[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 51 (Monday, December 26, 2005)]
[Pages 1901-1902]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks to Caregivers at the National Naval Medical Center

December 21, 2005

    Thanks for such a warm welcome. Laura and I are thrilled to be back 
at this unbelievable facility--unbelievable because of the buildings and 
the technology that's used here and the equipment but, more importantly, 
because of the decency and compassion and skill of our healers that work 
for our country.
    So first we want to thank you all for helping do a really important 
job. And that is to be able to say to our country, at any time anybody 
gets hurt anywhere, they're going to get the best medical care possible. 
And that's done right here at Bethesda, as well as Walter Reed. And so 
we're here to thank the nurses and the docs and the healers and the 
volunteers who help put the smile on the faces of those who have been 
hurt as well as their families.
    One of the great blessings of our country is the fact that there are 
millions of compassionate souls who are willing to try to make 
somebody's life better.
    I want to thank Admiral Robinson and Dr. Winkenwerder, Admiral 
Arthur. I want to thank General Kiley and Lieutenant General Peach 
Taylor, as well as Major General Farmer. And thank Tom Travis, as well--
happens to be his birthday, by the way. [Laughter] His wife said, 
``You're birthday gift is to say hello to the President,'' not a really 
good gift. [Laughter] Anyway. [Laughter]

[[Page 1902]]

    We're serving in an amazing time. I say, ``We're serving,'' because 
we're serving together. It is a time when this Nation of ours is facing 
unbelievable challenges. There is an enemy that still lurks, that wants 
to bring harm to the American people. And we've got to do everything in 
our power to protect the American people; that is our solemn duty. There 
is a fantastic opportunity, as we defeat this enemy, to lay the 
foundation for peace for generations to come.
    We have a great opportunity as a generation called to act, called to 
protect America, to seize the moment and defeat this ideology with 
freedom. You know, I like to tell people about how--``amazed'' isn't the 
right word--but how stark this story I'm about to tell you is to me, 
what an amazing contrast it is about Japan.
    You know, my dad, as an 18-year-older signed up--in the United 
States Navy, by the way. [Applause] There you go. And there were a lot 
of 18-year-old and 19-year-old and 20-year-old kids, and some older 
people, too--[laughter]--to fight against a sworn enemy which had 
attacked us.
    Laura and I just got back from the Far East, and I sat down at the 
table with the Prime Minister of Japan, talking about how to keep the 
peace, talking about how to deal with North Korea, talking about how--
and thanking him, by the way, for sending troops to Iraq to help this 
young democracy develop. And it was that contrast between what 41 did 
and what 43 is doing--that would be my dad and me. [Laughter] To sit 
down with a dad--which we're going to do here over Christmas--who fought 
the Japanese, and his son is helping to keep the peace with the 
Japanese, something had to have happened.
    And one of my predecessors, Harry Truman, recognized the power of 
freedom to transform an enemy into an ally; that's what happened. And so 
Japan adopted a Japanese-style democracy, and in that democracies don't 
fight each other; in that democracy is the best way to encourage a 
peaceful world; it's working.
    And what we're seeing today is brave troops and committed citizens 
who are not only determined to chase down the killers and bring them to 
justice before they hurt us again, but understand that by spreading 
freedom and democracy, we're battling an ideology of darkness with an 
ideology of hope. And we're laying that foundation for peace for 
generations to come. The task at hand is one that requires determination 
and discipline and great faith in the ideals of human freedom and human 
liberty.
    And so coming here today is a chance to not only thank you for being 
a part of this incredible team of healers but also, being a part of this 
historic moment. Someday, an American President will be sitting down 
with a duly elected leader of Iraq, working hard to keep the peace, and 
future generations of Americans will be saying, ``Thank God this 
generation of America stood strong for what we believe.''
    And so on behalf of a grateful nation, thanks for doing your duty. 
Thanks for serving. Thanks for being an important part of this march for 
freedom, and thanks, most of all, for bringing comfort and aid and 
solace to those who have been hurt on the battlefield and their 
families.
    We wish you a Merry Christmas and a blessed 2006. May God bless your 
work, and may God continue to bless the United States.

Note: The President spoke at 10:34 a.m. In his remarks, he referred to 
Adm. Adam M. Robinson, USN, commander, National Naval Medical Center; 
Maj. Gen. Kenneth L. Farmer, Jr., USA, commanding general, North 
Atlantic Regional Medical Command and Walter Reed Army Medical Center; 
Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Travis, USAF, commander, 89th Medical Group, and 
his wife, Sally; and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan.