For Immediate Release
Office of Mrs. Bush
October 12, 2002
Closing Remarks by Mrs. Bush at the National Book Festival Opening Ceremony
As delivered.
Thank you very much, Lucy (Tapahonso), and thanks everybody for
your wonderful words.
Today, visitors to our nation's capitol will hear from gifted
authors, poets, storytellers, actors, athletes and singers - and more!
- whose books and fans span the globe. I am grateful to each of them
for being a part of the National Book Festival.
I've been asked what I hope people will take home from this
Festival. We have so much to gain from a celebration like this, because
we are all readers and fans of the written word.
Our love of reading is what makes us tuck a paperback under our arm
on the way to work; it's why our bedside tables include piles of books
that we read before we fall asleep.or continue reading long after we
should be asleep; it's why we surf the Internet over a steaming cup of
coffee on a Saturday morning.
As busy as we shall be today, and as busy as we are in general -
let this Festival remind us of the pure joy of the bookworm - the one
who sits in a quiet chair and focuses on just one thing.devouring a
story or argument or idea unfolding on the written page.
Dotsoyevski said, "Neither man nor nation can exist without a
sublime idea." Today, reading is our sublime idea.
Thanks to the readers and speakers on stage; the authors and the
athletes in our audience. I appreciate you for helping weave the magic
of words, wit and wisdom through this Festival.
I especially want to recognize all of this year's sponsors, with
special thanks to our charter sponsors and patrons:
AT&T;
The Washington Post
WorkplaceUSA
Target
PBS
James Madison Council
Open Russia Foundation
Their generosity, as well as the generosity of our Contributors and
Friends, helped make this event possible.
Thank you for joining us at the White House, and thank you for
being a part of the Second National Book Festival.
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