For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 12, 2001
Remarks by the President Upon Arrival
Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida
11:20 A.M. CST
THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you all
very much. General Ryan, thank you for your
hospitality. I want to thank your base
commander. I want to thank the command sergeant who greeted
me at the stairs of the Air Force plane that flew me
here. (Applause.) The good news is, those pilots
know what they're doing.
It is such an honor to be the
Commander-in-Chief of the greatest nation on the face of the
earth. (Applause.) I'm proud of the men and women
who wear our uniform. My job is to set a clear mission for
the United States military. The mission of the military
would be to be well prepared, to fight and win war, and therefore
prevent war from happening in the first place. (Applause.)
Today I'm going to speak to a Rotary Club and
Chamber of Commerce event that will detail parts of my budget that I
submitted to the Congress. One part of my budget that I submitted to
the Congress will be to make sure we house our military folks
better. (Applause.)
One part of the budget I submitted to Congress
is a pay raise for those who wear the
uniform. (Applause.) I believe by focusing our
mission, we can improve morale. But I know by paying folks
more we can improve morale, as well. (Applause.)
I look forward to shaking your hands and
looking you in the eye and thanking you for serving
America. For those of you who I don't get to look in the eye
and say, thanks for serving America: thanks for serving
America. (Applause.) We're counting on
you. Our nation relies upon you to keep the peace, and we
will do so.
God bless you all, and God bless
America. (Applause.)
END 11:23
A.M. CST
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