[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 49 (Monday, December 8, 2003)]
[Page 1719]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

November 29, 2003

    Good morning. On Thursday, I was honored to travel to Iraq to spend 
Thanksgiving with some of the finest men and women serving in our 
military.
    My message to the troops was clear: Your country is thankful for 
your service; we are proud of you; and America stands with you in all 
that you are doing to defend America. I'm pleased to report back from 
the frontlines that our troops are strong. Morale is high, and our 
military is confident we will prevail.
    Many members of our Armed Forces, Guard, and Reserve observed 
Thanksgiving in places far from home. In Afghanistan, Iraq, and 
elsewhere, our military is confronting the terrorist enemy so we don't 
meet that enemy in our own country. They're serving the cause of 
freedom. They're helping millions of people in newly liberated countries 
to build lives of dignity and hope. They are protecting the lives and 
security of the American people. All of us can be grateful to live in a 
country that has produced such brave men and women who stand between us 
and the dangers of the world.
    This holiday weekend is also a time when many proud military 
families are also feeling separation and worry. Long deployments in 
dangerous places have added hardships in military communities across the 
country. Many parents are dealing with the burdens of raising families 
while praying for the safe return of a loved one. Our whole Nation 
respects and appreciates the commitment and sacrifice of our military 
families.
    Americans are also thinking of the military families that must face 
this holiday with sorrow of recent loss. It is the nature of terrorism 
that a small number of people can inflict such terrible grief. Every 
person who dies in the line of duty commands the special gratitude of 
the American people. And the military families that mourn can know this: 
Our Nation will not forget their loved ones and the sacrifice they made 
to protect us all.
    The courage of our soldiers and their families show the spirit of 
this country in great adversity. And many citizens are showing their 
appreciation by helping military families here at home. Members of the 
VFW have started an Adopt-A-Unit program, so veterans and their families 
can support military units in Iraq and Afghanistan. Volunteers from a 
group called Rebuilding Together have repaired homes for military 
families while their spouses are deployed.
    Citizens interested in finding volunteer opportunities to support 
our military should visit the USA Freedom Corps web site at 
usafreedomcorps.gov.
    Our Nation owes a debt of gratitude to every member of the United 
States military and to their families. It was a privilege to offer that 
gratitude in person to some of our troops serving in Iraq. May God bless 
them all, and may He continue to bless the United States of America.
    Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 9:55 a.m. on November 28 at the Bush 
Ranch in Crawford, TX, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on November 29. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
November 28 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The 
Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
transcript of this address.