Contact: White House, Office of the Press Secretary, 202-456-2580
MARTINSBURG,
167th Airlift Wing
C-5 Maintenance Hangar
9:21 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Thanks for the warm welcome. Happy 4th of July. I'm thrilled to be here in Martinsburg. This is the fourth Independence Day that I have spent in the great state of
I love coming to your state because it's a state full of decent, hardworking, patriotic Americans. And I can't think of a better way to celebrate the 4th of July than to spend it with some of what we call the
I am proud to stand with the 167th Airlift Wing. (Applause.) I like your slogan: "Mountaineer Pride, Worldwide." (Applause.) I'm also honored to be with
Speaking about Laura -- speaking about families, Laura sends her love. She would be with me, but I told her to fire up the grill. (Laughter.) Don't tell her I said that. (Laughter.) I thank Brigadier General Terry Butler, Commander, West Virginia Air National Guard, and his wife, Susan. I want to thank Eric Vollmecke, he's the 167th Wing Commander, and his wife, Sigrid.
I appreciate being here today with a really fine United States Congresswoman, Shelly Moore Capito, and her husband, Charlie. (Applause.) You don't have to worry about her supporting the military. When we've got somebody in harm's way, she understands what I understand: that that military person and his or her family deserve the very strongest support from the federal government at all times. (Applause.)
I enjoyed reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with some of the children from our military families. I thought they handled their task quite well. I appreciate Major Dave Reynolds, Chaplain, for giving the blessing. I thank the 249th Army Band of the West Virginia Army National Guard for playing here today. (Applause.)
But most importantly, thank you all for coming. Thanks for being here. The 4th of July is a day for celebration and a day for gratitude. Across
And when we carry on these festivities, it's important you know we're carrying on a grand tradition. This isn't the first time our country has celebrated the 4th of July. As a matter of fact, I would like to read a couple of paragraphs from a 1777 newspaper. And here's what it said on the first anniversary of the Declaration, as it described the scene in
"The 4th of July was celebrated with joy and festivity, fine performances, a number of toasts, followed by a discharge of artillery and small arms" -- don't do that today. (Laughter.) "And at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks and the city was beautifully illuminated." This newspaper article from
Our first Independence Day celebration took place in a midst of a war -- a bloody and difficult struggle that would not end for six more years before
We were a small band of freedom-loving patriots taking on the most powerful empire in the world. And one of those patriots was the founder of
On Independence Day we give thanks, we give thanks for our Founders, we give thanks for all the brave citizen-soldiers of our Continental Army who dropped pitchforks and took up muskets to fight for our freedom and liberty and independence.
You're the successors of those brave men. Those who wear the uniform are the successors of those who dropped their pitchforks and picked up their muskets to fight for liberty. Like those early patriots, you're fighting a new and unprecedented war -- pledging your lives and honor to defend our freedom and way of life. In this war, the weapons have changed, and so have our enemies, but one thing remains the same: The men and women of the Guard stand ready to put on the uniform and fight for
In this war against radicals and extremists, in this war on terror, you're showing that the courage which won our independence more than two centuries ago is alive and well here in
One member of the 167th Airlift Wing, Master Sergeant Richard Howland, has deployed seven times since the 9/11 attacks -- and this good man just volunteered to go to Baghdad for an eighth deployment in September. (Applause.) Our fellow citizens should listen to what Richard has said, what this volunteer has said. He said: "It is my patriotic duty to do whatever I can do to help." It feels "good that I'm keeping a lot of people safe." We're an incredible nation that has produced men like Richard Howland and you, who in the face of danger wear the uniform of the
Since September the 11th, members of the West Virginia Air National Guard have earned seven Bronze stars and four Purple Hearts. Two of those Purple Hearts were awarded to Staff Sergeants Brad Runkles and Derek Brown. They're here today. (Applause.) You're not related to them, are you? (Laughter.)
Brad and Derek are childhood friends; they grew up right here in Martinsburg and they signed up together to serve in the West Virginia Guard. In 2004, they were driving together in the lead gun truck of a convoy in
Today is the day to celebrate courage in the face of adversity. I want you to hear what Derek says. He said: "This war is something that has to be done -- either over there or here. And I think it's best we fight it over there," he said. (Applause.) "I'm proud to serve my country like those before me -- for the cause of freedom."
And your service is needed. We need for people to volunteer to defend
It is best that we take the fight to where the enemy lives, so we don't have to face them where we live. And so since 9/11, that's precisely the strategy we have followed. In
Today, because we acted, the terrorist camps in
We believe in an Almighty, we believe in the freedom for people to worship that Almighty. They don't. They don't believe you should worship the way you choose. They believe the only way you should worship is the way they choose. And, therefore -- and, therefore, they will do anything they can to spread that ideology. And it's our charge, it's our calling to keep the pressure on these people, to defend
There's more than one front in this war against these radicals and extremists. And, obviously, the toughest threat of all is in
Earlier this year, I announced a new strategy in
It's a tough fight, but I wouldn't have asked those troops to go into harm's way if the fight was not essential to the security of the
Al Qaeda hasn't given up its objectives inside
Victory in this struggle will require more patience, more courage, and more sacrifice. And we've lost some good men and women in this fight. And so on this 4th of July, we pause to remember the fallen -- and the grieving families they have left behind. We hold them in our hearts, we lift them up in our prayers, and we pledge to honor their memory by finishing the work for which they have given their life.
Here at the Martinsburg Air National Guard Base, you're living in a wonderful and caring community. Over the course of this struggle, you've looked out for each other and you've given strength to each other in difficult moments. One of the community leaders making a difference on this base is Joy Enders. A couple of you -- (applause.)
In case you haven't ever heard of Joy, she's the President of the 167th Airlift Wing Family Readiness Group. She and the other members of the group make it their mission to care for the families of our deployed Guardsmen and women. Before one recent deployment, they took pictures of all the deploying airmen, and created iron-on transfers to place on pillowcases for the children of the deploying troops. It's a simple act, but it's an act of love and compassion that gave the children a sense that their moms and dads were nearby -- even though they were deployed a thousand miles away.
Our military families miss their moms and dads, and husbands and wives, and sons and daughters. And they look forward to welcoming their loved ones home. And we all long for the day when there are far fewer American servicemen and women in
Our troops in
As we celebrate our independence this 4th, we can have confidence in the enduring principles of our founding. The words of our Declaration hold a promise for all mankind -- and those ideals continue to inspire millions across the world.
Recently, I traveled to
I looked out in that audience and I saw men and women who believe in the power of freedom to transform their countries and to remake the world. And I saw that those who live in tyranny and yearn for freedom still place their hopes in the
For the past six and a half years, it's been a privilege to be the President of such a good and decent nation that inspires and holds out hope to people all across the world. It's an awesome experience, and a humbling experience to hold a powerful office like President. It brings with it the great honor of being the Commander-in-Chief of the finest military the world has ever known. (Applause.) Because of the service of our military men and women, because our nation has got a military full of the bravest and most decent people that I've ever met, America remains a beacon of hope for all around the world; America remains the place where peace has the best chance to be encouraged.
We're doing the hard work now so generations of American kids can grow up in peace. It's necessary work, it's important work, and I thank you for your sacrifices. (Applause.)
May God bless you, and may God bless
END 9:49 A.M. EDT