    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [December 12, 2008]
    [Pages 1440-1444]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Commencement Address at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas
    December 12, 2008

        The President. Thank you all. Howdy!
        Audience members. Howdy!
        The President. I am thrilled to be back in Aggieland. And it's
    always an honor to be introduced by the President of the United
    States, especially when he's your dad. And
    how about mom? Mom, I've been meaning to say
    this publicly for a long time: thanks, thanks for the gray hair.
    [Laughter]
        I congratulate the graduates of the Fighting Texas Aggie classes of
    2008, class of 2007, the class of 2006--I'd better stop. [Laughter]
    Let's just say that I hope there's no one left from when I spoke to the
    commencement in 1998. [Laughter] If so, I hope you're walking out of
    here with a Ph.D. [Laughter]
        I am grateful to the faculty and staff of Texas A&M for their
    devotion to learning and their example of scholarship. I appreciate your
    outstanding president, Dr. Elsa Murano. And I
    am glad to be with--[applause]--there you go. And I am glad to have
    traveled from Washington today

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    with three fine Aggies representing Texas in the United States Congress,
    Congressmen Chet Edwards, Joe
    Barton, and Jeb Hensarling.
        I am pleased to see so many of your families and loved ones here
    today. While you bled maroon, they bled a lot of green. [Laughter] So
    please join me in thanking all those whose support made it possible for
    you to reach this proud day. [Applause]
        There is one person who wishes he could be here today, and that's
    your former president and America's Secretary of Defense, Bob Gates. You know, he's got an excused absence. It's not
    like he's over at the Dixie Chicken. [Laughter] He's traveling to the
    Middle East, consulting with our generals, and showing his support for
    the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.
        When I asked Bob to be the Secretary of
    Defense, it was clear how much he loved Texas A&M. After all, he refused
    to come to Washington until after he attended the winter commencement.
    And I was even more impressed when he insisted on standing during the
    Cabinet meetings--[laughter]--claiming he was the Twelfth Man.
    [Laughter] One day, he explained it all. He said, ``Mr. President, I'm
    `red ass.' ''
        I'll say this for A&M, you've got some mighty fine traditions. Back
    in my day, I think I would have enjoyed dunking my ring. I would have
    loved to have taken Laura to Midnight Yell. I
    especially like the traditions around Reveille. Any time she barks
    during a class lecture, everyone in the room is dismissed. God, I wish
    she had been there for some of those press conferences. [Laughter]
        This campus is home to solemn rituals that demonstrate the strength
    of your bonds. In playing of Silver Taps to honor fallen classmates, in
    the reunion of students and alumni to read the roll call at Muster, and
    in wearing of your timeless rings, you affirm a powerful truth: once an
    Aggie, always an Aggie.
        Traditions like these are central to the A&M experience. And so is
    academic excellence, and all of you will benefit from your rigorous
    courses of study. I suspect you'll also find that some of your most
    important learning took place outside the classroom, in the friendships
    you formed, perspective you gained, and the things you discovered about
    yourselves. When you leave this campus, you will be well prepared for
    any endeavor you choose. To those of you who have jobs lined up, I--
    congratulations. To those not exactly sure what comes next, I know how
    you feel. [Laughter]
        As our days in the White House wind down, we're going through a
    series of ``lasts.'' I pardoned my last Thanksgiving turkey, Laura decorated for her last Christmas in the White House,
    and Barney bit his last reporter. [Laughter] Or at least that's what we
    hope. [Laughter]
        This is also my last commencement address as President. And it is
    fitting that it takes place here in Texas, where I have been so blessed
    over the years. I was raised here by wonderful parents, surrounded by
    brothers and sisters whose love still sustains me. And Texas is where I
    went to a backyard barbeque and met a beautiful teacher named Laura
    Welch. Texas is where our girls were born and our lifelong
    friends live. And next month, when our time in Washington is done, Texas
    is where we're coming home.
        These days, I'm asked a lot about my time as President. Some days
    have been happy, some days not so happy, every day joyous. It's been a
    tremendous privilege. I have traveled across our Nation and to 74
    countries around the world. I have slept in Buckingham Palace; I have
    feasted in the desert of Abu Dhabi; I have watched the sunrise in
    Jerusalem. I have spoken to campaign rallies in packed stadiums and to
    hundreds of thousands in Romania's revolutionary--Revolution Square.
    I've taken Marine One into America's biggest cities and visited many of
    our smallest towns. Through it all, nothing has inspired me more than
    the character of the American people, the acts of courage and service
    that

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    sustain our free society and make this the greatest nation on Earth.
        Courage and service are cherished here at A&M, and they are values
    that I hope will guide you for the years to come. So this morning, I
    thought I would share a few of the most powerful examples of courage and
    service that I have witnessed over the past 8 years.
        No act of courage or service is more impressive than volunteering
    for the United States military. Eight years ago, a brave 17-year-old
    named Christian Bagge made that noble choice
    when he stepped forward to join the Oregon National Guard. In 2005,
    Christian's unit was on patrol in Iraq when his Humvee hit a roadside
    bomb. He lost both his legs, and he thought he would lose his life. But
    with determination and superb medical care, this good man survived.
        I met him at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.
    He told me he used to be a runner and he
    planned to run again. I was impressed by his courage, but it was hard to
    imagine a man with such severe injuries ever being able to run. I said
    to him offhandedly, ``You know, when you're ready to run, just call me.
    I'll be glad to run with you,'' and moved on.
        Well, then one day, a phone call came to the Oval Office. It was
    Christian. He said, ``I'm ready to take you
    up on your offer, Mr. President.'' Just 5 months after I'd seen him in
    the hospital, he showed up at the White House with legs made of carbon
    fiber and a spirit stronger than steel. Together, we took a lap around
    the South Lawn. I'll admit, he left his Commander in Chief in the dust.
    [Laughter] And he left me with great admiration for his unshakable
    determination, his upbeat spirit, and his inspiring example for all
    Americans.
        People like Christian show the true
    strength of our military, and so do the families who support them. Last
    year in Reno, Nevada, I met a orthopedic surgeon named Bill
    Krissoff. His son Nathan, a marine, had
    given his life in Iraq. Dr. Krissoff told me he wanted to join the Navy
    Medical Corps in Nathan's honor. I looked at this remarkable man, I
    said, ``How old are you?'' He said he was 60 years old. He needed a
    special waiver to qualify for the Navy. I was thinking, I was 61, so he
    didn't sound all that old. [Laughter] I asked his wife what she thought of the whole thing, and she said
    she supported his decision. So I went back to Washington, and
    surprisingly enough, a few days later the waiver came through.
        Since then, Dr. Krissoff has
    undergone extensive training in battlefield medicine. And soon he will
    deploy to Iraq, where he'll help save the wounded, uphold the legacy of
    his fallen son, and inspire the United States of America.
         Petty Officer Greg Guillory is also in
    the Navy. But that is not the only way he serves. Greg lost his mother
    in a car accident at a young age, and his stepmother suffered from a
    serious drug addiction. Greg earned a 4-year scholarship to play college
    football; he was a high school player here in the State of Texas. But he
    turned down that scholarship so he could stay home to help his family
    confront its problems. Eventually, he decided to join the Navy, where he
    found a strong and supportive environment.
         While stationed in San Diego, Greg met
    his wife Shonda, who had also endured a
    painful childhood. Together, they resolved to help children trapped in
    difficult circumstances and made the selfless and compassionate decision
    to become foster parents. They spent a year caring for a 17-year-old
    who'd been abused. Then they took in a 14-year-old who had been beaten,
    then a baby born with drugs in her system, and then a 3-year-old whose
    mother was in jail. Today, they are caring for two children, a brother
    and sister, as well as the baby girl Shonda delivered last month.

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         And all the while, Greg has been carrying
    out his duties in uniform. He is stationed at Camp David, Maryland, and
    this generous man who has given so much to others feels so grateful
    himself. During a moving testimony at the Camp David chapel that I was
    fortunate enough to witness this past Thanksgiving, he said, ``I am
    thankful that God continues to bless me so I can be a blessing for
    children in need.''
         America is blessed to have citizens like Greg and Shonda, whose hearts are
    big enough to share the greatest gift of all, the gift of love.
         Kendrick Kennedy shared that gift too,
    after Hurricane Katrina struck his hometown of Biloxi, Mississippi. Even
    though his own house had been damaged, Kendrick put others first,
    helping family members find shelter and cleaning up debris in neighbors'
    yards. There's another piece of the story: Kendrick is blind. A few
    years before the storm, he lost his sight and his job. But he refused to
    hold--let that hold him back. He enrolled at Mississippi Gulf Coast
    Community College. I met him there when I spoke at his commencement. He
    went on to the University of Southern Mississippi, where he became the
    first blind student to graduate summa cum laude. Now he's in law school
    in Ole Miss. And this good man has set a high goal to serve our country
    as a Justice on the Supreme Court.
         Other Americans show courage by summoning the hidden strength to
    overcome their weaknesses. Four years ago, I met Leticia Chavez-
    Paulette. She had been addicted to
    drugs; she served time for her mistakes. While in prison, she joined a
    faith-based program called Celebrate Recovery, and it helped turn her
    life around. When she was released, Letitia was determined to support
    other women returning to society. So she started a transitional home
    called A Peaceful Habitation, a name taken from the Book of Isaiah.
    Here's what Letitia said: ``God's grace has kept me going. His love has
    kept me strong. And my faith is a gift that is helping me help others.''
         In these stories, we see the courage and service that defined
    America at its best. And that same spirit has long defined Texas A&M.
    It's the spirit of General Earl Rudder, who helped lead the D-day
    invasion and served more than a decade as A&M's president. It is the
    spirit of the Corps of Cadet, which includes nearly 1,800 Aggies. It is
    the spirit of your ROTC program, which routinely commissions more
    officers than any school outside the service academies. It's the spirit
    of the 21 Aggies who've given their lives to keep America safe since
    September the 11th, 2001, a sacrifice that will be honored forever by
    your Freedom from Terrorism memorial.
         That same spirit is visible on this campus in many ways beyond the
    military. A&M is home to the Big Event, the largest student-run
    community service project in the Nation. After Hurricane Ike hit the
    Texas coast, you welcomed more than 1,600 Sea Aggies from A&M's
    Galveston campus to College Station. And in countless other acts of
    volunteerism and charity, you have made Texas A&M's name synonymous with
    service.
         On your last day as A&M students, my call to you is to continue
    this spirit long after you leave the campus. There are so many needs to
    be met and so many ways you can help, from mentoring a child to becoming
    a teacher, to volunteering to feed the hungry or heal the sick overseas.
    If you hear the call to service in the military or government, answer
    it. If you enter the private sector, be proud of contributing to our
    prosperity and give back to your communities. Wherever life leads you,
    pursue the path of service, and you will find fulfillment beyond
    measure.
         As you embark on this journey, let me leave you with a few last
    pieces of advice. First, listen to your mother. [Laughter] As you can
    see, mom is out of the hospital, and everything
    is back to normal. After all, she's still telling me what to do.
    [Laughter]

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         Second, develop a set of principles to live by, convictions and
    ideals to guide your course. There will be times when people tell you a
    different way is more accepted or popular. Remember that popularity is
    as fleeting as the Texas wind. Character and conscience are as sturdy as
    the oaks on this campus. If you go home at night, look in the mirror,
    and be satisfied that you have done what is right, you will pass the
    only test that matters.
         And finally, be on the lookout for role models, people whose
    conduct you admire and whose path you can follow. With that in mind, I
    have one last example of courage and service. It's a story of a young
    man who left comfort behind to answer his
    Nation's call, became the youngest pilot in the Navy, and nearly gave
    his life in World War II. When he came back home, he devoted his career
    to public service and proved that success in politics can be
    accomplished with decency and grace. He reached the pinnacle in
    Government, but he defines his life by other roles: a father who gave
    unconditional love, a grandfather devoted to his grandchildren, and a
    beloved husband of the sweetheart he married a lifetime ago. Some of you
    will leave A&M with a degree that carries this good man's name, George
    Bush. I have been blessed and honored to have carried it for 62 years.
         I want to thank you. I want to thank you for the opportunity to
    share this special day with you. I congratulate you. When I leave office
    next month, I will depart confident in the future of our country,
    because I have faith in each of you. I will depart uplifted by the many
    acts of courage and service that I have witnessed these past 8 years. I
    will depart grateful for the outpouring of support and prayers that have
    strengthened Laura and me. And I will depart
    ready to come home to the people I have missed and the place I love, the
    State of Texas.
         And so, after all this, there is only one thing left to say: Gig'em
    Aggies! Congratulations, and may God bless you.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:36 a.m. In his remarks, he referred to
    Christine Krissoff, wife of Lt. Comdr. William B. Krissoff, USN. The
    Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    transcript of these remarks.