[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 45 (Monday, November 17, 2008)]
[Pages 1408-1411]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Rededication Ceremony at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space 
Museum in New York City

November 11, 2008

    Thank you all. Thank you for the warm welcome. Be seated. Charles 
and Rich, thanks a lot. I gratefully accept the Freedom Award. And I'm 
honored to be with you today as we rededicate a great monument to 
freedom, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. At this ceremony, we 
recognize nearly 55,000 Americans who served aboard the USS Intrepid, 
including some who are here today. And we commemorate Veterans Day by 
honoring all those who have worn the uniform of the Army, Navy, Air 
Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. Thank you for serving our great 
Nation.
    I am proud to be traveling with the First Lady of the United States, 
Laura Bush, the most patient woman in America. [Laughter] Governor, 
thank you for joining us. Secretary Kempthorne, Senator Hillary Clinton, 
I'm proud to be with you. Thank you for being here. Congressman Pete 
King, Congressman Charlie Rangel, Congressman Anthony Weiner, thank you 
all for joining us today. Looking forward to that lame duck session, 
aren't we? [Laughter]
    What an awesome guy General Jim Conway is, Commandant of the United 
States Marine Corps and member of the Joint Chiefs. Christine Quinn, 
thank you for your remarks. Bill White, the Vanna White of the Intrepid. 
He's a--[laughter]. Arnold Fisher and the Fisher family--what a fabulous 
contribution the Fishers have made to the United States of America, and 
we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
    John Rich--fellow Texan; John, tell them we're coming home, and 
we're coming home with our heads held high.
    Members of the Intrepid Museum and Foundation board of trustees; 
wounded warriors--you know, oftentimes they ask me, ``What are you going 
to miss about the Presidency?'' And first reaction is, I say, ``No 
traffic jams in New York.'' The truth of the matter is, I will miss 
being the Commander in Chief of such a fabulous group of men and women, 
those who wear the uniform of the United States military.
    Veterans Day has a long and solemn history. The event that inspired 
it took place 90 years ago today in a small railway car in a French 
forest. November the 11th, 1918, the Allied Powers and Germany signed an 
armistice that ended one of the bloodiest wars the world had ever 
witnessed. By the time that day arrived, World War I had raged for more 
than 4 years, and more than 8 million soldiers had given their lives. 
But on the 11th hour of the 11th day of that 11th month, the guns fell 
silent and peace began to return to Europe.
    To commemorate the war's end, President Woodrow Wilson declared that 
November the 11th should be remembered as Armistice Day, a holiday to 
honor the brave sacrifices of the American soldiers who defended 
democracy and freedom overseas. Today, we know it as Veterans Day, a day 
when we celebrate and thank and honor every man and woman who have 
served in our Armed Forces.
    These noble Americans are our sons and daughters, they are our 
fathers and mothers, they are our family, and they are our friends. They 
leave home to do the work of patriots, and they lead lives of quiet 
dignity when they return. Today we send a clear message to all who have 
worn the uniform: Thank you for your courage, thank you for your 
sacrifice, and thank you for standing up when your Nation needed you 
most.
    In the years since we began celebrating Veterans Day, America's 
Armed Forces have defended our freedom in many conflicts. And in those 
conflicts, they have often relied on the might of the USS Intrepid.
    The great ship's keel was laid on December 1, 1941. Less than a week 
later, Pearl Harbor was attacked, and America entered World War II. In 
the years to come, as the United States Navy defended the freedom

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in the Pacific, the men of the ``Fighting I'' would be in the thick of 
the battle. The Intrepid participated in the invasion of the Marshall 
Islands. She played a key role in the amphibious assault on Okinawa. She 
was part of one of the greatest sea battles in history, the Battles of 
Leyte Gulf.
    In that massive engagement, American forces faced some of the most 
formidable elements of the Japanese Navy. The Japanese fleet included 
the Yamamato [Yamato] * and the Musashi; these were the heaviest and the 
largest battleships ever constructed. The Imperial Navy approached the 
coast of the Philippines from three different directions, and it was a 
fearsome challenge, but the men of this ship were ready. The Intrepid's 
air group fought courageously and without rest. By the time the battle 
ended 3 days later, the United States Navy had sunk the Musashi to the 
ocean floor and lifted hopes for victory in the Pacific.
    * White House correction.
    The war ended the following year, but the Intrepid's mission did not 
end. As the United States raced into the new frontier of space, the 
Intrepid stood by to retrieve astronauts returning to Earth. During the 
cold war, she patrolled the Mediterranean and helped force the surrender 
of pro-Castro terrorists who had hijacked a freighter in the Caribbean, 
and did three tours off the waters of Vietnam. For our Nation's 
bicentennial celebration, the United States Congress paid a fitting 
tribute to this ship's extraordinary service when they selected the 
Intrepid to represent the United States Navy in Philadelphia.
    After more than 30 years at sea, the Intrepid was permanently 
decommissioned. Despite her amazing history, she was destined to be 
scrapped. But thanks to the work of the Intrepid Museum Foundation, she 
found a home in New York City. Since 1982, she has been a museum that 
educates new generations of Americans about the high price that those 
who came before them paid for their freedom.
    One of the veterans who has been honored here was a Navy pilot who 
flew Avenger torpedo planes during World War II. When he was invited 
onboard the Intrepid for the 50th anniversary of D-Day, he was moved to 
see that the museum had arranged for a vintage Avenger, painted in the 
style of his unit, to be right here on the deck. It just so happens that 
it was flanked by two of the men who had flown in his squadron. The man 
the Intrepid honored that day is a great American. He's a dedicated 
servant to this country, and I can tell you from personal experience 
he's a fabulous father.
    Even as a museum, the Intrepid still answered the call to service. 
I'm pretty certain most Americans don't understand what I'm about to 
tell you, but on September the 11th, when we came attacked just a few 
blocks from here, the Intrepid was used as an emergency command center. 
First-responders launched helicopters from the decks. It became clear 
that this ship, which helped defeat the great totalitarian threats of 
the 20th century, was front and center in the opening moments of a new 
struggle against the forces of hatred and fear.
    The war on terror has required courage; it has required resolve 
equal to what previous generations of Americans brought to the fields of 
Europe and the deep waters of the Pacific. And I'm proud to report to my 
fellow citizens, our Armed Forces, the Armed Forces of this generation, 
have showed up for the fight. And America is more secure for it.
    This morning, Laura and I flew up here with some brave men and women 
who are keeping us safe. I want to introduce them to you.
    Staff Sergeant Michael Noyce-Merino was the first National Guardsman 
ever to be named the Army's Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. Senior 
Airman Alicia Goetschel was named one of the Air Force's Outstanding 
Airmen of the Year for her work in keeping dangerous extremists off the 
streets of Iraq. Chief Petty Officer Shenequa Cox won several awards 
recognizing her as one of the Navy's finest sailors. Petty Officer First 
Class Chris Hutto was honored as the Coast Guard's Enlisted Person of 
the Year. And United States Marine Sergeant John Badon's bravery earned 
him two Purple Hearts for his service in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Where 
are my new pals? God bless you.

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    They are representatives of the finest our Nation offers. And they 
have the support of strong and caring and loving families. And so on 
this Veterans Day, not only do we honor those who have worn the uniform, 
those who are wearing the uniform, we honor their families. And we thank 
them from the bottom of our hearts.
    We have a moral obligation to support our families, and we have a 
moral obligation to support our veterans. It has been my privilege to 
work with Members of the United States Congress to nearly double the 
funding for those who have worn the uniform. It has been my privilege to 
work to implement the recommendations from the Dole-Shalala Commission, 
to make sure that we have a mental health care system and physical 
health care system worthy of the sacrifice of those who have worn the 
uniform.
    It has been my privilege to work with the United States Congress to 
expand education benefits for both members of our military as well as 
our veterans. It has been my privilege to say loud and clear to our 
veterans: We love you, we respect you, and we thank you for serving the 
United States of America.
    And I love what the Intrepid Relief Fund and the Intrepid Fallen 
Heroes Fund have done to support our veterans as well. They provided 
more than $100 million to military families in need. The Intrepid's 
Fisher House program has provided temporary housing for families of 
service men and women receiving medical treatment.
    At the center for the Intrepid's physical rehabilitation facility in 
San Antonio, Texas, America's wounded warriors receive some incredible 
medical care. I have seen what happens in this place of healing and hope 
firsthand. The Intrepid Center brings great compassion to those who have 
worn and are wearing the uniform. It also shows that the American people 
are incredibly generous in supporting the veterans. And I want to thank 
the Intrepid members, and those who support the Intrepid foundations, 
for your work on behalf of our country.
    Throughout the decades, our service men and women have shown a 
spirit of selfless courage. I was impressed by the story of Alonzo 
Swann, who on October 29, 1944, here on the deck of the Intrepid, had to 
help his fellow sailors deal with a kamikaze attack. He saw his best 
friend burning alive and caught in a gun mount. He rushed into the 
flames. He attempted to save his buddy, but before he could do so, an 
ammunition bin detonated; nine were killed, six injured, including 
Alonzo.
    For his bravery, he was awarded the Bronze Star. It's a high honor, 
but a lot of folks didn't think it was a high enough honor. They felt he 
deserved the Navy Cross, and many believed that he had been denied the 
Navy Cross because of the color of his skin--he was an African American. 
For 50 years his advocates petitioned the Government, and for 50 years 
they were unsuccessful. But he kept the faith. November 3, 1993, under 
the Presidency of my predecessor, President Bill Clinton, right here on 
the deck of the Intrepid, Alonzo Swann finally received his Navy Cross. 
And I want people to listen to what he said. He said, ``If you think 
you're right, fight your heart out.'' That ought to be the motto of the 
modern United States military. You think you're right, and you're 
fighting your heart out for the sake of peace and freedom, and we thank 
you for it.
    Laura and I are honored to be here. We're honored to see this 
majestic place. I love the fact that parents can answer a child's 
question about ``Why fight?'' with this answer: These brave souls fought 
for freedom, they fought for liberty, and they fought to guarantee the 
rights given to us by our Creator. And that has been the history of our 
Armed Forces--brave folks, the mightiest defenders of those unalienable 
rights.
    So on behalf of a grateful nation, I thank our veterans for your 
service, for your commitment. May God bless you, and may God continue to 
bless the United States of America.

Note: The President spoke at 12:27 p.m. In his remarks, he referred to 
Charles de Gunzburg and Richard Santulli, cochairmen, and Arnold Fisher, 
chairman emeritus, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum board of trustees; 
Gov. David A. Paterson of New York; Christine C. Quinn, speaker, New 
York City Council; Bill White, president, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space 
Museum; television personality Vanna White; and entertainer John Rich.

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