[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 20 (Monday, May 21, 2007)]
[Pages 633-635]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the National Peace Officers Memorial Service

May 15, 2007

    Thanks for coming; please be seated. Thank you. Thank you, Chuck. I 
have been here ever since I've been the President, in an event like 
this, and it's fitting because this is a really important day for our 
country. It's a day we remember men and women who fell in the line of 
duty. Each swore an oath to uphold the law. Each assumed the 
responsibility of protecting neighbors and communities. Each has earned 
a place in our Nation's heart. We thank them for their lives of service, 
and we pray to an Almighty God that He bring comfort to you during this 
time of sorrow.
    I appreciate Chuck Canterbury, president of the Fraternal Order of 
Police. I thank the members of my Cabinet who have joined us

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today. I appreciate so very much Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for 
being here today. I thank Senator Leahy, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, 
Minority Leader John Boehner, and all the Members of Congress who have 
joined us. I thank Aliza Clark, Jim Pasco. Father Vytas, thank you for 
your prayers. Appreciate Patrick Nigh, who sang the National Anthem; Lee 
Greenwood, friend of law enforcement.
    I thank the police officers who are here. I am honored to be in your 
presence. I'm constantly amazed by your courage. I thank you for serving 
the United States of America.
    To the moms and dads, husbands and wives, and sons and daughters who 
have got a hole in your heart today, I bring a collective hug from the 
people of the United States of America.
    It takes a special kind of person to serve in law enforcement. Most 
people run from danger; law enforcement runs toward it. You've chosen 
one of the toughest jobs in the world, and I suspect during times of 
dangerous duty or lonely patrols, it might seem like the only person you 
can depend upon is each other. A day like today, I hope, not only helps 
our families but helps those who serve remember that a larger community 
here in this country stands with you, that we're grateful for your 
service.
    We saw this gratitude last year in Montgomery, Alabama, as thousands 
of citizens mourned a young officer named Keith Houts. Keith was shot 
during a routine traffic stop. He held on 2 days before succumbing. He 
was 30 years old. As expected, police officers from Alabama came to 
mourn him--that's what happens; when a fellow officer dies in the line 
of service, the officers show up--but so did citizens he never met. 
Thousands and thousands of citizens came to honor this good man. An 
overflow crowd attended the funeral; every church pew was filled. 
Mourners stood. An anonymous citizen paid lodging expenses for members 
of Keith's family so they could make it to the service. The community 
embraced Keith's young widow, Ashley, who's here. She had been a wife 
just for 15 months. Ashley said this of her late husband: ``I know what 
he meant to me, but it is important to know what he meant to everyone 
else.''
    We've seen similar outpourings of support in other places. Last 
year, in Fairfax County, Virginia, thousands of strangers lined city 
streets to bid farewell to two officers, Vicky Armel and Michael 
Garbarino. They were shot while doing their duty. Those who gathered 
along one of the funeral routes included all kinds of people, total 
strangers paying homage--a grocery store cashier, a fellow from Belgium 
was there, a local resident who told a reporter she wanted to thank the 
police who, as she put it, ``worry so we don't have to.''
    We saw a similar scene in Colorado Springs after the murder of 
Kenneth Jordan. Cars stopped along the interstate as drivers watched the 
funeral procession from railings and bridges. Children were waving flags 
in honor of a good man. One man brought his sons to pay tribute to an 
officer who he said ``gave up his life up for us.'' Another held up a 
sign that said: ``God bless you and keep you safe. Thanks so much.''
    That sign sums up the feeling of millions of our fellow citizens: 
God bless you, and thanks so much. Laura and I feel the same way. You 
know, we shared the grief of the family of Steve Favela, who is a 
Honolulu police officer who died last year from injuries he suffered 
during a motorcade that was protecting us. His death is a reminder of 
the daily risks that each officer assumes.
    I don't know if you realize this, but police officers are routinely 
named among America's most respected profession. And that's why 
strangers mourn for the loss of life and honor those who serve. That's 
why so many children choose you as role models.
    With us today are young children who've lost their moms and dads in 
the line of duty. It's got to be awfully hard. The pain is fresh, and 
they feel that every time they come home, looking for a mom or dad they 
love. It's hard to understand the loss you've suffered, but hopefully 
today you leave with the sense that there are all kinds of people 
praying for you and honoring your dad or mom; millions Americans grieve.
    When I hope--you're older you'll come to this ceremony again and 
find some comfort here. Perhaps you'll bring your own children and share 
your memories of your parents and the pride in what they did. You can 
tell them

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your parents were great because of what they risked. You can tell them 
they served a cause greater than themselves.
    We're proud of all our Nation's fallen police officers. We're sorry 
you're here, but now that you are, we care about you a lot, and we love 
you. We're grateful for what they have given us.
    May God bless you all. May God bless those who wear the uniforms of 
the United States of America. And may God continue to bless our country.

Note: The President spoke at 12:38 p.m. on the West Grounds at the U.S. 
Capitol. In his remarks, he referred to Aliza Clark, executive board 
president, Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary; James O. Pasco, Jr., 
executive director, Steve Young Law Enforcement Legislative Advocacy 
Center; Father Vytas Memenas, State chaplain, Illinois State Lodge, 
Fraternal Order of Police; Officer Patrick Nigh, St. Louis County Police 
Department; and entertainer Lee Greenwood.