[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 20 (Monday, May 20, 2002)]
[Pages 837-838]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Presenting the Commander in Chief's Trophy to the United 
States Air Force Academy Falcons

May 17, 2002

    Please be seated. Thank you. Well, it's my honor to welcome back--
[laughter]--the Mighty Falcons. It seems like Coach DeBerry is the 
charter member of the White House frequent visitor club. [Laughter] I'm 
real proud of you all and want to congratulate you for a great season 
and for winning the Commander's Trophy again.
    I recognize Pete Pace. You look a little out of place here, Pete--
[laughter]--but I'm glad you're here. You're doing a fine job. General 
John Jumper, as well, is here. I want to thank the Lieutenant General, 
John Dallager; thank you, Superintendent, wherever you are. One of these 
days, you'll invite me to the graduation ceremonies. [Laughter]
    I do want to thank the players for their hard work and the example 
they set. And of course, I want to congratulate the coach again. I was 
reading where he is going to go to the South Carolina Athletic Hall of 
Fame. That's a big deal, if you're from South Carolina. So Coach, 
congratulations for that.
    The interesting thing about this group of seniors is, they have 
never lost to Army or Navy. But upon graduation, they're going to be on 
the same team, and that's important for them to remember.
    During last May's visit, I said of Coach DeBerry, he is not just 
recruiting to win football games; he is recruiting to win our Nation's 
wars, if we have one. That was May. And on September 11th, war came to 
our country. And I want to thank you, Coach, for recruiting those who 
will help us win our Nation's wars, because unlike the last time we met, 
we're at war. We're in the midst of a war against a determined and 
fierce enemy.
    I want the troops here to know that I take my job as the Commander 
in Chief very seriously, that my most important job is to protect 
America and to protect our homeland. I do whatever it takes, and I know 
you'll join me in doing whatever it takes to prevent the enemy from 
attacking America again, like they did, and causing thousands to suffer 
and to mourn and to grieve.
    You know, what's interesting about Washington, it's a town--
unfortunately, it's the kind of place where second-guessing has become 
second-nature. The American people know this about me and my national 
security team and my administration: Had I known that the enemy was 
going to use airplanes to kill on that fateful morning, I would have 
done everything in my power to protect the American people. We will use 
the might of America to protect the American people.
    We're in for a long struggle. It's a tough war. This is an enemy 
that's not going to quit. So therefore, in order to protect innocent 
lives, this country must have the will and the determination to chase 
these killers down, one by one, and bring them to justice. And that's 
exactly what is going to happen, so long as I am the President of the 
United States of America.
    I'm proud of what this group of Americans have done on the football 
field; no more proud than those who wear the blue, I might add. And I'm 
proud of your commitment to our country. See, this enemy of ours, they 
don't understand the Air Force Academy or what it stands for. They 
thought we were weak--of course, they never saw the Air Force football 
team play. They thought we'd just roll over. They thought we might file 
a couple of lawsuits. They found out we think differently here in 
America.

[[Page 838]]

    We think differently because this is a nation that loves our 
freedom, loves our country. And this is a nation that has got citizens 
who are willing to sacrifice for a cause greater than themselves. We're 
here to honor a football team; we're also here to honor soldiers, men 
and women who wear our uniform and who are willing to sacrifice for the 
greatest Nation on the face of the Earth.
    Welcome back to the White House. May God bless you all.

Note: The President spoke at 11:15 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Fisher DeBerry, head football 
coach, and Lt. Gen. John R. Dallager, USAF, Superintendent, U.S. Air 
Force Academy; Gen. John P. Jumper, USAF, Air Force Chief of Staff; and 
Gen. Peter Pace, USMC, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.