[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 17 (Monday, May 1, 2006)]
[Pages 792-794]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Presenting the Commander in Chief's Trophy to the United 
States Naval Academy Midshipmen

April 25, 2006

    Thank you. Be seated. Welcome to the White House. For you Navy fans, 
it's welcome to the White House again. [Laughter] I am so honored to 
welcome the Midshipmen from the United States Naval Academy here to the 
Rose Garden, and I congratulate you for winning your third straight 
Commander in Chief Trophy.
    I also want to announce that Coach Johnson is now a member of the 
White House Frequent Visitors Club. [Laughter]
    I appreciate, like a lot of Americans, the football rivalry between 
our military academies. It's truly one of the country's great 
traditions.
    This season the Midshipmen have pretty well handled that rivalry in 
good shape, set a good standard by winning their games against the Air 
Force and the Army. But the greatest achievement for the Midshipmen will 
be when they join their counterparts from West Point and Colorado 
Springs to help us win the war on terror. So we're glad you all are 
here.
    I'm particularly pleased to see members of the Naval Academy Board 
of Visitors who are also in the United States Congress, starting with 
Congressman Steny Hoyer. Thank you for coming, Steny. Congressman Mike 
McIntyre, proudly wearing that Navy hat; Congressman John Kline; as 
well, we have Congressman Ben Cardin. Thank you all for coming--proud 
you're here.

[[Page 793]]

    I appreciate the Secretary of the Navy Don Winter is with us. Mr. 
Secretary, thank you for coming. Admiral Ed Giambastiani--and for those 
of you who don't speak English too well, we call him Admiral G--happens 
to be the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a fine man.
    Vice Admiral--I mean, Admiral Mike Mullen, Chief of Naval 
Operations; we're proud you're here, Admiral Mullen. Thanks for the job 
you're doing. As well as Vice Admiral Rod Rempt. Rod, it's good to see 
you. Thank you for your service.
    I appreciate the members of the Naval Academy football team who are 
here. I thank the members of the Naval Academy coaching staff who are 
here, particularly the head coach who seems to have done a pretty good 
job, might deserve a little pay raise if I might make a suggestion, you 
know what I'm saying? [Laughter] I don't know if you agree with that or 
not, Coach? Yes. [Laughter]
    This team is a source of great pride for the brigade of Midshipmen 
and Navy fans everywhere. It will hold a special place in Navy football 
history. Nothing like making history.
    This team showed great resilience. After losing its first two games 
in heartbreaking fashion, the team went on to win 8 of the next 10, and 
5 of those were come-from-behind wins.
    It took a little bit to be a Navy fan this year, a little patience, 
a little faith. But the faith paid off. The Poinsettia Bowl victory in 
San Diego was the first time a Navy team has ever won bowl games in 
back-to-back years. And we congratulate you for that feat. Pretty good 
deal to win big bowls and study hard and prepare to serve your Nation.
    I appreciate the fact that the Navy offense led the nation in 
rushing. And second place to the Navy rushing record was the mighty 
Texas Longhorn team--[laughter]--whose offensive lineman only weighed 
about 40 pounds per person more.
    Seniors on this team have led one of the most dramatic turnarounds 
in college football history. Navy has won 26 games in the past 3 seasons 
after winning just 3 games during the previous 3 years. The seniors are 
the sixth class in Academy history to have beaten Army all 4 years.
    The lessons learned on the football field are preparing you all well 
for your next mission, which is winning the war against the terrorists. 
Every player on this team works hard to win on Saturday afternoons, but 
like the rest of your Midshipmen, your top priority is preparing to 
defend this Nation.
    The thing I appreciate about the folks here is that when it came 
time to serve our country, they said, ``I volunteer to serve. I 
recognize there's something more important than life, than serving 
myself. I want to serve my nation.'' And for that the American people 
are really grateful.
    The leadership and discipline and teamwork you have learned not only 
on the field of play but at the Naval Academy will serve you well as you 
become commissioned officers in the world's finest military. And I 
assure you, and I know the Members of Congress assure you, we intend to 
keep our military the world's finest military.
    This Nation is at war, a war we are going to win. And many of your 
teammates are serving and sacrificing at this very hour. And we send our 
prayers and best wishes to them. I appreciate the service of people like 
Marine First Lieutenant Brian Stann, a former Navy linebacker who was 
awarded the Silver Star last month for his actions and his bravery in 
Iraq.
    Today, there are sailors and marines who are leading vital missions 
in Afghanistan and in Iraq and around the world. Graduates from the 
Naval Academy patrol the world's oceans to keep deadly weapons out of 
the hands of the terrorists and are maintaining America's command of the 
seas.
    You protect our Nation, and equally importantly, you're laying the 
foundation of peace for a generation of Americans to come. And so we're 
here to first and foremost honor a really fine football team and present 
the Commander in Chief Trophy. But as well, we pay tribute to men and 
women who wear the uniform of the United States and say thank you from 
the bottom of our collective hearts for protecting us.
    My God bless the Midshipmen, and may God continue to bless our 
country.

Note: The President spoke at 2:05 p.m. in the Rose Garden at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Paul Johnson, head coach, U.S.

[[Page 794]]

Naval Academy football team; and Vice Adm. Rodney P. Rempt, USN, 
superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy.