[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 10 (Monday, March 12, 2007)]
[Pages 255-256]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Tour of Enterprise High School and an Exchange With 
Reporters in Enterprise

March 3, 2007

    The heart of a community like Enterprise, Alabama, is the schools. 
And today I have walked through devastation that's hard to describe. Our 
thoughts, of course, go out to the students who perished. We thank God 
for the hundreds who lived. I want the folks of Enterprise to know that 
to the extent the Government can, our Federal Government can, in working 
with the State, we'll help rebuild the school system--this high school. 
We can never replace lives, and we can't heal hearts, except through 
prayer. And I know--I want the students to know and the families to know 
that there's a lot of people praying for them.
    I met with the president of the student body, who recognizes that 
the end of her senior year is going to be difficult. But as a student 
leader, she will have the opportunity to help people rebuild, and that 
she will learn that out of the devastation--and her classmates will 
learn that out of the devastation can come hope and a better tomorrow.
    And so we ask for the blessings on the students and their families. 
We ask for the blessings on the principal and the administrator. We 
thank this good community for rallying strongly by the side of those who 
have been affected. And I thank the people of Enterprise for the warm 
welcome I have received here.
    The people of America have got to know that the citizens here, even 
though affected by devastation, have shown great courage and compassion 
for their citizens in need. And it's really part of the strength of the 
United States to know that there's such decent folks.
    God bless everybody. Thank you all.

Aerial Tour of Areas Damaged by Tornadoes/Recovery

    Q. How did it look from the air, sir?
    The President. It looks as bad from the air as it looks from the 
ground. And you can see right here the effects of the storm. But the 
biggest effect of the storm is the shattered lives. We can rebuild 
buildings, and the fundamental question is, will the spirit stay strong 
in Enterprise, Alabama? And I predict that it not only will stay strong; 
it will be strengthened. That's my prediction. And it's easy to tell 
when you talk to the people, whether it's young or old, this town 
refuses to be devastated. This town is a town full of people that will 
not be--will not succumb to the effects of the storm. The mayor is 
strong; the principal of the school is strong; the Lieutenant; and the 
children, the high school seniors.
    And so it's a--these are very tough times for the people here, and 
there are going to

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be tough times for the people in Georgia that were affected. And I just 
hope they know that a lot of people are praying for them, that a lot of 
strangers that they'll never have met care for them, and that out of 
this rubble will emerge a better tomorrow, and that's the commitment 
that I hear here in Enterprise. And the role of the Government is going 
to help, to the extent that we can.
    All right, thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 9:24 a.m. In his remarks, he referred to 
Megan Parks, student government association president, and Rick Rainer, 
principal, Enterprise High School; and Mayor Kenneth W. Boswell of 
Enterprise, AL.