    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [September 12, 2008]
    [Page 1195]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Arrival in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
    September 12, 2008

        I'm privileged to be the President of a country that produces
    citizens such as these. The United States is a country of volunteers,
    and three such volunteers are with us, Oklahoma citizens who serve in a
    variety of ways.
        Karen has produced a tie to--a way to keep
    our--to help our soldiers stay cool in Iraq. She is supportive of our
    troops. She and her organization have done fine work.
        The major here, a golf pro, who is
    going to go on his third tour in Iraq, has used his position in the
    golfing industry to raise money to help Gold Star families. How cool is
    that? This guy is going to Iraq on Monday, and yet he has--he served
    that way, but he also serves in a very compassionate way.
        Captain Castleberry and some of his
    folks he works with out at sheriff's department pulled up stakes and
    headed down to Morgan City, Louisiana, in the wake of Gustav. Nobody
    made him do it; he just decided to do it on his own.
        Our country is better off because millions of citizens, such as
    these three folks, have heard the call to serve something greater than
    themselves. And I urge our fellow citizens all around the Nation to find
    ways to serve. It turns out that when you help somebody in need, you
    help yourself even more.
        I am deeply concerned about Hurricane Ike. It is a major storm
    headed toward a large population center. I was on the phone this morning
    with Secretary Chertoff and Director
    Paulison of FEMA. I spoke to my friend,
    Governor Perry, yesterday. The State of
    Texas is preparing for this emergency. I suspect there's going to be
    some Texans headed for Oklahoma. And I know that they're going to find
    good people up here who want to help them.
        And so I want to thank the citizens of Oklahoma for getting ready to
    help a Texan in need. I urge my fellow Texans to listen carefully to
    what the authorities are saying in Galveston County or parts of Harris
    County, up and down the coast. Now, we'll be monitoring the situation
    very carefully. The Federal Government will not only help with the
    prestorm strategy, but once this storm passes, we'll be working with
    State and local authorities to help people recover as quickly as
    possible.
        Thank you all for what you're doing; God bless your work. Good luck
    to you.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:20 a.m. at Tinker Air Force Base. In his
    remarks, he referred to Karen Stark, founder, HUGS Project; Daniel M.
    Rooney, founder, Folds of Honor Foundation; Capt. Joe Castleberry,
    Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office; and Gov. J. Richard Perry of Texas.