[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 36 (Monday, September 15, 2008)]
[Pages 1199-1200]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Arrival in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

September 12, 2008

    I'm privileged to be the President of a country that produces 
citizens such as these. The United States is a country of volunteers, 
and three such volunteers are with us, Oklahoma citizens who serve in a 
variety of ways.
    Karen has produced a tie to--a way to keep our--to help our soldiers 
stay cool in Iraq. She is supportive of our troops. She and her 
organization have done fine work.
    The major here, a golf pro, who is going to go on his third tour in 
Iraq, has used his position in the golfing industry to raise money to 
help Gold Star families. How cool is that? This guy is going to Iraq on 
Monday, and yet, he has--he served that way, but he also serves in a 
very compassionate way.
    Captain Castleberry and some of his folks he works with out at 
Sheriff's Department pulled up stakes and headed down to Morgan City, 
Louisiana in the wake of Gustav. Nobody made him do it; he just decided 
to do it on his own.
    Our country is better off because millions of citizens, such as 
these three folks, have heard the call to serve something greater than 
themselves. And I urge our fellow citizens all around the Nation to find 
ways to serve. It turns out that when you help somebody in need you help 
yourself even more.
    I am deeply concerned about Hurricane Ike. It is a major storm 
headed toward a large population center. I was on the phone this morning 
with Secretary Chertoff and Director Paulison of FEMA. I spoke to my 
friend, Governor Perry, yesterday. The State of Texas is preparing for 
this emergency. I suspect there's going to be some Texans headed for 
Oklahoma. And I know that they're going to find good people up here who 
want to help them.
    And so I want to thank the citizens of Oklahoma for getting ready to 
help a Texan in need. I urge my fellow Texans to listen carefully to 
what the authorities are saying in Galveston County or parts of Harris 
County, up and down the coast. We'll be monitoring the situation very 
carefully. The Federal Government will not only help with the pre-storm 
strategy, but once this storm passes, we'll be

[[Page 1200]]

working with State and local authorities to help people recover as 
quickly as possible.
    Thank you all for what you're doing; God bless your work. Good luck 
to you.

Note: The President spoke at 9:20 a.m. at Tinker Air Force Base. In his 
remarks, he referred to Karen Stark, founder, HUGS Project; Dan Rooney, 
founder, Folds of Honor Foundation; Capt. Joe Castleberry, Oklahoma 
County Sheriff's Office; and Gov. Rick Perry of Texas.