[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 46 (Monday, November 19, 2007)]
[Pages 1513-1515]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on National Adoption Day

November 16, 2007

    Nice line of work when you get introduced by your wife. [Laughter] 
Laura and I are sure glad you're here. I want to welcome Members of the 
Congress--Senators and Members of the House. Thank you all for coming. 
You're kind to take time to join our honored guests. We're really glad 
you're here in the White House. And we're pleased to join you on 
National Adoption Day. We offer a special welcome to the youngsters who 
have joined us. We're glad you all are here. You've just got to know 
this is the people's house. And I know you took time off from school to 
be here today. [Laughter] And I thank you for making such a difficult 
sacrifice. [Laughter]
    I thank the members of the National Adoption Day coalition who have 
joined us. Few missions in life are more rewarding than uniting loving 
children with moms and dads for the very first time. Each of you has 
known this blessing. That's got to make you feel good in your soul. 
You've shared it with others, and in so doing, you've strengthened what 
is the very foundation of our country, and that is the American family. 
I want to thank you for being part of something that is so remarkable 
and so special.
    It is fitting that we celebrate this day in a room honoring George 
Washington, or as some like to say, the original ``George W.'' 
[Laughter] There he is. He raised four children who were not his by 
birth. He cared for them, provided for them, and he offered them 
advice--even when they didn't want it. [Laughter] When one of his boys 
went off to college, Washington did what many parents do--he checked up 
on him. And in 1798, he sent the young man a letter. It said:

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``I have, with much surprise, been informed of your devoting much time 
to a certain young lady.'' And he went on to advise that ``your 
application to books is not [what] it ought to be.'' Well, some parents 
here today may be able to relate to this. It's probably hard to believe, 
but there was even a time when my dad--[laughter]--felt compelled to 
write such a letter. [Laughter]
    Since Washington's time, this house has known many leaders who 
understood that not every family is defined by biology. A true family is 
defined by love. Around the corner, for example, is a portrait of a 
proud adopted son named Gerald R. Ford. A few steps away is the portrait 
of a proud adoptive father named Ronald Reagan. Close by is a proud 
grandfather of two adopted grandchildren, George H.W. Bush. And here in 
this room are children who have strengthened families and enriched 
communities and warmed hearts. You are the living reminders that 
adoptions are stories of celebration, stories of hope, and stories of 
love.
    National Adoption Day also reminds us that not every child finds 
this happy ending. Each year, more than 100,000 foster children await 
adoption, and too many children will not find a permanent home. And so 
on this National Adoption Day, we remind our fellow citizens there's 
still plenty of acts of love to be done. Many people have worked with 
courts and foster homes and social workers to change that--and our 
Government has tried to help. And that's why I'm so proud Members of 
Congress are here.
    We have joined with community- and faith-based organizations to 
raise public awareness of foster children awaiting adoption. And we 
worked with the Congress to assist families to overcome financial 
barriers to adopting children. Nothing is more vital to this country's 
future than helping young people find the love, stability, and support 
from families.
    There's a man here, I told him--I warned him I was going to talk 
about him, and that's a fellow named Tom Wollack. I want my fellow 
citizens who may be listening to hear this story. Tom has much to be 
proud of. He served our country in Vietnam; he's a New York City 
firefighter. By the way, nothing finer than being a New York City 
firefighter. He rushed to the scene of the World Trade Center on 
September the 11th, 2001. While others were leaving, he's a bunch of 
them that went in.
    Yet at the top of his list of achievements are his seven children. 
Three were foster children that Tom later adopted. They're here--two 
college and one soon-to-be college attendee. They were born to parents 
struggling with drug addiction. Today they are deeply loved members of 
the Wollack family. He calls his family his foundation, and that 
foundation is here today, right here in the White House. We want to 
thank you for coming. I thank you for being a loving soul and truing--
showing our Nation the true meaning of family. Thank you, Tom.
    Each of the families here has shown the world the depth and wonder 
of the human heart. And because of people like you, this Thanksgiving 
holiday will be particularly special for thousands of families in 
thousands of homes. Many children will be giving thanks for being part 
of a family they never thought they would have. Many parents will look 
across the table at children who once were strangers and who are now 
priceless treasures in their lives.
    To the parents here today, please know how grateful we are that you 
have taken children in need of a hopeful start in life and made them 
your own. And to the young people here today, always remember that you 
are special not only because of what your parents have given you, but 
because of the love and joy you have given them. So thankful that the 
parents and children here today have found the gift of one another. And 
I encourage our citizens across the land to explore adoption, look into 
the joys of adoption, and provide love for somebody who needs it.
    I want to thank you all for coming. May God bless you and your 
families. May God bless our country. And now I'd ask the talented Rodney 
Atkins to come up here and perform some songs for us to celebrate this 
special day. God bless you.

Note: The President spoke at 2:22 p.m. in the East Room at the White 
House. The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also 
included the remarks of the First Lady.

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