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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary October 3, 2001
President Calls NY Teachers "Heroes" Remarks by the President to 1st Grade Students at de Soto Elementary School - PS 130 New York, New York
View the President's Remarks Listen to the President's Remarks 12:14 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Okay. Thanks for letting us come. Can I introduce some people here? Mayor Rudy -- do you know the Mayor of New York, Rudy Guiliani? The Governor, George Pataki, of New York. And I'm President George Bush. And I wanted to come by your school to say a couple of things. First, I want to say to the teachers who work in the school, and all throughout New York, how much we appreciate the courage that New York teachers showed. There are some -- there's a lot of talk about heroes in our society. A hero is somebody you look up to, of course. And the teachers of New York City were very heroic. They were not only heroic in taking boys and girls your age out of the building, helping them find places to stay at night and making sure nobody got hurt; they're heroic today -- you know why? Because they love you. And if you've got any worries about what took place at the World Trade Center, they can help you. Some of you -- yes, they do want to help you, sure. They want to comfort you and they want to make sure that you understand what went on. And I want to thank the teachers a lot. And I know the Mayor and the Governor join me, as well. (Applause.) I also want to tell you that you live in a great country. You know that. You're telling me -- you are learning about patriotism. It looks like this guy, Stephen, for example -- "I love America," he writes. Do you know what? There are a lot of people who love America today. And one of the things that we're learning out of our sadness is what a great country this is. The best way to realize this country is to learn how to read and write. And that's what you're doing here. Study hard, because this country says, you work hard, you can realize your dreams. And that's what we're here to say to you. We want to thank you very much for letting us come by. We want to thank your principals, and thank your teachers. Tell your moms and dads "hello." It's good to see you. Anybody have any questions for me or the Mayor? THE PRESS: Mr. President -- THE PRESIDENT: You've already asked your questions. (Laughter.) I've never seen somebody try to ask so many questions in one day. (Laughter.) Well, anyway, thank you very much. Thanks for letting us come by. A lot of people care for you, they really do -- starting with your moms and your dads and your teachers here. A lot of people love you, too. Thanks for letting us come by. Bye-bye. Printer-Friendly Version Email this page to a friend Issues Budget Management Education Energy Health Care Homeland Security Hurricane Recovery Immigration Jobs & Economy Medicare National Security Pandemic Flu Patriot Act Renewal in Iraq Social Security More Issues News Current News Press Briefings Proclamations Executive Orders Radio RSS Feeds News by Date July 2006 | June 2006 | May 2006 | April 2006 | March 2006 | February 2006 | January 2006 | December 2005 | November 2005 | October 2005 | September 2005 | August 2005 | July 2005 | June 2005 | May 2005 | April 2005 | March 2005 | February 2005 | January 2005 | December 2004 | November 2004 | October 2004 | September 2004 | August 2004 | July 2004 | June 2004 | May 2004 | April 2004 | March 2004 | February 2004 | January 2004 | December 2003 | November 2003 | October 2003 | September 2003 | August 2003 | July 2003 | June 2003 | May 2003 | April 2003 | March 2003 | February 2003 | January 2003 | December 2002 | November 2002 | October 2002 | September 2002 | August 2002 | July 2002 | June 2002 | May 2002 | April 2002 | March 2002 | February 2002 | January 2002 | December 2001 | November 2001 | October 2001 | September 2001 | August 2001 | July 2001 | June 2001 | May 2001 | April 2001 | March 2001 | February 2001 | January 2001 Appointments Nominations Application Federal Facts | Federal Statistics West Wing | History
12:14 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Okay. Thanks for letting us come. Can I introduce some people here? Mayor Rudy -- do you know the Mayor of New York, Rudy Guiliani? The Governor, George Pataki, of New York. And I'm President George Bush. And I wanted to come by your school to say a couple of things.
First, I want to say to the teachers who work in the school, and all throughout New York, how much we appreciate the courage that New York teachers showed. There are some -- there's a lot of talk about heroes in our society. A hero is somebody you look up to, of course. And the teachers of New York City were very heroic.
They were not only heroic in taking boys and girls your age out of the building, helping them find places to stay at night and making sure nobody got hurt; they're heroic today -- you know why? Because they love you. And if you've got any worries about what took place at the World Trade Center, they can help you. Some of you -- yes, they do want to help you, sure. They want to comfort you and they want to make sure that you understand what went on.
And I want to thank the teachers a lot. And I know the Mayor and the Governor join me, as well. (Applause.)
I also want to tell you that you live in a great country. You know that. You're telling me -- you are learning about patriotism. It looks like this guy, Stephen, for example -- "I love America," he writes. Do you know what? There are a lot of people who love America today.
And one of the things that we're learning out of our sadness is what a great country this is. The best way to realize this country is to learn how to read and write. And that's what you're doing here. Study hard, because this country says, you work hard, you can realize your dreams. And that's what we're here to say to you.
We want to thank you very much for letting us come by. We want to thank your principals, and thank your teachers. Tell your moms and dads "hello." It's good to see you.
Anybody have any questions for me or the Mayor?
THE PRESS: Mr. President --
THE PRESIDENT: You've already asked your questions. (Laughter.) I've never seen somebody try to ask so many questions in one day. (Laughter.)
Well, anyway, thank you very much. Thanks for letting us come by. A lot of people care for you, they really do -- starting with your moms and your dads and your teachers here. A lot of people love you, too. Thanks for letting us come by. Bye-bye.
Issues Budget Management Education Energy Health Care Homeland Security Hurricane Recovery Immigration Jobs & Economy Medicare National Security Pandemic Flu Patriot Act Renewal in Iraq Social Security More Issues News Current News Press Briefings Proclamations Executive Orders Radio RSS Feeds News by Date July 2006 | June 2006 | May 2006 | April 2006 | March 2006 | February 2006 | January 2006 | December 2005 | November 2005 | October 2005 | September 2005 | August 2005 | July 2005 | June 2005 | May 2005 | April 2005 | March 2005 | February 2005 | January 2005 | December 2004 | November 2004 | October 2004 | September 2004 | August 2004 | July 2004 | June 2004 | May 2004 | April 2004 | March 2004 | February 2004 | January 2004 | December 2003 | November 2003 | October 2003 | September 2003 | August 2003 | July 2003 | June 2003 | May 2003 | April 2003 | March 2003 | February 2003 | January 2003 | December 2002 | November 2002 | October 2002 | September 2002 | August 2002 | July 2002 | June 2002 | May 2002 | April 2002 | March 2002 | February 2002 | January 2002 | December 2001 | November 2001 | October 2001 | September 2001 | August 2001 | July 2001 | June 2001 | May 2001 | April 2001 | March 2001 | February 2001 | January 2001 Appointments Nominations Application Federal Facts | Federal Statistics West Wing | History
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