[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 23 (Monday, June 7, 2004)]
[Page 972]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Telephone Remarks to the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom

May 30, 2004

    Thank you, Artie. It's great talking to you. I'm so pleased to speak 
to the members of Rolling Thunder as you attend the annual Ride for 
Freedom. I want to thank you for your leadership. You might tell them, 
Artie, that it was my honor to host you in the Oval Office--you and Mike 
Cobb and Gary Sheffmeyer and Jay Fairlamb and other special guests. I 
really appreciated you coming by to say hello.
    I also received a letter from you last week, if you know, Artie. I 
thought you were going to offer me riding lessons--turned out you 
offered me Rolling Thunder's national endorsement for my reelection, and 
I want to thank you for your support. I'm really proud to have you stand 
by me--and the membership.
    But more importantly, I appreciate the tremendous service that the 
members of Rolling Thunder perform on behalf of our veterans and active 
duty Armed Forces. I'm not surprised you're doing such good work 
because, like you, Artie, most are veterans. You understand the 
definition of sacrifice.
    This weekend, as you mentioned, is Memorial Day, a day we honor the 
memory of the heroes who have fallen in battle. And I want to thank you 
for recognizing that, Artie, and I want to thank your vast membership 
for recognizing that as well.
    I'm also calling to thank you because for 17 years you've worked to 
see that our war veterans are remembered, returned home, and reunited 
with their families. I know that your work and your persistence and your 
diligence means a lot to relatives all over our country who wonder about 
their loved one--the fate of their loved one. In the Oval Office, I 
looked you in the eye as you told me about your relentless pursuit of 
finding out the plight of many of our POW/MIAs, and I appreciate so very 
much your concern, your care, and your persistence.
    I also want to thank you and your organization, Artie, for honoring 
the men and women of our military who fight today in Afghanistan and in 
Iraq. You and I know--both know that they're carrying out this mission, 
a mission which will make America more secure and the world more free, 
with incredible courage and compassion and skill.
    I am proud to be the Commander in Chief of these brave Americans. I 
will do--I will always honor their service. I will do everything in my 
power to ensure that they and their families receive the gratitude and 
respect of our great Nation.
    It's a high honor, Artie, to serve as President of this great 
country. I work every day to be worthy of that honor. And I'm calling to 
tell you how much I appreciate the great faith you and your organization 
have placed in me by endorsing me for a second term.
    Ride safe. May God bless you. May God bless your families, and may 
God continue to bless our great country. Thanks a lot.

Note: The President spoke at 1:40 p.m. from the Residence at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Artie Muller, president, Mike 
Cobb, chairman of the board, Gary Sheffmeyer, vice president, and 
Preston B. ``Jay'' Fairlamb, second vice president, Rolling Thunder, 
Inc.