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Link to President's Trip to Europe
Freedom and Democracy in the Baltics
Delivering an address during the 60th anniversary week of WWII, President George W. Bush tells the story of Latvian sailors on eight freighters who disobeyed orders from a puppet government and remained at sea to help the U.S. Merchant Marines during the war at The Small Guild Hall in Riga, Latvia, Saturday, May 7, 2005. “By the end of the war, six of the Latvian ships had been sunk, and more than half the sailors had been lost,” said President Bush. “Nearly all of the survivors settled in America, and became citizens we were proud to call our own.”
Delivering an address during the 60th anniversary week of WWII, President George W. Bush tells the story of Latvian sailors on eight freighters who disobeyed orders from a puppet government and remained at sea to help the U.S. Merchant Marines during the war at The Small Guild Hall in Riga, Latvia, Saturday, May 7, 2005. “By the end of the war, six of the Latvian ships had been sunk, and more than half the sailors had been lost,” said President Bush. “Nearly all of the survivors settled in America, and became citizens we were proud to call our own.”
Latvian troops arrive to welcome President and Mrs. George W. Bush to Riga International Airport Friday, May 6, 2005. President and Mrs. Bush are greeted aboard Air Force One by Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga after they arrived Friday, May 6, 2005, in Riga. The President and Mrs. Bush are on a four-day visit to Europe that will include stops in Latvia, the Netherlands, Georgia and Russia.
Waving to the crowd, President and Mrs. Bush and Latvia's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga deplane Air Force One Friday night, May 6, 2005, after the Bushes arrived in Riga, Latvia for the first of four European stops. President George W. Bush and Latvia's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga pause for a moment at Riga International Airport after the President and Mrs. Bush arrived on the first stop of their four-day, four-country visit to Europe.
President George W. Bush stands with Latvia's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Estonia President Arnold Ruutel and Lithuania President Valdas Adamkus for a photo Saturday, May 7, 2005, in Riga, Latvia. Accompanied by Laura Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, President George W. Bush address U.S. Embassy families and staff in Latvia Saturday, May 7, 2005.  Pictured at left are U.S. Ambassador to Latvia, Catherin T. Bailey, and her husband, Irving Bailey II.
President George W. Bush and Latvia's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga meet at Riga Castle in Riga, Latvia, Saturday, May 7, 2005. President George W. Bush meets with Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga Saturday, May 7, 2005, at Riga Castle in Riga, Latvia.
President George W. Bush and Laura Bush and Latvia President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and husband Imants Freibergs stand for the playing of the American national anthem Saturday, May 7, 2005, at Riga Castle in Riga, Latvia. President George W. Bush signs a guest book after Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga presented him the Order of the Three Stars, First-Class at Riga Castle in Riga, Latvia, Saturday, May 7, 2005. Established in 1924 to commemorate the founding of the Latvian State, the medal is awarded to recognize outstanding civil merit in the service of Latvia.
From left, Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, President George W. Bush and Latvia President Vaira Vike-Freiberga adjust their earphones to hear interpreters during a question and answer session Saturday, May 7, 2005, in Riga, Latvia. President George W. Bush Baltic leaders hold a joint press conference Saturday, May 7, 2005, in Riga, Latvia.  Pictured with President Bush are, from left, President Valdas Adamkus of Lithuania, President Vaira Vike-Freiberga of Latvia and President Arnold Ruutel of Estonia.
Hosted by President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Laura Bush tours the city of Riga, Latvia, Saturday, May 7, 2005. Laura Bush takes a walking tour of Riga, Latvia, Saturday, May 7, 2005.
Laura Bush visits the Rumbula Holocaust Memorial in Riga, Latvia, Saturday, May 7, 2005. Laura Bush lays flowers at the Rumbula Holocaust Memorial in Riga, Latvia, Saturday, May 7, 2005.
Delivering an address during the 60th anniversary week of WWII, President George W. Bush tells the story of Latvian sailors on eight freighters who disobeyed orders from a puppet government and remained at sea to help the U.S. Merchant Marines during the war at The Small Guild Hall in Riga, Latvia, Saturday, May 7, 2005. “By the end of the war, six of the Latvian ships had been sunk, and more than half the sailors had been lost,” said President Bush. “Nearly all of the survivors settled in America, and became citizens we were proud to call our own.” President George W. Bush and Latvia's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga participate in a wreath-laying ceremony in front of the Freedom Monument in Riga, May 7, 2005.
President George W. Bush and Laura Bush participate in a ceremony with Latvia's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and her husband Imants Freibergs at Riga Castle, Riga, May 7, 2005. President George W. Bush turns to a crowd waving American and Latvian flag while visiting the Freedom Monument in Riga, May 7, 2005.

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