At the White House yesterday, President Bush made remarks including the following:

On September the 11th, 2001, America lost Senior Court Officer Thomas Jurgens, one of about 25 New York State Court officers who responded after the plane hit the first tower. Thomas’ last radio transmission came from inside the burning tower, after he’d been warned to get out because the danger was too great. He refused to leave his post. His last words before signing off were, “There are people here who need our help.”

On September the 11th, 2001, America lost New York City Police Officer Moira Smith. Moira is remembered by friends for her fearless spirit on and off the job. She ran with the bulls in Spain. And in 1991, she ran into a subway tunnel to rescue dozens of people trapped in one of the worst subway accidents in New York history. On September the 11th, 2001, she ran toward danger once again, into the burning towers of the World Trade Center. A broker she helped to safety remembers her steady blue eyes and her even voice. The next day’s papers carried an image of Moira helping an injured man out of the tower, before she rushed back in to save others. And the tower collapsed around her. One of Moira’s colleagues said, “She could have saved herself, but nothing would have stopped her saving one more person.”

These are some of the examples, only a few of the examples, of the extraordinary bravery that took place that day. All the brave men and women we recognize today brought credit to the uniform, and honor to the United States of America.

And one way our nation can honor their sacrifice is to win the war on terror. On September the 11th, 2001, we saw the future that terrorists intend for us. And I made a decision: America will not wait to be attacked again. We will take the fight to the enemy, and we’ll defend our freedom.

Since that day we’ve taken the fight to the enemy. We’re hunting down the terrorists in mountains in Afghanistan, in tribal regions of Pakistan, in the deserts of Iraq, and on islands of Southeast Asia, and the Horn of Africa. We’re fighting the terrorists and we’re fighting their murderous ideology, by spreading the hope of freedom across the broader Middle East. Free nations are peaceful nations, and by advancing freedom’s cause, we are laying the foundation of peace for our children and our grandchildren.

The Medal of Valor was awarded posthumously to 442 fire fighters, police and other emergency services personnel who were killed by Islamic terrorists on September 11th, 2001. They, and the passengers of Flight 93 on that same day, were the first to respond to our attackers and they did so with a degree of courage, selflessness and dignity that could not fairly have been expected of ordinary human beings under the circumstances – were anyone to have tried to imagine how ordinary people would react to such horror. And some did attempt to imagine, after all: the attackers themselves. They did not expect to be opposed by passengers on one of the planes. They did not expect a rescue operation at the scene of their attacks that would temper the horror and fear of those watching by providing an example of human beings – and Americans – at their bravest and best. And they did not expect to then be answered by a determined foe who would not merely hunt down specific personalities, or bring legal challenges to bear, but would strike at the very basis of their long term strategy with a broad and sustained worldwide campaign; one which may not be above criticism in several respects, but one which has now liberated approximately 50 million Muslims from brutal and toxic tyranny and along the way delivered final earthly justice to thousands of jihadists.

It is often said that the President of the United States has made no requests of the American people during this war – other than the demands put on those who are voluntarily serving in the military. That is not true, but it is most often spoken by those who have the least interest in giving that which has been asked of them.

You will be asked for your patience; for the conflict will not be short. You will be asked for resolve; for the conflict will not be easy. You will be asked for your strength, because the course to victory may be long.

On September 11th, 2001, the mettle of ordinary Americans was tested, and it was not found lacking. It was found to be stronger than the most optimistic predictions could have foreseen. We all owe the heroes of that day an unrepayable debt for the inspiration that they provided, as we continue to owe those who are daily sacrificing themselves in Iraq, Afghanistan and beyond in the same battle. And lest we forget, the catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath is being fought and ameliorated by countless unnamed heroes while the media prefer to focus on the desperate, the craven, and Sean Penn.

America has always produced her bravest and best at her hour of need, and – thank God – there is no sign that, in this respect, the times they are a-changin’ one little bit.

Serve God and be cheerful, look upward, beyond
Beyond the darkness of masks, the surprises of dawn
In the deep green grasses and the blood-stained wood
They never dreamed of surrenderin’, they fell where they stood

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