[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 45, Number 2 (Monday, January 19, 2009)]
[Pages 34-35]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

January 10, 2009

    Good morning. This week, I gave my official farewell speech to the 
men and women of America's Armed Forces in a ceremony at Fort Myer, 
Virginia. For the past 8 years, I have had no higher honor than serving 
as the Commander in Chief of these brave patriots. And when Laura and I 
depart for Texas later this month, we will take with us many inspiring 
memories of the valor that we have seen these brave Americans display 
time and again.
    We saw their valor on September the 11th, 2001, in service members 
rushing into smoke-filled corridors to save their colleagues at the 
Pentagon and in planes patrolling the skies above New York City and 
Washington, DC.
    We saw their valor in the days after that attack, when Americans 
crowded into recruiting centers across our country, raised their hands 
to serve, and pledged to defend our people and our freedom.
    We saw their valor in the forces who deployed to Afghanistan within 
weeks of 9/11, closed down the terrorist training camps, and drove the 
Taliban from power.
    We saw their valor in the fearless troops who stormed across the 
Iraqi desert and destroyed a regime that threatened America.
    We saw their valor in battle-tested warriors who signed up for a 
second or third or fourth tour and made the troop surge in Iraq that I 
announced 2 years ago today one of the great successes in American 
military history.
    America's Armed Forces have liberated more than 50 million people 
around the world and made our Nation safer. They have taken the fight to 
the terrorists abroad so that we have not had to face them here at home. 
And the world has seen something that almost no one thought possible: 
More than 7 years after September the 11th, there has not been another 
terrorist attack on American soil. This is no coincidence.
    In addition to our military, many other Americans have worked 
tirelessly to ensure our safety in the years since 9/11. Law enforcement 
officials have worked to secure our country and remained watchful 
against future attacks. Intelligence analysts have

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tracked information that allowed us to disrupt terrorist plots before 
they reached our shores. And homeland security agents have worked to 
secure our ports, our borders, and our skies.
    We owe a debt of gratitude to all of these patriots. Because of 
their devotion to service, many Americans live their lives without the 
fear and uncertainty that they felt in the days just after 9/11. This 
continued safety has been a blessing. But we must never allow it to 
foster complacency. America still faces sworn enemies intent on striking 
our Nation and our people. And we must remain vigilant for as long as 
that threat remains.
    I know that our men and women in uniform have remained vigilant. 
These Americans answer the call to defend freedom when it is under 
attack. They put their lives on the line to defend democracy and keep 
our country safe. And they inspire a nation with their selflessness and 
their courage. I am proud to have served as their Commander in Chief.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 7:55 a.m. on January 9 in the Cabinet 
Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on January 10. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
January 9 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office 
of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of 
this address.