boot camp said that Ross
    was the only man there who could make the drill sergeant laugh.
    [Laughter]
        Most of all, those who knew Ross McGinnis recall him as a dependable
    friend and a really good guy. If Ross was your buddy and you needed help
    to--or you got in trouble, he'd stick with you and be the one you could
    count on. One of his friends told a reporter that Ross was the type who
    would do anything for anybody.
        That element of his character was to make all the difference when
    Ross McGinnis became a soldier in the Army. One afternoon 18 months ago,
    Private McGinnis was part of a Humvee patrol in a neighborhood of
    Baghdad. From his position in the gun turret, he noticed a grenade
    thrown directly at his vehicle. In an instant, the grenade dropped
    through the gunner's hatch. He shouted a warning to the four men inside. Confined in that tiny
    space, the soldiers had no chance of escaping the explosion. Private
    McGinnis could have easily jumped from the Humvee and saved himself.
    Instead, he dropped inside, put himself against the grenade, and
    absorbed the blast with his own body.
        By that split second decision, Private McGinnis lost his own life,
    and he saved his
    comrades. One of them
    was Platoon Sergeant Cedric Thomas, who said this: ``He had time to jump
    out of the truck. He chose not to. He's a hero. He was just an awesome
    guy.'' For his actions, Private McGinnis received the Silver Star, a
    posthumous promotion in rank, and a swift nomination for the Medal of
    Honor. But it wasn't acclaim or credit that motivated him. Ross's
    dad has said: ``I know medals never crossed
    his mind. He was always about friendships and relationships. He just
    took that to the ultimate this time.''
        When Ross McGinnis was in kindergarten, the teacher asked him to
    draw a picture of what he wanted to be when he grew up. He drew a
    soldier. Today our Nation recognizing--recognizes him as a soldier and
    more than that because he did far more than his duty. In the words of
    one of our commanding generals, ``Four men are alive because this
    soldier embodied our Army values and gave his life.''
        The day will come when the mission he served has been completed and
    the fighting's over and freedom and security have prevailed. America
    will never forget those who came forward to bear the battle. America
    will always honor the name of this brave soldier who gave all for his
    country and was taken to rest at age 19.
        No one outside this man's family can know the true weight of their
    loss. But in words spoken long ago, we are told how to measure the kind
    of devotion that Ross McGinnis showed on his last day: ``Greater love
    hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.''
        Gospel also gives this assurance: ``Blessed are they that mourn, for
    they shall be comforted.'' May the deep respect of our whole Nation be a
    comfort to the family of this fallen soldier. May God always watch over
    the country he served and keep us ever grateful for the life of Ross
    Andrew McGinnis.
        And now I'd like to invite Mr. and Mrs. McGinnis to please come
    forward for the presentation, and the Military Aide will read the
    citation for the Medal of Honor.

    [[Page 745]]

    Note: The President spoke at 9:50 a.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Maj. Gen. Douglas L. Carver, USA,
    Chief of Army Chaplains. Following the President's remarks, Lt. Cmdr.
    Daniel Walsh, USCG, Coast Guard Aide to the President, read the
    citation.