[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 22 (Monday, June 6, 2005)]
[Pages 901-902]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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The President's Radio Address

May 28, 2005

    Good morning. This Memorial Day weekend, Americans pay tribute to 
those who have given their lives in the service of our Nation. As we 
honor the members of our Armed Forces who have died for our freedom, we 
also honor those who are defending our liberties today.
    On Friday, I met with some of the courageous men and women who will 
soon take their place in the defense of our freedom, the graduating 
class of the United States Naval Academy. These new officers will soon 
be serving on ships, flying combat missions, and leading our troops into 
battle against dangerous enemies. They are prepared for the challenges 
ahead, morally, mentally, and physically. The American people can be 
confident that their freedom is in good hands.
    Our citizens live in freedom because patriots are willing to serve 
and sacrifice for our liberty. And on Monday, I will lay a wreath at 
Arlington National Cemetery in honor of those who have made the ultimate 
sacrifice. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the end of World War 
II, a victory for freedom in which more than 400,000 Americans gave 
their lives. Today, a new generation of Americans is making its own 
sacrifice on behalf of peace and freedom, and some have given their 
lives.
    In their hometowns, these soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines are 
more than names on a roll of honor. They were friends and neighbors, 
teachers and coaches, classmates and colleagues. Each was the most 
important person in someone's life. Each had hopes for the future, and 
each left a place that can never be filled. We mourn their loss, and we 
honor their sacrifice. We pray for their families. And we take heart in 
knowing that these men and women believed deeply in what they were 
fighting for.
    Christopher Swisher was a staff sergeant from Lincoln, Nebraska, who 
joined the Army a year after graduating from high school. He was killed 
in an ambush while on patrol in Baghdad. Sergeant Swisher told his loved 
ones, ``If anything happens to me, I'm doing what I want to be doing--
I'm protecting my family and my home.''
    Rafael Peralta also understood that America faces dangerous enemies, 
and he knew the sacrifices required to defeat them. An immigrant from 
Mexico, he enlisted in the Marine Corps the day after he got his green 
card. Just before the battle of Fallujah, he wrote his 14-year-old 
brother, ``We are going to defeat the insurgents. Be proud of me. I'm 
going to make history and do something that I always wanted to do.'' A 
few days later, Sergeant Peralta gave his life to save his fellow 
marines.
    This Memorial Day, we remember Sergeant Peralta, Sergeant Swisher, 
and all who have given their lives for our Nation. And we honor them as 
we continue to wage the war on terror and spread freedom across the 
world. The people of Iraq and Afghanistan are determined to secure their 
freedom, and we will help them. We're training Iraqi and Afghan forces 
so they can take the fight to the enemy and defend their own countries, 
and then our troops will return home with the honor they have earned.
    Throughout our history, America has fought not to conquer but to 
liberate. We go to war reluctantly, because we understand the high cost 
of war. Those who have given their lives to defend America have the 
respect and gratitude of our entire Nation.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 7:45 a.m. on May 27 in the Cabinet 
Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on May 28. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
May 27 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office of 
the

[[Page 902]]

Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this 
address.