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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 30, 2001

Videotaped Remarks by the President for Boy Scouts of America National Jamboree

     THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Boy Scouts, and thanks for this opportunity to send a word of greeting to your National Jamboree. Let me also thank General Colby Broadwater and the fine men and women of Fort A.P. Hill for hosting this event.

     I'm  so sorry the weather didn't allow me to join you in person, but I wanted  to  say a few words to the Scouts and Scoutmasters who have come to this Jamboree from all across the country.

     You know, next month I'll be going to my ranch in Crawford, where I'll work  and  take  a  little  time  off.   I  think  it is so important for a President  to  spend  some  time  away from Washington, in the heartland of America.   And  whenever  I  go home to the heartland, I am reminded of the values that build strong families, strong communities and strong character, the values that make our people unique.

     It is those values that are such an important part of Boy Scouts.  And I  want to thank the adults here who have shown good values, who have taken the  responsibility  upon yourself to build the wisdom and character of our young  people.   And the Scoutmasters of America accept this responsibility every day.  I want to thank all the Scoutmasters who set a good example and help Scouts learn the values that give direction to their lives.

     When  you  join  a  Scout troop and put on the Boy Scout uniform, you, too,  make  a  statement.   Like  every  uniform,  yours  is  a  symbol  of commitment.   It  is  a sign to all that you believe in high standards, and that  you  are trying to live up to them every single day.  As you do that, you  bring  credit  to the Scout uniform and credit to your country.  And I want you to know your country is proud of you.

     Many  of  you  have  been  to Washington this past week, maybe for the first  time.  You know, it's interesting, one of my predecessors, President Gerald  Ford, saw Washington for the first time a few years after he became an  Eagle  Scout.   Back  then, in the '30s, Scouts helped collect food and clothing for people suffering from the Great Depression.

     In our own time, you all have taken the lead in the fight against drug abuse.   In  Texas,  Boy  Scouts  were among the first to take up a reading challenge  that I set.  All across America, Boy Scouts are doing good turns daily.   And  every time you do a good turn, this becomes a better country. There  are  needs in every community, and those needs can be met one heart, one soul at a time.

     You  can  make  a  difference for America by the life you lead and the lives  you  serve.  Times and challenges change, yet the values of Scouting will  never  change.  Scouts of any era would recognize every word that you live  by  today,  because  those  words  have always defined Scouting.  The goodness of a person and of the society he or she lives in often comes down to  very  simple  things,  and words found in the Scout Law.  Every society depends  on  trust  and  loyalty,  on courtesy and kindness, on bravery and reverence.   These  are  the values of Scouting and these are the values of America.

     What  you have learned in Scouting will see you through life.  In good times  and  difficult  ones,  the  Scout  Motto  will always help you:  "Be prepared."   And whatever you do, the Scout Oath will always guide you:  On your honor, do your best.

     I  thank  every  Scout  and Scoutmaster for being a part of this great organization,  and  for  being a part of this successful Jamboree.  May God bless you all, and may God bless the United States of America.

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