For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 14, 2001
Remarks by the President to National Guard Personnel
Yeager Field Charleston, West Virginia
11:47 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you,
all. Sit down, please. Well, thank you very much,
General. I appreciate those kinds words and I appreciate
your warm welcome. I'm glad I came back to West
Virginia. (Applause.) This is a state of good
people. (Applause.) Good folks. Down
to earth folks. (Applause.) And I'm glad to be in your
midst again.
I particularly want to say thanks to General
Tackett for his leadership. He's one of the finest Guard
Generals in the United States of
America. (Applause.) All you've got to do is look
at his record.
Secretary Rumsfeld and I, we're looking at the
General's record. It's because of your service that he looks
good. (Laughter.) Because of his leadership that
the record is good. So Secretary Rumsfeld and I say thank
you, General, for your leadership. It's an honor for us to
be here in your midst. (Applause.)
I appreciate the good Governor of this state's
kind words. Good luck to you, Governor. He asked
me today if he had any advice -- if I had any advice to him about his
State of the State Address tonight. I said I did: just keep
it short. (Laughter.) But I want to thank you for
your hospitality, Governor.
I'm honored to be traveling from the nation's
capital with one of the most eloquent public servants our nation has
had in a long time; somebody who not only represents the great state of
West Virginia well, but cares deeply about our country, its standing in
the world; a guarding of what is right; protector of the grand
traditions in the United States Senate. And that's, of
course, the great United States Senator, Senator Robert Byrd.
(Applause.)
You all sent somebody who is plenty capable to
take the Governor's place in the halls of Congress, somebody who will
represent West Virginia well in the House of Representatives, somebody
who brings a lot of class to the office. And that is Shelly
Moore Capito. (Applause.)
And traveling with us are two members of the
United States Senate, Senators Stevens and Inouye, as well as Chairman
Jerry Lewis. And I want to thank those members for traveling
with us. It just goes to show how powerful -- (applause) --
it just goes to show how powerful Senator Byrd
is. (Laughter.) He said, I think you fellows may
need to come over and pay a visit to West Virginia. All of
us said, yes, sir, we're on our way. (Laughter.)
I also want to thank Command Master Sergeant
Leonard, the senior enlisted man for the Guard and
Reserves. Sergeant Leonard, thank you for
coming. (Applause.)
Finally, I don't want to embarrass the fellow,
but I'm going to. In 1968, July of '68, I was stationed in
Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
AUDIENCE
MEMBER: Hooah. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: You don't sound old
enough to have been there. (Laughter.)
But today when I got off the airplane, Master
Sergeant David Eshbaugh, from West Virginia, was there to greet
me. He and I shared the same dorm in Lackland Air Force
Base, Texas. And, David, I want to thank you from the bottom
of my heart for greeting me at the foot of the stairs when I got off
the airplane. And thank you for your service,
too. (Applause.)
There is an old saying that example is the
true language of men. The example of this state speaks of
duty and honor. The people of West Virginia have always
answered the call to military service. There are an awful
lot of mountaineers who have made this country
proud. (Applause.)
And the men and women of the West Virginia
National Guard and Reserves continue that tradition. When it
comes to readiness, as the Governor mentioned, the state's Army and
international Guard units are ranked at the top of our
nation. And the West Virginia National Guard has more people
than openings. It's a darn good sign that things are right
in the ranks here in this important state. (Applause.)
I also want to recognize the employers of the
National Guardsmen and Reservists, especially those that are here
today. Citizen soldiers have always depended on selfless
employers. The generosity of the employers in West Virginia
wasn't learned in MBA textbooks or in business schools. It
was learned because these folks are patriotic. They care
about their state and they care about their country. You put
love of country above love of profit. And you have the
gratitude of our nation.
This is the National Guard's Year of the
Employer, and it's a recognition that the employers of the Guardsmen
and the Reservists justly deserve. National Guardsmen and
Reservists are a part of a great and enduring American
tradition. The National Guard, itself, is the oldest part of
America's Armed Forces, with a history reaching back more than three
and a half centuries.
During the American Revolution, volunteers and
Minute Men earned our freedom. Today, our Guard and Reserve
help preserve it. The National Guard has a unique
role. It serves America within our borders and beyond our
borders. You assist your neighbors in times of natural
disaster, in flood and storm and fire. The West Virginia
National Guard, for example, has been activated for disaster relief 15
times in the last six years. All Americans have learned to
count on the National Guard in times of crisis, to lend a strong and
helping hand.
The Guard Reservists also provide for the
common defense. This has always been so. But it
has never been more important than today. During the last
few years, American active forces have been reduced in size, even as
American commitments have increased. The Guard and Reserves
have stepped up to the challenge.
More than ever, you find yourselves a part of
overseas missions, serving with your active duty
counterparts. In Bosnia and Kosovo, Reservists make up 15 to
20 percent of the force. You know firsthand. Less than two
months ago, a number of airmen from the 130th Airlift Wing came home
from Operation Joint Force after flying missions from Germany to the
Balkans.
During my tenure as Governor of Texas,
hundreds of National Guardsmen and Reservists were sent to Bosnia, and
I was enormously proud of them. They did what they always do -- they
performed their duty, just as you perform your duty.
As threats to America change, your role will
continue to change. The National Guard and Reservists will
be more involved in homeland security, confronting acts of terror and
the disorder our enemies may try to create. I welcome the important
part you will play in protecting our nation and its people.
The National Guard and Reserves are a vital
part of America's national defense. And I want you to know
that you not only have a former Guardsman in the White House, you have
a friend. (Applause.)
Beyond the role you play in the Armed Forces,
America's citizen soldiers display values that are central to our
nation: character, courage and sacrifice. You
demonstrate the highest form of citizenship. And while you
may not be full-time soldiers, you are full-time patriots.
In his book, "Citizen Soldier," the
distinguished historian, Steven Ambrose, wrote this: "At the
core, the American citizen soldiers knew the difference between right
and wrong. And they didn't want to live in a world in which
wrong prevailed. So they fought, and they
won. And we, all of us living and yet to be born, must be
forever profoundly grateful."
Professor Ambrose was writing about the
soldiers of World War II. But his words apply to this
audience and to the men and women around the world who proudly wear the
uniform. Your uniform shows that you are living your life
for others, for your fellow West Virginians in time of suffering and
crisis; for your fellow Americans when our safety is threatened; and
for the values and ideals our country represents when our allies and
friends ask for help.
All Americans benefit from your service, and
we'll always be grateful. Thank you for coming, and God
bless. (Applause.)
END 12:04
P.M. EST
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