Memorial Day Weekend – George W. Bush

As part of the Memorial Day weekend services George W. Bush honored the men and women who have died in the nation’s service during his Saturday radio address.

Our citizens live in freedom because patriots are willing to serve and sacrifice for our liberty,” Bush said Saturday in his weekly radio address.

“Today a new generation of Americans is making its own sacrifice on behalf of peace and freedom, and some have given their lives,” he said.

The full radio address can be seen and heard here.

Also: Radio News America
____________________________________________________________

On Friday President Bush gave the commencement speech at the Naval Academy before midshipmen send their hats a-flying as the Class of 2005 celebrates its new status as officers.

Go to the Gateway Pundit for video and the commencement speech.

More can be found here as the President Discusses War on Terror at Naval Academy Commencement. But not before some classic Bush humor…

And I am proud to stand before the future leaders of the Navy and Marine Corps, and to celebrate the occasion, I thought I would bring along a small graduation gift. Too late to give you a “Staubach Day,” — so I’ll do the next best thing: In keeping with long-standing tradition, I hereby absolve all midshipmen who are on restriction for minor conduct offenses. (Laughter and applause.) I leave it to Admiral Rempt to define exactly what “minor” means. (Laughter.)

You worked hard to get to this moment: You survived Plebe Summer, and having your parking tickets scraped. (Laughter.) You climbed Herndon Monument, and threw pennies at Tecumseh, god of the 2.0. I knew him pretty well when I was in school. (Laughter.) Now, at last, you’ve made it to graduation day, and in a few moments you will receive your military commissions and your diplomas. Your parents are proud of you, your teachers are proud of you, and so is your Commander-in-Chief. Congratulations on a great achievement. (Applause.)

A lot has changed since you arrived at Annapolis four years ago. Navy football went 0 and 10 in your plebe year. This year, you went 10 and 2, and you won your second Commander-in-Chief’s trophy in a row. (Applause.) I’d like the record to show that your turnaround started the year after I delivered your commencement address. (Laughter.) So to ensure the continued dominance of Navy football, I thought I’d just swing by for a return visit.

Some more great and poignant passages from President Bush’s speech at the Naval Academy.

In this time of unprecedented dangers, we need you to take on two difficult missions at once: We need you to defeat the terrorists who want to destroy what we stand for and how we live. And at the same time, we need you to transform our military for the 21st century, so we can deter and defeat the new adversaries who may threaten our people in the decades ahead.

The lesson of September 11th is clear: new dangers can arrive on our shores without warning. In this era of surprise, we cannot know for certain who might attack us, or where, or when. But we can anticipate how we might be attacked, and we can transform our capabilities to defend our citizens and deliver justice to our enemies.

To meet the threats of the 21st century, we are developing new technologies that will make our forces faster, lighter, more agile, and more lethal. In our time, terrible dangers can arise on a short moment anywhere in the world, and we must be prepared to oppose these dangers everywhere in the world.

Some of our men and women in uniform have given their lives in this cause, and others have returned home with terrible injuries. America honors their sacrifice, and we will uphold the cause they served. You are the ones who will take up their mantle, and carry on their fight, and ensure the triumph of liberty in the century ahead.

You are now part of the greatest force for freedom in the history of the world — the Armed Forces of the United States. In the years ahead, you will see dramatic changes taking place all around you. Yet amid all the tumult and change, there is one thing that won’t change — and that is character of our men and women who wear the uniform. This is your generation’s moment. Your mission is necessary and it is noble. The weapons you use will be more powerful and precise than those available to Annapolis graduates who came before you, and you will face enemies they never imagined. But what will make your success possible is the same thing that made their success possible: the courage and honor and personal integrity that you learned at this Academy.

We’re going to give you the tools you’ll need to prevail in today’s war on terror, and the capabilities you’ll need to protect us against the dangers that may yet emerge. Now the task is in your hands, and that means it is in the best of hands. Thank you for your courageous decision to serve. Bring honor to the uniform, security to our country, and peace to the world. And congratulations to every member of the class of 2005.

May God bless you. (Applause.)