    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 44 (Monday, November 5, 2001)]
    [Pages 1573-1575]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks Announcing the Lessons of Liberty Initiative in Rockville,
    Maryland

    October 30, 2001

        Thank you all very much. Sit down. Behave yourself. [Laughter] Thank
    you for the warm welcome. [Laughter] I'm honored to be here to announce
    a national effort to bring together veterans and students all across
    America during the week of Veterans Day, to give our young examples of
    duty and courage at a time when both are sorely needed.
        I want to thank Senator Dole for being here. I appreciate his
    eloquence and his service to the country. He is a--[applause] I want to
    thank the two members of my Cabinet who traveled with me today,
    Secretary Principi and Secretary Paige, both of whom represent the best
    of public service. I want to thank Congresswoman Connie Morella for
    being here, as well.
        Rebecca, thank you for opening up your beautiful school. I want to
    thank you. And I want to thank the teachers who are here. Teaching is
    such a noble profession. And if some of you students are wondering what
    you might want to do when you get older, think about teaching.
        I also want to thank the students and the veterans and my fellow
    Americans. I can assure you it makes some of us old guys feel warm in
    our hearts when we see the enthusiasm you have for your school and the
    love you have for your country. I am proud to be standing with the
    Patriots.
        We're a nation of patriots. The attacks of September the 11th and
    the attacks that have followed were designed to break our spirit. But
    instead, they've created a new spirit in America. We have a renewed
    spirit of patriotism. We see it in the countless flags that are flying
    everywhere in America. We hear it in familiar phrases that move us more
    deeply than ever before. We all know that this is one Nation, under God.
    And we pray that God will bless America, the land that we all love,
    regardless of our race, regardless of our religion, regardless of where
    we live.
        We have a renewed appreciation of the character of America. We are a
    generous people, a thoughtful people who hurt and share the sadness when
    people lose their life or when people are hurt. We've helped each other
    in every way we know, in donations, in acts of kindness, in public
    memorials, in private prayer. We have shown in difficult times that
    we're not just a world power, that we're a good and kind and courageous
    people.
        As we pursue the enemy in Afghanistan, we feed the innocents. As we
    try to bring justice to those who have harmed us, we find those who need
    help. The events of these 7 weeks have shown something else. They have
    shown a new generation, your generation, that America and the cause of
    freedom have determined enemies, that there are people in this world who
    hate what America stands for. They hate our success; they hate our
    liberty. We have learned all too suddenly that there are evil people who
    have no regard for human life and will do whatever it takes to try to
    bring this mighty Nation to its knees.
        On the Korean War Memorial in Washington are these words: ``Freedom
    is not free.'' Our commitment to freedom has always made us a target of
    tyranny and intolerance. Anyone who sets out to destroy freedom must
    eventually attack America, because we're freedom's home. And we must
    always be freedom's home and freedom's defender. We must never flinch in
    the face of adversity, and we won't.
        You've been learning this by studying your history--at least some of
    you by studying your history. [Laughter] Now you're learning the price
    of freedom by following the news. You're learning that to be an American
    citizen in a time of war is to have duties. You're learning how a strong
    country responds to a crisis by being alert and calm, resolute and
    patient.
        And you're the first students who ever learned the--who have had to
    learn the reality that we're having to fight a war on our

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    own land. You're the first generation of students who has ever witnessed
    a war fought in America. This is a two-front war we fight. On one front
    is the homefront. Our Government is doing everything we possibly can to
    disrupt and deny and destroy anyone who would harm America again. And
    the truth of the matter is, the best way to fight for the homeland is to
    find the terrorists wherever they hide, wherever they run, and to bring
    them to justice.
        I also want to make it clear that the doctrine I laid out to the
    United States Congress is a doctrine this Nation will enforce. It says
    clearly that if you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you
    provide sanctuary to a terrorist, if you fund a terrorist, you are just
    as guilty as the terrorist that inflicted the harm on the American
    people.
        Our Nation gave those who harbor the Al Qaida organization ample
    opportunity to respond to reasonable demands. Our demands were just, and
    they were fair. We said very simply, ``Turn over Al Qaida. Send the
    terrorists out of your land. Release the innocent Americans and other
    foreigners you hold hostage in Afghanistan, and destroy Al Qaida
    terrorist camps and training activity camps.'' And we gave them ample
    opportunity to respond, and they chose the wrong course. And then--they
    will now pay a price for choosing the wrong course.
        This is a nation that is resolved to win. And win we must, not only
    for your generation but for generations to come.
        This country has always been able to count on men and women of great
    courage. From the day America was founded, 48 million have worn the
    uniform of the United States. More than 25 million veterans are living
    today, some of whom are with us at Wootton High, and you may know some
    of them in your families. I know one such veteran. He fought in World
    War II, like Senator Dole--my dad.
        We must remember that many who served in our military never lived to
    be called veterans. We must remember many had their lives changed
    forever by experiences or the injuries of combat. All veterans are
    examples of service and citizenship for every American to remember and
    to follow.
        In 12 days, on Veterans Day, we will honor them. We will remember
    the Bob Doles of the world. We will remember a generation that liberated
    Europe and Asia and put an end to concentration camps. We will remember
    generations that fought in the cold mountains of Korea and manned the
    outposts of the cold war. We will remember those who served in the
    jungles of Vietnam and on the sands of the Persian Gulf. In each of
    these conflicts, Americans answered danger with incredible courage. We
    were equal to every challenge. And now a great mission has been given a
    new generation, our generation, and we vow not to let America down.
        Today I have a special mission for our veterans and a special
    request of our schools. I ask all public, private, and home schools to
    join our Lessons for Liberty initiative by inviting a veteran to speak
    to your students during the week of Veterans Day. I'm particularly
    pleased to announce that Wootton High has already put out the call, and
    Ron Ten Eyck has answered. Ron's a veteran of World War II. You need to
    listen to what he has to say.
        Lessons of Liberty is supported by veterans groups all across
    America: American Legion, VFW, Military Order of the World Wars, as well
    as education groups all across our country. Anyone interested in
    participating in this important event should go to this Web page:
    www.va.gov, and then click on Veterans Day.
        In addition to launching Lessons of Liberty, I will sign a
    proclamation in a minute asking all Americans to observe the week of
    November 11th as National Veterans Awareness Week. In these difficult
    days here in America, I ask all of us, children and adults, to remember
    the valor and sacrifice of our veterans. American veterans have
    extraordinary stories. We should listen to them. American veterans
    preserved our world and freedom, and we should honor them. American
    veterans show us the meaning of sacrifice and citizenship, and we should
    learn from them.
        Americans should always honor our veterans. At this moment, we
    especially need the example of their character. And we need a new
    generation to set examples of its own,

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    examples in service and sacrifice and courage. These veterans have
    shaped our history, and with their values, your generation will help
    guide our future.
        God bless. May God bless America.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:52 p.m. in the auditorium at Thomas S.
    Wootton High School. In his remarks, he referred to former Senator Bob
    Dole; Rebecca Newman, principal, Thomas S. Wootton High School; and Ron
    Ten Eyck, commander, American Legion Post 86, Rockville, MD.