[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 22 (Monday, June 6, 1994)]
[Pages 1192-1193]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Honoring the 1st Infantry Division

June 1, 1994

    Thank you so much, Colonel Nechey, for your introduction, for your 
comments, for your heroic devotion to your country. General Sullivan, 
General Talbott, Mr. Stanton, we stand here today in the shadow of 
Winged Victory, the statue atop the monument to the 1st Infantry 
Division, the Big Red 1. The motto says it all, ``No mission too 
difficult, no sacrifice too great, beauty first.'' The number ``1'' 
tells us not only your division's name but the faith your country has 
placed in you for quite a long while now. You have been first in battle 
for as long as you have existed: The first in Paris in World War I, the 
first on the Normandy beaches, the first Army division in Vietnam, the 
first to breach Iraqi defenses in Desert Storm.
    In a few moments I will leave to begin this historic trip to Europe 
to commemorate the 50th anniversary of D-Day and the other crucial 
battles of World War II. I want to take a moment here briefly to thank 
the Department of Defense and the World War II Commemorative Committee 
for all their hard work in organizing these observances. In Europe we 
will be remembering the sacrifices of the generation that fought that 
great war. They have given us 50 years of freedom and strong nationhood. 
They have nurtured generations of young Americans and given us a chance 
to work with the rest of the world to bring the cold war to an end and 
to build toward the 21st century.
    Before we leave to honor those who fought and died in the Second 
World War, I think we should also say a word here on American soil about 
those who were here at home during that war and who, themselves, were 
also heroes. They made a contribution, whether they were women who built 
aircraft or rolled bandages, farmers who grew food for troops, men who 
in my State and many others worked as much as 16 hours in coal mines 
breathing coal dust and wrecking their bodies to keep our engine of 
production going, or children who collected scrap metal and rubber for 
our production. Worried about loved ones overseas, the homefront army of 
democracy kept the faith to build the wartime output that made D-Day and 
victory possible.
    With the strong leadership of President Roosevelt, they awakened the 
slumbering genius and giant of American industry. In 1940, our Navy had 
no landing craft. By 1944 there were over 25,000. In 1940, the United 
States produced fewer than 500 airplanes a month. In 1941, F.D.R. called 
for 4,000 a month and everyone thought he was a little crazy. But by D-
Day, Rosie the Riveter and her cowork- 

[[Page 1193]]

ers were rolling out planes at twice the pace Roosevelt asked for.
    After the war that same generation turned their energies to building 
a new prosperity. They built schools and highways and a sense of common 
purpose that put the country back on track, through the GI bill and 
housing initiatives and other things that built the strongest middle 
class in all of human history.
    On D-Day Americans gathered around the radio to join President 
Roosevelt in prayer. ``Success,'' he said, ``may not come with rushing 
speed. But we shall return again and again. And we know that by Thy 
grace and by the righteousness of our cause our sons will triumph.''
    Today we face new challenges at home and abroad. We know, too, as 
then, our successes will not come with rushing speed. But we must see 
our battles through to the end. As it was on D-Day, America will be at 
work next Monday, June 6th. For one moment on that Monday you might 
pause and reflect, 50 years ago on this day, at this hour, the men and 
women of America saved democracy in Europe and changed the course of 
history for the world.
    Wherever you are then, I hope you will have some time to look at the 
ceremonies. I hope you will think about how we can honor their legacy by 
carrying it on. That is the greatest honor of all.
    One of the greatest privileges I have as President is to represent 
all of our country in honoring those who won World War II. This week let 
us all, from the President to every other citizen, do our best to say a 
simple thank you. Thank you for what you did. Thank you for the years 
you have given us. Thank you for the example you have set through 
sacrifice and courage and determination.
    It is fitting that we should begin here, in the shadow of this great 
monument to the 1st Army Division. Let us all, all of us Americans, 
spend this next week in gratitude, in reflection, and with resolve.
    God bless you all, and God bless America.

Note: The President spoke at 9:22 a.m. at the 1st Division Monument. In 
his remarks, he referred to Col. Walter F. Nechey, USA (Ret.), D-Day 
veteran with the 1st Infantry Division; Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, USA, 
Chief of Staff, Army; Lt. Gen. Orwin C. Talbott, USA (Ret.), president, 
Society of the 1st Infantry Division; and Robert Stanton, regional 
director, National Park Service.