[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 20 (Monday, May 21, 2001)]
[Pages 750-751]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the Peace Officers' Memorial Service

May 15, 2001

    Thank you all very much. Please be seated. Gil, thank you very much 
for your friendship and your eloquence. It's my honor to be here. I'm 
pleased to be joined by three fine members of my Cabinet: General 
Ashcroft and Secretary O'Neill and Secretary Chao--I thank you all for 
joining us. I appreciate the Members of the United States Congress being 
here. Thank you for letting us share these beautiful grounds.
    I'm so thankful for the beautiful voices that are here today. 
Officer Rodriguez, I've heard a lot of national anthems in my day, that 
was one of the greatest. Thank you very much, sir. Not bad for a New 
York cop. [Laughter] And Billy, thank you very much for sharing your 
God-given talents with us, as well.
    It is an honor to welcome you all here on these beautiful grounds, 
and it's a honor to be among the people in law enforcement who are here 
today. And it's a special privilege to be able to say hello and God 
bless to the many widows and family members of the fallen officers. It's 
truly my privilege.
    As President, I feel a special connection with the officers of the 
law. I meet many of you as I travel around our country, and of course, 
on a daily basis I'm surrounded by some of the finest men and women I 
have ever met in my life.
    The same is true for all Americans but in a less visible way. 
Everywhere, from the greatest city to the quietest of crossroads in 
America, there is someone working long, hard hours to protect our 
citizens; someone who, when we're in trouble, will face a threat in our 
defense; someone who, when we are in danger, will rush to our aid, even 
in complete disregard to his or her own safety.
    One of the names recorded on the National Law Enforcement Officers 
Memorial is that of Patrolman Mickey Cullinane of Sea Island City, New 
Jersey. He died trying to rescue a man lying at the bottom of a deep 
pit. A witness described the obvious dangers at the scene. He recalled 
everybody said, ``You can't go down there.'' But some people can't see 
someone in trouble and walk away. Mickey did--he didn't walk away. He 
did what the courageous do.
    In the daily lives of Americans, such moments of emergency are rare, 
thankfully rare. For most, the violent moments never come at all. And 
there's a reason for this, and it's simply not good fortune. The reason 
is, you, the officers of the law, your bravery, and the courage you show 
every day in wearing the uniform. And it's always been that way.
    Every generation of Americans has produced men and women willing to 
stand watch over the rest of us. Every generation has lived under your 
protection. And we must never take for granted the police officers of 
America.
    We have a solemn obligation to give thanks and credit to law 
enforcement officers who are no longer with us. We honor, as well, the 
ones who have so bravely faced injury and disability. And we're so 
grateful to those who have retired after honorable careers and, of 
course, to those who are on the job this very day.
    At times, law enforcement must seem like the most thankless work you 
could ever do. But I'm here to tell you that yours is one of the great 
callings, and your country thanks you for it.

[[Page 751]]

    A Texas State trooper spoke for many last year after a colleague was 
struck down in the line of duty. America must hear what this man said. 
He said, ``It's a rough thing, and people ask, `Why do you do it?' It's 
the profession I chose, and I honestly think good officers are called by 
God.''
    For too many officers and their families, that calling has come at 
the highest price, in lives ended and hopes destroyed. For those who 
suffer it, this loss can never be measured. But long ago, we were told 
how to measure the men and women who make this sacrifice. ``Greater love 
hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.''
    Each one of you chose your profession, understanding the risks. This 
memorial stands as a reminder of those dangers and of how men and women 
died facing them. For each name, there was a family left behind. We must 
never forget how suddenly their pain comes and how long it lingers.
    The widow of a U.S. marshal said, ``Whenever men who spend their 
lives serving their country are killed in the line of duty, we all lose 
a piece of ourself. I lost a bigger piece than others.''
    We cannot today cover the grief or repay the sacrifice, but it is a 
way, a lasting way, to acknowledge the debt. And that is the best we can 
do, after others had given all there was to give. America honors their 
memory today, and we always will.
    God bless.

Note: The President spoke at 12:36 p.m. on the West Grounds at the 
Capitol. In his remarks, he referred to Gilbert G. Gallegos, national 
president, Fraternal Order of Police; Daniel Rodriguez, police officer, 
New York City Police Department; and country/western singer Billy 
Gilman.