Sept. 29 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2005

Ann Stewart, wife of former Justice Potter ters. Chief Justice Roberts referred to Ed- Stewart; John G. Roberts, Sr., and his wife, ward W. Gillespie, founder and cochairman, Rosemary Roberts, Chief Justice Roberts’s Quinn Gillespie & Associates; and William parents; and Margaret ‘‘Peggy’’ Roberts and Kelley, Deputy Counsel to the President. Barbara Burke, Chief Justice Roberts’s sis-

Message to the Congress Giving Notification of Federal Payment for Emergency Planning and Security Costs in the District of Columbia September 29, 2005

To the Congress of the United States: security events and responses to terrorist Consistent with title I of the District of threats. Columbia Appropriations Act, 2005, Public The details of this action are set forth Law 108–335, I am notifying the Congress in the enclosed letter from the Director of the proposed use of $10,151,538 pro- of the Office of Management and Budget. vided in title I under the heading ‘‘Federal Payment for Emergency Planning and Se- GEORGE W. BUSH curity Costs in the District of Columbia.’’ This will reimburse the District for the The , costs of public safety expenses related to September 29, 2005.

Remarks at the Farewell Tribute for Richard B. Myers and Swearing-In for General Peter Pace as Chairman of the in Arlington, September 30, 2005

Thank you for the warm welcome. It is Lieutenant Pete Pace; and the General’s a pleasure to join you in paying tribute brothers, Tom and Simone; as well as his to a fine American and a superb Chairman sister, Elizabeth and his mom, Doris. of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dick I have come to know Pete Pace well Myers. I’m glad to see the Myers family during his time as the Vice Chairman. I here: Dick’s great wife, Mary Jo; their chil- appreciate his wisdom and commitment to dren, Rich, Nicole, and Erin; their grand- serve, and I look forward to having Pete children, Sophie and Cole. I know those by my side in the years ahead. grandkids are proud of their grandfather I want to appreciate the Vice President today; I want you to know, kids, you’re for being here. Mr. Secretary, thank you joined by the Commander in Chief and very much for your continued strong lead- the American people. ership. I appreciate the Secretary of State, Today we also honor the outstanding Ma- Condi Rice, joining us. I want to thank rine succeeding General Myers as the all the members of the administration who Chairman, General Pete Pace. I’m glad that have come to pay tribute to this fine man Pete’s family has joined us today: his wife, and his wife. I particularly thank the Presi- Lynne; their daughter, Tiffany; their son, dent of the World Bank, Paul Wolfowitz,

1498

VerDate Nov 24 2008 15:10 May 27, 2009 Jkt 206693 PO 00000 Frm 00330 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\206693A.012 206693A cprice-sewell on PROD1PC72 with HEARING Administration of George W. Bush, 2005 / Sept. 30

who served with Dick Myers for 4 years military through a series of extraordinary at the Defense Department. I thank the humanitarian challenges, from tsunami re- members of the diplomatic corps who have lief in Asia to the rescue operations along joined us. the gulf coast in response to Hurricanes When I asked Dick Myers to take his Katrina and Rita. General Myers brought job back in the summer of 2001, I knew skill and determination to all these tasks, we had some important things in common. and he leaves his post with a record of We both made a good decision early in remarkable accomplishment. life when we married a teacher. We both Yet through every challenge, what stood flew fighter jets, although I never won the out most about the Chairman was his total Grey Eagle Award. We both knew it would devotion to the men and women who wear take all of our combined strength, energy, the uniform. As he traveled the world, and resolve to defend the American peo- General Myers always made time to thank ple—and to keep up with Don Rumsfeld. American forces serving in distant lands [Laughter] and to honor the sacrifice of military fami- When General Myers was sworn in as lies here at home. He personally reenlisted the 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of service men and women in America and Staff 4 years ago, he joined a long line overseas. He advocated tirelessly for better of distinguished military leaders that pay and housing and benefits for our troops stretches back to General . and their families. And he and Mary Jo Every Chairman faced difficult tests, yet made frequent visits to the wounded in none took up his duties under more de- military hospitals. General Myers often said manding circumstances than Dick Myers. how inspired he was by the selflessness and In his first week as the Chairman, we integrity and compassion of Americans in launched strikes on terrorist training camps uniform. And he always inspired those in Afghanistan. By the middle of Decem- under his command because they saw the ber, American troops and our allies had same values in him. driven the Taliban from power, put Al I was reminded of Dick’s convictions and Qaida on the run, and freed more than ability every time he stepped in the Oval 25 million people. In other words, Dick Office. As my principle military adviser, he had plenty to do in his first 10 weeks on brought a calm and reassuring presence, the job. coupled with sound judgment and fresh We asked more of General Myers in the thinking and unflinching candor. His ap- years that followed. He helped design a proach was steady and practical. He had broad and innovative military strategy to the vision to see the larger strategic picture win the war on terror. His leadership and and the tactical awareness one would ex- flexibility were essential to the liberation pect from an experienced fighter pilot. of Iraq and to adapting our tactics to defeat Over the past 4 years, I’ve also come the terrorists and help Iraqis build a peace- to know General Myers’s character and de- ful democracy. General Myers forged cency and his easy sense of humor. He’s strong relationships with his military coun- a kind and humble man who believes in terparts around the world and helped unite serving a cause greater than himself. It says more than 90 nations in the war on terror. something that for all the medals on his He also helped us prepare for the new chest and the stars on his shoulder, one threats of the 21st century by helping trans- of his proudest accomplishments came last form the NATO Alliance and making our summer when he was named National Fa- Armed Forces lighter, more lethal, and ther of the Year. more capable of conducting joint oper- The General’s qualities have long been ations. And as he did all this, he led our known to those he works with. One of

1499

VerDate Nov 24 2008 15:10 May 27, 2009 Jkt 206693 PO 00000 Frm 00331 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\206693A.012 206693A cprice-sewell on PROD1PC72 with HEARING Sept. 30 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2005

Dick’s former bosses described him this As Chairman, his leadership will build way, ‘‘He’s a level-headed guy. He doesn’t on the vital work set into motion under panic. He eats pressure for breakfast, and General Myers. I look forward to wit- he doesn’t have a personal agenda.’’ Gen- nessing his swearing-in and to calling him eral Tommy Franks called him a ‘‘solid an- the first Marine ever to hold America’s chor in the building.’’ A former colleague highest military office. said he knew Dick Myers was down to Forty years ago, Second Lieutenant Dick earth when he saw the four-star general Myers left Manhattan, Kansas, with an Air standing in line at the Pentagon cafeteria. Force commission and the beautiful wife Those who served alongside General Myers he married in the university chapel. Over admired the dignity and purpose he the decades, Dick soared into the wild blue brought to the job, and they’ll always be yonder and climbed to the highest ranks proud to know one of America’s best Chair- of the United States Armed Forces. He men of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. led our military to historic achievements in some of the most trying times America Another of General Myers’s many has known, and today he retires with the strengths is his ability to bring out the tal- pride and appreciation of our entire Nation. ents of those around him. For the past General Myers, I want to thank you for 4 years, he has encouraged and benefited a lifetime of service to the United States. from the superb work of all the Joint You have done your part to build a more Chiefs, especially his Vice Chairman. Gen- peaceful world for our children and our eral Pace has shown himself to be a bril- grandchildren, and we will always be grate- liant thinker and an inspiring leader. His ful. life is a story of the American Dream. My God bless you and your family, and From his early years in and New may God continue to bless the United Jersey to his days as a in An- States of America. napolis, to his decades of service in Viet- nam and Thailand and South Korea and NOTE: The President spoke at 10:41 on Somalia and elsewhere, in every place he Summerall Field at Fort Myer. In his re- has been, Pete Pace has impressed those marks, he referred to Gen. Tommy R. around him with his bravery, his knowl- Franks, USA (Ret.), former commander, edge, and his devotion to duty. U.S. Central Command.

Message on the Observance of Rosh Hashanah, 5766 September 30, 2005

I send greetings to all those observing It is also a time to reflect on the history Rosh Hashanah. of the Jewish people, from the days of On this holy occasion, Jews around the Abraham to the present, and remember world are called by the sound of the Shofar God’s faithfulness to them. This year, we to gather in celebration of the beginning mark the completion of an especially joyous of the New Year and the creation of all occasion, the 350th year of Jewish life in life. For the Jewish people, this marks the America. Throughout America’s history, beginning of the Days of Awe, a special Jewish Americans have strengthened and time to reflect on the past year and wel- enriched the character of our Nation. come the year to come.

1500

VerDate Nov 24 2008 15:10 May 27, 2009 Jkt 206693 PO 00000 Frm 00332 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\206693A.012 206693A cprice-sewell on PROD1PC72 with HEARING