[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 37 (Monday, September 19, 2005)]
[Pages 1380-1381]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

September 10, 2005

    Good morning. On Sunday, our Nation will observe the fourth 
anniversary of the September the 11th terrorist attacks. Every American 
has memories of that day that will never leave them. We remember the 
images of fire and terror at the Pentagon, in Pennsylvania, and in the 
heart of New York City.
    We remember the ruthlessness of those who murdered the innocent and 
took joy in their suffering. We remember the courage of the police and 
firefighters and rescue personnel who rushed into burning buildings to 
save lives, knowing they might never emerge. And we remember the 
victims, moms and dads, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, 
husbands and wives, and the loved ones they left behind.
    As night fell on America on September the 11th, 2001, we felt grief 
and great sorrow. Yet we also saw that while the terrorists could kill 
the innocent, they could not defeat the spirit of our Nation. The 
despair and tragedy of that day were overcome by displays of 
selflessness, courage, and compassion.
    And in the days and weeks that followed, America answered history's 
call to bring justice to our enemies and to ensure the survival and 
success of liberty. And that mission continues today.
    Four years later, Americans remember the fears and uncertainty and 
confusion of that terrible morning. But above all, we remember the 
resolve of our Nation to defend our

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freedom, rebuild a wounded city, and care for our neighbors in need.
    Today, America is confronting another disaster that has caused 
destruction and loss of life. This time the devastation resulted not 
from the malice of evil men but from the fury of water and wind.
    Hurricane Katrina flattened entire towns along our gulf coast and 
left one of America's most storied cities under water. Tens of thousands 
have lost homes and loved ones and all their earthly possessions. The 
storm took countless lives and forced hundreds of thousands of people to 
flee from their communities, with no assurance of returning soon.
    Once more, our hearts ache for our fellow citizens, and many are 
left with questions about the future. Yet we are again being reminded 
that adversity brings out the best in the American spirit. In this time 
of great suffering, we have seen the courage and determination of rescue 
personnel who willingly risk their lives to save the lives of others. We 
have seen the spirit of America's armies of compassion who have rallied 
in response to this tragedy. Faith-based organizations and community 
groups and individual citizens across the country are caring for those 
affected by the storm and comforting those whose loved ones are lost or 
missing. Across our country, Americans are generously opening their 
homes and hearts to their brothers and sisters in need.
    To find out how you can help, I urge you to visit 
usafreedomcorps.gov or call 1-877-USA-CORPS. The citizens of the gulf 
coast can count on their fellow Americans in this time of trial, and 
their Government is standing with them as well.
    This week I signed legislation providing an additional $52 billion 
for response and recovery efforts. We have already begun distributing 
$2,000 in emergency relief to every displaced household, money they can 
use immediately for food, clothing, and other essentials. I have also 
called for all people from disaster areas to be granted special evacuee 
status, making it easier for them to collect Federal benefits like food 
stamps and Medicaid wherever they are in America.
    We are assisting the victims of Hurricane Katrina, and we will help 
the people of the gulf coast recover from adversity. Despite all they've 
endured, the people of that region are determined to rebuild their homes 
and reclaim their lives, and their fellow Americans are determined to 
help them. To accomplish the difficult work ahead of us, our Nation will 
call upon our vast resources and the ingenuity of our citizens, and 
these will be required in full measure.
    Our greatest resource in such times is the compassionate character 
of the American people, because even the most destructive storm cannot 
weaken the heart and soul of our Nation. America will overcome this 
ordeal, and we will be stronger for it. Even in the deepest darkness, we 
can see the light of hope, and the light shows us the way forward. We 
will honor the memory of those we have lost. We will comfort the victims 
of Katrina, and we will make the gulf coast more vibrant than ever.
    In all that lies before us, may God watch over the United States of 
America.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 7:50 a.m. on September 9 in the 
Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on September 
10. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on September 9 but was embargoed for release until the 
broadcast. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish 
language transcript of this address.