[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 20 (Monday, May 19, 2003)]
[Pages 607-609]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the Peace Officers' Memorial Service

May 15, 2003

    Thank you all very much for that warm welcome, and thank you for the 
privilege of joining you all for this memorial service.
    Today Americans join in tribute to a great profession and remember 
good men and women who have fallen in the line of duty. We recall their 
stories. We offer our heartfelt sympathy to their families and their 
colleagues, and we honor their distinguished service to the cause of 
justice and peace.
    I appreciate Chuck Canterbury's leadership. I appreciate his candor. 
I appreciate the fact that he cares deeply about the men and women who 
wear the uniforms all across our country. The Fraternal Order of Peace 
has got a good man in Chuck Canterbury, leading this fine organization.
    He also replaced a good man, a man that I could call friend, in 
Steve Young. I know Denise and his son Steven are with us today, and our 
prayers are with you, Denise and Steven, as you continue to cope with 
the life without your good husband and good dad.
    I appreciate so very much members of my Cabinet being here today. 
John Ashcroft stands strong for law and order in our country. I'm 
honored that Gale Norton and Elaine Chao will join us as well. The 
Director of the FBI, Bob Mueller, is doing a fantastic job in converting 
the FBI into a agency which is going to be on the frontline of making 
sure terrorists do not harm our American citizens, and I appreciate your 
leadership, Director Mueller.
    I want to thank the Members of Congress who are here. I know Duke 
Cunningham is here. I see Mac Collins. I know there are other Members 
from the United States Congress who are here. Thank you for coming to 
join us. I want to thank Aliza Clark for her continued leadership; Jim 
Pasco. It's good to see Ray Kelly. I want to thank Marc Anthony and 
Jaime McCarthy for joining--

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for lending their talents to this solemn service. I appreciate you all 
coming.
    I want to thank all the law enforcement officers who have come here 
today to honor the fallen. But I want to thank you as well for what you 
do every day to make sure our country is a secure country. I 
particularly want to say to the families, there is a lot of love and 
compassion in this Nation of ours. A lot of people pray for you, and my 
hope is that their prayers will give you the strength necessary to move 
on.
    This year, 377 names are added to the National Law Enforcement 
Memorial, including 148 who were killed in the line of duty in 2002. The 
death of a peace officer is a reminder that peace can be fragile and 
safety will always need defenders. Law enforcement officers know that 
evil is real, and evil has servants of its own, criminals and terrorists 
who live by violence and make victims of the innocent.
    And law enforcement officers know that evil must always be opposed. 
Justice and order and safety in every time are the achievements of 
bravery. More than 700,000 of our fellow Americans show that bravery as 
sworn officers of the law, and this Nation is grateful to your service.
    The risks of law enforcement come in difficult assignments and even 
in routine calls. Officers train and prepare for many threats. Yet 
preparation will never take the danger away from a hard profession. Mary 
Ann Collura, an 18-year vet from Fair Lawn, New Jersey, Police 
Department, was killed while confronting an armed man after a high-speed 
chase. A fellow officer later said, ``You know, there are probably a 
hundred cops like this who did everything right and still have their 
names on the wall. You put your fate in the hands of God every day when 
you go out there.''
    For an officer's loved ones, daily life is also an act of faith. 
Family members share the uncertainties and worries of service. America 
recognizes and honors the sacrifice of our law enforcement families. We 
thank you for your service to our country as well. And every May 15th, 
we think especially of those who have received the sudden and terrible 
news, many of whom are here today. Your sadness and loss are deep and so 
is your pride. Long before tragedy came, you knew this person you loved 
was brave and good, and your country knows it, too.
    Last October, Virginia State Trooper C. Mark Cosslett was killed 
while racing to a scene. He had spent the morning at a pre-school, 
comforting children who were frightened by the sniper attacks here in 
Washington--in the Washington area. One of the parents later said, ``I 
never met Mark Cosslett and wouldn't have known his name but for his 
fatal accident. I do know one thing, and I knew it before he was gone, 
at a time when my family was looking for a hero, there he was.''
    In times of challenge and uncertainty, we see more clearly who has 
really earned our admiration. At a memorial service for Chicago 
Patrolman Benjamin Perez, the police chaplain said this: ``Heroes are 
not found on basketball courts or in rock bands. They're found on the 
backs of engines and the front seats of squad cars.''
    Over the past 20 months, Americans have rediscovered how much we owe 
the men and women who repeat an oath and carry a badge. They have not 
only taken a job, they have accepted a mission. When they are called for 
help, they answer it. You see danger; they will confront it. All of us 
rely, every day, on their high standards of conduct, their skill, and 
your sense of duty.
    In the spring of last year, Sheriff's Deputy David March of Los 
Angeles County pulled over a stolen car and was shot and killed by the 
driver. His colleagues remember him as a good street cop. It's one of 
the most perilous and essential jobs in America. His boss, Sheriff Lee 
Baca, said, ``an honest man who had no fear, a man of faith who believed 
in others.'' About a week before his death, Deputy March sent an e-mail 
to his station commander, and here's what he said. ``My goals are 
simple. I will always be painfully honest, work as hard as I can, learn 
as much as I can, and make a difference in people's lives.''
    These are the values we expect of every sworn law enforcement 
officer, honesty and hard work and devoted service. These are the values 
Americans see every day in the officers of law who patrol the streets 
and highways, investigate crimes, and arrest the accused. And every time 
such a man or woman is

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taken from us, our Nation has lost one of its finest citizens, a 
community has lost a friend and protector, and a family has lost an 
example of character and courage who they will love and respect forever. 
Today in their memory, the flag of the United States of America flies at 
halfstaff. We pray God's blessings on those who grieve. Our Nation 
honors each name. We are grateful for each life.
    May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless the United 
States of America.

Note: The President spoke at 12:40 p.m. on the West Grounds at the 
Capitol. In his remarks, he referred to Chuck Canterbury, national 
president, Steve Young, former national president, and James O. Pasco, 
Jr., executive director, Fraternal Order of Police; Aliza Clark, 
president, Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary; New York City Police 
Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly; and singer Marc Anthony.