    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [May 4, 2008]
    [Pages 636-639]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Commencement Address at Greensburg High School in Greensburg, Kansas
    May 4, 2008

        Thank you all. Thank you very much. Superintendent, thank you for that kind introduction. Governor
    Sebelius, thank you for being here;
    Senator Brownback; Senator
    Roberts; Congressman
    Tiahrt; Mayor Janssen;
    Mayor-elect Dixson; City Administrator
    Hewitt; Principal Fulton; members of the administration; faculty and staff;
    distinguished guests; family, friends, and most importantly, the class
    of 2008.
        I am honored to be at Greensburg High School, home of the Rangers.
    As some of you may know, I used to be one of the owners of a baseball
    team with that name. [Laughter] So from one Ranger fan to another, I
    give you this message: Beat 'em up, beat 'em up, GHS.
        And I thank you for rescheduling this ceremony so I could make it.
    [Laughter] I know you originally planned to hold the commencement next
    weekend. It's the same weekend as my daughter's
    wedding. I could have suggested changing the date of the wedding
    instead. [Laughter] I think we all know how that would have turned out.
    [Laughter] So, thanks so very much.
        It is fitting that we hold the commencement on this day, because it
    marks the 1-year anniversary of the tornado that forever changed your
    lives. Those of you who lived through the storm remember your ears
    popping from the change in the air pressure. You remember huddling with
    your loved ones in basements. And when it was safe to come out, you
    remember the shock of seeing your entire town in ruins.
        At this ceremony, we celebrate your yearlong journey from tragedy to
    triumph. We celebrate the resurgence of a town that stood tall when its
    buildings and homes were laid low. We celebrate the power of faith, the
    love of family, and the bonds of friendship that guided you through the
    disaster. And finally, we celebrate the resilience of 18 seniors who
    grow closer together when the world around them blew apart. When the
    class of 2008 walks across the stage today, you will send a powerful
    message to our Nation: Greensburg, Kansas, is back, and its best days
    are ahead.
        To reach this day, the class of 2008 has overcome challenges unlike
    those faced by any other graduating class. You've spent a year in
    portable classrooms that look very different from the red book--brick
    school you attended as freshmen. Many of you have gone home to trailers
    that lack the comforts of the houses you had. All of you have had to
    juggle a full load of schoolwork and activities while also working to
    help this community rebuild. Through it all, you've shown determination
    and perseverance, and today you have earned the right to call yourselves
    graduates of Greensburg High School. And I congratulate you all on a
    tremendous achievement.
        To reach this day, the class of 2008 depended on the support of
    loving families. Your families are proud of what you've accomplished,
    and I know you are grateful for their unconditional love. I ask all the
    parents to stand and receive the thanks of the class of 2008.
        To reach this day, the class of 2008 also relied on the guidance and
    wisdom of your teachers and administrators. They have known many of you
    since your first day of kindergarten, and they were determined to help
    you graduate in the town where your education began. Less than 4 months
    after the storm, they managed to reopen classes for the start of the new
    school year. Under the leadership of your superintendent and the
    principal, the faculty and staff of Greensburg High School have given
    this community stability and strength in a

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    time of desperate need. And today we give them all our thanks.
        Over the past year, your--the members of your class have relied on
    fundamental values that have given you strength and comfort as you deal
    with hardship and you heal your community and you rebuild your lives.
    You've learned some important lessons that will serve you for whatever
    you do next.
        The Greensburg class of 2008 has learned that America's communities
    are stronger than any storm. The tornado tore apart the beams and boards
    that held your houses together, but it could not break the bonds of
    family and faith that hold your town together.
        We see the strength of those bonds in the way that you held
    commencement last year on a golf course just weeks after the storm. We
    see the strength of those bonds in congregations that have stuck
    together despite losing their church buildings. We see the strength of
    those bonds in the caravan of cars that follow your school sports teams
    wherever they go. Because the storm destroyed your athletic facilities,
    you had a full schedule of away games. And even though you're always on
    the road, they tell me you always had a home crowd.
        When your boys basketball team made it to the sub-State finals,
    nearly every person in this town turned out. The team even got a police
    escort. They say it was bigger than the one I got. [Laughter] Your fans
    rushed to the court after you won on a buzzer beater to advance to the
    State tournament for the first time in 30 years. And I have been told
    that the first person to spring out of the stands was Principal
    Fulton. [Laughter] The basketball team finished
    with a great record, and along with all your other school teams, it has
    given this good town a lot to cheer about.
        As the class of 2008 ventures into the world, your hometown will
    always be a source of stability and comfort and pride. Greensburg is
    where many of your parents and grandparents grew up. It's where you went
    to church with your neighbors on Sundays. It's where you wanted home to
    be after the storm. So wherever you go, you will be able to rely on the
    ties of family and your faith and your friends that were forged here,
    and you'll always carry Greensburg, Kansas, in your heart.
        The Greensburg class of 2008 has learned that Americans will always
    rebuild stronger and better than before. Often in life, you're dealt the
    hand that you did not expect. The test of a community and the test of an
    individual is how you play the hand. Over the past 7 years, I've seen
    Americans in communities across our country overcome some tough hands.
    I've seen the resolve of American spirit in the wake of the terrorist
    attacks of 9/11, the flood waters of Hurricane Katrina, eight hurricanes
    in Florida, tornadoes in States like Missouri, Tennessee, and Alabama,
    wildfires in southern California and in Oregon. I saw the same resolve
    and the same determination in the people of Greensburg, Kansas.
        When I visited Greensburg last year, I remember walking your
    streets, and I remember meeting Kaye Hardinger. She was standing outside the wreckage of her home. She
    took a look at me and said, ``I would have invited you in for coffee,''
    but she didn't have time to dust. [Laughter] Today, Kaye lives in a
    trailer with her family in a nearby town, but she continues to plan for
    the day when she and her family move back to Greensburg and rebuild.
    And, Kaye, when that day comes, fire up the coffeepot. [Laughter]
        When I visited Greensburg, I also met a man named Kelly
    Estes. Kelly is a John Deere dealer. I remember
    so very well walking with Kelly and his wife and his family through the
    rubble after that storm hit. He lost more than $18 million worth of
    equipment, but he was ready to look for the future. After caring for his
    employees who had lost their homes, he began making plans to bring his
    business back to Greensburg. Earlier this year, he broke

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    ground on a new dealership that will be a model of energy efficiency,
    create more than two dozen new jobs, and inject new vitality into
    Greensburg economy.
        People like Kaye and Kelly are part of a more hopeful future for your city. The
    leaders of your town understand that out of the devastation of the storm
    comes an opportunity to rebuild with a free hand and a clean slate. They
    envision a future where new jobs flourish, where every public building
    meets the highest environmental standards, and where the beauty of rural
    America meets the great possibilities of new technology. The community
    is dedicated to putting the ``green'' in Greensburg. And as you work to
    achieve this vision, the Federal Government will honor its commitments
    and continue to stand by you.
        Ultimately, the future of Greensburg and the future of our Nation
    will belong to the young. The education that you've received at this
    school will prepare you for a lifetime of opportunity and achievement.
    And the lessons you have learned in this town will give you the strength
    to rise above any obstacle in your path. You've seen life at its most
    difficult. You have emerged stronger from it. Now I call on you to take
    this spirit forward and help our country in a way that makes us more
    resilient and more courageous as a people.
        And finally, the Greensburg class of 2008 also understands what it
    means to serve a higher cause. The hours--in the hours after the storm,
    your concern was not for what you'd lost, it was for the safety of the
    people you loved. As senior class president Jarrett Schaef said, he'd look for his friends in the dark of night.
    And I appreciate that kind of leadership. When someone suggested that he
    leave town, he refused. Here is what he said: ``I hadn't found nearly
    enough of my friends, and I wasn't going to leave until I had.''
        Jarrett wasn't alone that night. As you
    well know, many of your family members rushed to Greensburg from nearby
    counties and other States to offer love and support. Other folks came
    from towns as well, compassionate citizens who came to do their duty to
    help a neighbor in need.
        And you'll always remember these generous and caring souls. And you
    will always remember the thousands of other volunteers who descended
    upon Greensburg in the months that followed. The volunteers came from
    all across America.
        One of them was a student named Christopher Skrzypczak. Last year, Christopher almost lost his life when
    a tornado tore through his high school in Enterprise, Alabama. So when
    he saw the news reports about Greensburg, he wanted to help. He raised
    money to purchase hundreds of new books for your library. He drove with
    his family all the way from Enterprise to Greensburg to deliver the
    books in person. Volunteers like Christopher brought hope to this
    community, and they set an inspiring example for our country.
        Over the past year, students in Greensburg have also answered the
    call to serve others. Despite all that you lost, each of you has
    discovered that you have far more to give. Over the summer, many of you
    worked with AmeriCorps to clear debris and help the needy. On Greensburg
    Make a Difference Day, you helped plant new trees and flowers in the
    parks. When a tornado hit Jackson, Tennessee, in February, elementary
    and middle school students worked with their teachers to raise more than
    $5,000 in aid for the victims. In these acts of service, we are reminded
    that as much as Greensburg changes, the compassion of its citizens is a
    constant source of strength.
        One member of your class who represents the spirit of service is
    Aaron Widner. This fall, Aaron decided to
    enlist in the Marine Corps. Like many other courageous young men and
    women across America, he has stepped forward to defend our freedom
    during a time of war, and we honor him today. And, Aaron, I wish you the
    best of luck at boot camp, and

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    I look forward to serving as your Commander in Chief.
        On this graduation day, I ask every member of your class to devote
    your lives to a cause larger than yourselves. Over the past year, you've
    learned that you can never predict what tomorrow will bring. Wherever
    the winds of life take you, you can be certain that serving others will
    always make your lives more fulfilling.
        As we watch the class of 2008 graduate today, the dark clouds from 1
    year ago have parted and have made way for a brighter future. We'll
    always hold in our hearts those who lost their lives. But with faith in
    He who rides above the mighty storm, we go forth with confidence that
    Greensburg will rise again.
        I thank you for having me today. God bless you. God bless you, and
    may God bless the class of 2008. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:28 p.m. In his remarks, he referred to
    Darin Headrick, superintendent, Greensburg USD 422; Gov. Kathleen
    Sebelius of Kansas; Mayor John Janssen, Mayor-elect Bob Dixson, and City
    Administrator Steve Hewitt of Greensburg, KS; and Randy Fulton,
    principal, Greensburg High School.