[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 3 (Monday, January 24, 2005)]
[Pages 73-74]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the ``Celebration of Freedom'' Concert

January 19, 2005

    Thank you all. Thank you all for coming. Thanks for being out here 
in the cold. You know, I was realizing there is--you know, no night is 
too cold to celebrate freedom.
    Mr. Vice President, thank you for your kind introduction. I thank 
you and Lynne for your fine service to the American people. Our Nation 
has never had a finer Vice President. Sorry, Dad. [Laughter] Our Nation 
has never had a finer First Lady than Laura. Sorry, Mother. [Laughter]
    I'm really proud that much of my family is with me tonight and will 
be there tomorrow. I'm really so happy my dad and mom are with us.
    Appreciate the members of the Cabinet who are here, Members of 
Congress, members of the Armed Forces. How about the Apollo astronauts? 
I can't thank them enough for coming. And I love our entertainers who 
are here. I want to thank our host, Ryan Seacrest. Thanks for so much, 
Ryan. You're doing a fine job. I appreciate you being here.
    I want to thank all the other entertainers who have come tonight. It 
means so much to Laura and me, and I hope it means a lot to you, that 
they have taken time out of their busy schedules to entertain you and to 
kick off this Inauguration.

    I really thank you all for coming. Many of you have traveled a long 
way. What you're doing is you're taking a part in a great tradition of 
hope and renewal in our Nation's Capital, and we are really glad you are 
here.

    An Inauguration is a time of unity for our country. With the 
campaign behind us, Americans lift up our sights to the years ahead and 
to the great goals we will achieve for our country. I am eager and ready 
for the work ahead, and I know that this office carries a duty to the 
entire Nation. After all, we are one America, and every day that I am 
your President, I will serve all Americans.

    In these 4 years, we have moved forward as a people. We have faced 
challenges. We have faced them together. And we've taken up serious 
tasks at home as well as abroad. We have grown in appreciation for our 
freedom, and we have grown in appreciation for the men and women who 
defend it.

    At this very hour, more than a million of our fellow citizens are 
standing watch for America. We are grateful to them all, and we are 
grateful to their families. We pray for our troops; we pray for their 
families. And on this night, as we celebrate the blessing of liberty, 
America honors the spirit of service that keeps our Nation strong and 
free.

    Tomorrow I will take an oath and deliver an Inaugural Address. 
You'll be pleased to hear I'm not going to deliver it twice. But I will 
speak about freedom. This is the cause that unites our country and gives 
hope to the world and will lead us to a future of peace. We have a 
calling from beyond the stars to stand for freedom, and America will 
always be faithful to that cause.

    Thank you for coming. May God bless you, and may God continue to 
bless our great Nation. Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 5:57 p.m. on the Ellipse. In his remarks, 
he referred to radio and television personality Ryan Seacrest.

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