[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.