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演讲全文
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Howdy!
AUDIENCE: Howdy!
THE PRESIDENT: I am thrilledto be back in Aggieland. (Applause.) And it's always an honor to beintroduced by the President of the United States -- especially whenhe's your Dad. And how about Mom? Mom, I've been meaning to say thispublicly for a long time -- thanks, thanks for the gray hair.(Laughter.)
Icongratulate the graduates of the Fighting Texas Aggie Classes of 2008-- (applause) -- class of 2007 -- (applause) -- the class of 2006 --I'd better stop. (Laughter.) Let's just say that I hope there's no oneleft from when I spoke to the commencement in 1998. (Laughter.) If so,I hope you're walking out of here with a Ph.D. (Laughter.)
Iam grateful to the faculty and staff of Texas A&M for theirdevotion to learning and their example of scholarship. I appreciateyour outstanding President, Dr. Elsa Murano. And I am glad to be with-- there you go. (Applause.) And I am glad to travel from Washingtontoday with three fine Aggies representing Texas in the United StatesCongress -- Congressmen Chet Edwards, Joe Barton, and Jeb Hensarling.(Applause.)
Iam pleased to see so many of your families and loved ones here today.While you bled maroon, they bled a lot of green. (Laughter.) So pleasejoin me in thanking all those whose support made it possible for you toreach this proud day. (Applause.)
Thereis one person who wishes he could be here today -- and that's yourformer President, and America's Secretary of Defense, Bob Gates.(Applause.) You know, he's got an excused absence. It's not like he'sover at the Dixie Chicken. (Laughter.) He's traveling to the MiddleEast, consulting with our generals, and showing his support for the menand women of the United States Armed Forces. (Applause.)
WhenI asked Bob to be the Secretary of Defense, it was clear how much heloved Texas A&M. After all, he refused to come to Washington untilafter he attended the winter commencement. And I was even moreimpressed when he insisted on standing during the Cabinet meetings --(laughter) -- claiming he was the "12th Man." (Laughter.) One day, heexplained it all. He said: "Mr. President, I'm red ass." (Applause.)
I'llsay this for A&M -- you've got some mighty fine traditions.(Applause.) Back in my day, I think I would have enjoyed dunking myring. (Applause.) I would have loved to have taken Laura to "midnightyell." (Applause.) I especially like the traditions around Reveille.Anytime she barks during a class lecture, everyone in the room isdismissed. (Applause.) I wish she had been there for some of thosepress conferences. (Laughter and applause.)
Thiscampus is home to solemn rituals that demonstrate the strength of yourbonds. In playing of Silver Taps to honor fallen classmates, in thereunion of students and alumni to read the roll call at Muster, and inwearing of your timeless rings, you affirm a powerful truth: Once anAggie, always an Aggie. (Applause.)
Traditionslike these are central to the A&M experience. And so is academicexcellence, and all of you will benefit from your rigorous courses ofstudy. I suspect you'll also find that some of your most importantlearning took place outside the classroom -- in the friendships youformed, perspective you gained, and the things you discovered aboutyourselves. When you leave this campus, you will be well prepared forany endeavor you choose. To those of you who have jobs lined up, I --congratulations. To those not exactly sure what comes next -- I knowhow you feel. (Laughter and applause.)
Asour days in the White House wind down, we're going through a series of"lasts." I pardoned my last Thanksgiving turkey. Laura decorated forher last Christmas in the White House. And Barney bit his lastreporter. (Laughter.) Or at least that's what we hope. (Laughter.)
Thisis also my last commencement address as President. (Applause.) And itis fitting that it takes place here in Texas, where I have been soblessed over the years. I was raised here by wonderful parents,surrounded by brothers and sisters whose love still sustains me. AndTexas is where I went to a backyard barbeque and met a beautifulteacher named Laura Welch. Texas is where our girls were born and ourlifelong friends live. And next month, when our time in Washington isdone, Texas is where we're coming home. (Applause.)
Thesedays, I'm asked a lot about my time as President. Some days have beenhappy, some days not so happy -- every day joyous. It's been atremendous privilege. I have traveled across our nation, and to 74countries around the world. I have slept in Buckingham Palace; I havefeasted in the desert of Abu Dhabi; I've watched the sunrise inJerusalem. I have spoken to campaign rallies in packed stadiums, and tohundreds of thousands in Romania's Revolution Square. I've taken MarineOne into America's biggest cities, and visited many of our smallesttowns. Through it all, nothing has inspired me more than the characterof the American people -- the acts of courage and service that sustainour free society, and make this the greatest nation on Earth.(Applause.)
Courageand service are cherished here at A&M, and they are values that Ihope will guide you for the years to come. So this morning, I thought Iwould share a few of the most powerful examples of courage and servicethat I have witnessed over the past eight years.
Noact of courage or service is more impressive than volunteering for theUnited States military. Eight years ago, a brave 17-year-old namedChristian Bagge made that noble choice when he stepped forward to jointhe Oregon National Guard. In 2005, Christian's unit was on patrol inIraq when his Humvee hit a roadside bomb. He lost both his legs, and hethought he would lose his life. But with determination and superbmedical care, this good man survived.
Imet him at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He told mehe used to be a runner and he planned to run again. I was impressed byhis courage, but it was hard to imagine a man with such severe injuriesever being able to run. I said to him offhandedly, you know, whenyou're ready to run just call me, I'll be glad to run with you -- andmoved on.
Well,then one day, a phone call came to the Oval Office. It was Christian.He said, "I'm ready to take you up on your offer, Mr. President." Justfive months after I'd seen him in the hospital, he showed up at theWhite House with legs made of carbon fiber -- and a spirit strongerthan steel. Together, we took a lap around the South Lawn. I'll admit,he left his Commander-In-Chief in the dust. (Laughter.) And he left mewith great admiration for his unshakable determination, his upbeatspirit, and his inspiring example for all Americans. (Applause.)
Peoplelike Christian show the true strength of our military -- and so do thefamilies who support them. Last year in Reno, Nevada, I met aorthopedic surgeon named Bill Krissoff. His son Nathan, a Marine, hadgiven his life in Iraq. Dr. Krissoff told me he wanted to join the NavyMedical Corps in Nathan's honor. I looked at this remarkable man, Isaid: "How old are you?" He said he was 60 years old. He needed aspecial waiver to qualify for the Navy. I was thinking I'm 61, so hedidn't sound all that old. (Laughter.) I asked his wife what shethought of the whole thing, and she said she supported his decision. SoI went back to Washington -- and surprisingly enough, a few days laterthe waiver came through.
Sincethen, Dr. Krissoff has undergone extensive training in battlefieldmedicine. And soon he will deploy to Iraq, where he'll help save thewounded, uphold the legacy of his fallen son, and inspire the UnitedStates of America. (Applause.)
PettyOfficer Greg Guillory is also in the Navy. But that is not the only wayhe serves. Greg lost his mother in a car accident at a young age, andhis stepmother suffered from a serious drug addiction. Greg earned afour-year scholarship to play college football -- he was a high schoolplayer here in the state of Texas. But he turned down that scholarshipso he could stay home to help his family confront its problems.Eventually, he decided to join the Navy, where he found a strong andsupportive environment.
Whilestationed in San Diego, Greg met his wife Shonda, who had also endureda painful childhood. Together, they resolved to help children trappedin difficult circumstances, and made the selfless and compassionatedecision to become foster parents. They spent a year caring for a17-year-old who been abused. Then they took in a 14-year-old who hadbeen beaten, then a baby born with drugs in her system, and then athree-year-old whose mother was in jail. Today they are caring for twochildren, a brother and sister, as well as the baby girl Shondadelivered last month.
Andall the while, Greg has been carrying out his duties in uniform. He isstationed at Camp David, Maryland -- and this generous man who hasgiven so much to others feels so grateful himself. During a movingtestimony at the Camp David chapel that I was fortunate enough towitness this past Thanksgiving, he said: "I am thankful that Godcontinues to bless me so I can be a blessing for children in need."
Americais blessed to have citizens like Greg and Shonda, whose hearts are bigenough to share the greatest gift of all -- the gift of love.(Applause.)
KendrickKennedy shared that gift, too, after Hurricane Katrina struck hishometown of Biloxi, Mississippi. Even though his own house had beendamaged, Kendrick put others first -- helping family members findshelter, and cleaning up debris in neighbors' yards. There's anotherpiece of the story: Kendrick is blind. A few years before the storm, helost his sight -- and his job. But he refused to let that hold himback. He enrolled at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. I methim there when I spoke at his commencement. He went on to theUniversity of Southern Mississippi, where he became the first blindstudent to graduate summa cum laude. Now he's in law school in OleMiss. And this good man has set a high goal -- to serve our country asa justice on the Supreme Court. (Applause.)
OtherAmericans show courage by summoning the hidden strength to overcometheir weaknesses. Four years ago, I met Letitia Chavez-Paulette. Shehad been addicted to drugs; she served time for her mistakes. While inprison, she joined a faith-based program called Celebrate Recovery, andto help turn her life around. When she was released, Letitia wasdetermined to support other women returning to society. So she starteda transitional home called "A Peaceful Habitation" -- a name taken fromthe Book of Isaiah. Here's what Letitia said: "God's grace has kept megoing. His love has kept me strong. And my faith is a gift that ishelping me help others."
Inthese stories, we see the courage and service that defined America atits best. And that same spirit has long defined Texas A&M. It's thespirit of General Earl Rudder, who helped lead the D-Day invasion andserved more than a decade as A&M's president. It is the spirit ofthe Corps of Cadet, which includes nearly 1,800 Aggies. It is thespirit of your ROTC program, which routinely commissions more officersthan any school outside the service academies. It's the spirit of the21 Aggies who've given their lives to keep America safe since Septemberthe 11th, 2001 -- a sacrifice that will be honored forever by your"Freedom from Terrorism" memorial.
Thatsame spirit is visible on this campus in many ways beyond the military.A&M is home to "The Big Event" -- the largest student-run communityservice project in the nation. After Hurricane Ike hit the Texas coast,you welcomed more than 1,600 "Sea Aggies" from A&M's Galvestoncampus to College Station. And in countless other acts of volunteerismand charity, you have made Texas A&M's name synonymous withservice.
Onyour last day as A&M students, my call to you is to continue thisspirit long after you leave the campus. There are so many needs to bemet, and so many ways you can help -- from mentoring a child tobecoming a teacher, to volunteering to feed the hungry or heal the sickoverseas. If you hear the call to service in the military orgovernment, answer it. If you enter the private sector, be proud ofcontributing to our prosperity -- and give back to your communities.Wherever life leads you, pursue the path of service -- and you willfind fulfillment beyond measure.
Asyou embark on this journey, let me leave you with a few last pieces ofadvice. First, listen to your mother. (Laughter and applause.) As youcan see, Mom is out of the hospital and everything is back to normal.After all, she's still telling me what to do. (Laughter.)
Second,develop a set of principles to live by -- convictions and ideals toguide your course. There will be times when people tell you a differentway is more accepted or popular. Remember that popularity is asfleeting as the Texas wind. Character and conscience are as sturdy asthe oaks on this campus. If you go home at night, look in the mirrorand be satisfied that you have done what is right, you will pass theonly test that matters. (Applause.)
Andfinally, be on the lookout for role models -- people whose conduct youadmire and whose paths you can follow. With that in mind, I have onelast example of courage and service. It's a story of a young man wholeft comfort behind to answer his nation's call, became the youngestpilot in the Navy, and nearly gave his life in World War II. When hecame back home, he devoted his career to public service, and provedthat success in politics can be accomplished with decency and grace. Hereached the pinnacle in government, but he defines his life by otherroles -- a father who gave unconditional love, a grandfather devoted tohis grandchildren, and a beloved husband of the sweetheart he married alifetime ago. Some of you will leave A&M with a degree that carriesthis good man's name -- George Bush. I have been blessed and honored tohave carried it for 62 years. (Applause.)
Iwant to thank you. I want to thank you for the opportunity to sharethis special day with you. I congratulate you. When I leave office nextmonth, I will depart confident in the future of our country, because Ihave faith in each of you. I will depart uplifted by the many acts ofcourage and service that I have witnessed these past eight years. Iwill depart grateful for the outpouring of support and prayers thathave strengthened Laura and me. And I will depart ready to come home tothe people I have missed and the place I love -- the state of Texas.(Applause.)
Andso, after all this, there is only one thing left to say: Gig'em Aggies!(Applause.) Congratulations, and may God bless you. (Applause.)
END 10:29 A.M. CST |
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楼主: meishen
发表于 2008-12-8 16:17:39
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