[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 41 (Monday, October 15, 2007)]
[Pages 1316-1318]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, 
Maryland

October 7, 2007

    Thank you all. Thank you. Please be seated. Thanks for the warm 
welcome. David, thank you very much for your introduction. Nothing 
better than being introduced by an old fire chief. And I thank you for 
your service, Dave. It is such an honor to be here. I was telling Laura 
on the phone--she didn't make it; I apologize, and so does she--but I 
said, I'm going down the hill--I was up at Camp David--I'm going down 
the hill to be with some remarkable people and their families and to 
honor those who served. I said, I can't wait to go and to--be in their 
midst because I hold the firefighters in such high regard. I have a deep 
respect in my soul for people who serve our communities.
    As David mentioned, far too often we go to sites that have been 
devastated by natural disaster, for example. Every time, the 
firefighters are there--every time. It's clear that the people here who 
wear the uniform have a different view of jurisdiction than a lot of our 
citizens. You know, from New York after 9/11 to New Orleans after 
Katrina, there were firefighters from around the country there to help. 
The bond between the firefighters is obviously unique; it is definitely 
a source of strength. And it's a reminder that the work here is a 
calling, not a job.
    I want to thank the foundation for working hard to ensure that the 
families of those who have died in--are well treated. I want to tell you 
today that the Hometown Heroes Act will be fully implemented. This 
program will be administrated the way it was intended to be 
administrated. That's the least we can do as we honor the families of 
those who have died in the line of service.
    I also am amazed at the compassion I see amongst those who wear the 
uniform for their comrades. Anyway, thanks for having me. I'm sorry it's 
under these circumstances that we have to be together. I hope our 
presence can help heal your hearts just a little bit. And I'm looking 
forward to giving you a hug if you want a hug or smiling for a picture 
if you want to smile for a picture. But most of all, I'm looking forward 
to honoring your loved ones.
    I want to thank Steny Hoyer for joining us. He is--he respects you 
like I respect you, and he can pay tribute about as eloquently as 
anybody I have heard. I appreciate Roscoe Bartlett--he's the Congressman 
from this district--for joining us as well.
    I want to thank the mayor of Emmitsburg, Mayor Hoover, for joining 
us. I appreciate Chief Cade. I want to thank my friend Hal Bruno, who is 
the chairman of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. I want to 
thank the members of the board of directors who are here. I appreciate 
you all coming.
    You know, it takes a special kind of person to be a firefighter. It 
begins with a different sense of direction. When an area becomes

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too dangerous for everybody else, you take it over. When others are 
looking for the exits, our firefighters are looking for the way in. When 
the frightened occupants of a burning building are rushing down the 
stairwell, our firefighters are going the opposite direction--up the 
stairs and toward the flames.
    And you wonder where people like this get their courage. I'm sure a 
lot of it has to do with how they were raised or the examples of other 
firefighters in the communities in which they live. But the truth of the 
matter is that courage also comes from the community of firefighters. 
You work as teams; you share meals together. And when tragedy strikes, 
your dedication to one another ensures that no family will ever have to 
face the pain alone.
    Your presence here is a sign of that camaraderie. I see grieving 
widows sitting side by side with a firefighter in uniform--it's the 
camaraderie of respect and compassion. Today 91 new names go up on this 
memorial. It is sometimes said of your fallen comrades that they lost 
their lives in the line of duty. On this day, at this place, we say more 
accurately: The men and women we honor are people who gave their lives 
in the line of duty.
    We honor the service and sacrifices of firefighters like Kevin 
Apuzzio of New Jersey. Kevin started his career at age 16 when he joined 
an emergency medical unit. In college, he signed up for the East 
Franklin Volunteer Fire Company. Kevin was killed when he was trying to 
rescue a 75-year-old woman from her burning home. At Rutgers University, 
where Kevin was a student, they have named a public safety training 
center after him. And the president of the school put it simply: ``We 
want people to know that a hero walked on this campus.''
    We honor the service and sacrifice of firefighters like Amy 
Schnearle-Pennywitt of Michigan. Amy grew up dreaming of becoming a 
firefighter, and she achieved that dream. On a freezing morning in 2006, 
the Ann Arbor Fire Department responded to a crash on an icy highway. 
And Amy arrived on the scene and then was fatally struck by a pickup 
truck that had skidded out of control. In a tribute, the local newspaper 
called firefighters like Amy the backbone of our society. I believe that 
too. The editorial put it this way: ``We call them. And they come.''
    We honor the service and sacrifice of firefighters like Destry 
Horton. Destry worked for two fire departments in Oklahoma, the local 
department in Chickasha and the Grady County Fire Department. Destry was 
killed because he gave up a day of golfing so he could go help his 
comrades battling the wildfires in southern Oklahoma. He suffered 
terrible burns, and those burns would take his life. I found it 
interesting that at his funeral, a contingent of firefighters from New 
York showed up to pay their respects. Here's what one of them said, he 
said, ``It's sort of payback from after September the 11th when we had 
firefighters from around the world who came to show their support for 
us. This is a brother, and we wanted to be here.''
    We are here this afternoon for the same reason. That's why we're 
here. We're here for the friends and neighbors who risked their lives to 
keep us safe. And we're here for the colleagues who answered a call and 
did not come home. We're here for the brave moms and dads who left 
behind families that now need our love and our strong support.
    Families of our fallen firefighters have suffered a terrible loss. 
No words can ease the ache in your hearts. At this difficult time, we 
will try to help by taking you in our arms. We offer you our heartfelt 
and sincere compassion. We hope it is some comfort to know that your 
loved ones will live on forever in the memory of the communities they 
served so well.
    To the colleagues of those who have fallen: Your fellow firefighters 
knew the risks when they took the oath of service. Take pride in the 
example they have set. Honor their memory by carrying on the fine work 
that they were so proud to do by your side.
    And to all Americans: Across our great country, homes still stand 
and families can go about their lives because firefighters put 
themselves in harm's way to protect us. So when you walk by a firehouse 
or see an ambulance on a street corner, take a moment to go up and say 
thank you. I ask my fellow Americans to pray for their safety, and pray 
that we live lives worthy of the sacrifices made by those whose names we 
add to this memorial today.

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    I appreciate you having me. I ask for the Almighty's blessings on 
you, and may He continue to bless the United States of America.

Note: The President spoke at 10:38 a.m. In his remarks, he referred to 
R. David Paulison, Director, Federal Emergency Management Agency, who 
introduced the President; Mayor Jim Hoover of Emmitsburg, MD; Gregory B. 
Cade, Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistant Administrator for 
the U.S. Fire Administration; Richard L. McCormick, president, Rutgers 
University; and Richard Schmidt, firefighter, New York City Fire 
Department.