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 Home > News & Policies > May 2007

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 25, 2007

President Bush Visits with Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Their Families
Naval Medical Center
Bethesda, Maryland

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12:36 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: First, I applaud the bipartisan effort to get a emergency supplemental bill to my desk. The Speaker and the Leader said they would get it done by Memorial Day recess, and they have. And I appreciate that very much.

You know, this effort shows what can happen when people work together. We've got a good bill that didn't have timetables or tell the military how to do its job, but also sent a clear signal to the Iraqis that there's expectations here in America, expectations that we -- about how to move forward. I look forward to continuing to work with the Prime Minister and his government in meeting those expectations.

President George W. Bush shakes the hand of Cpl. Ryan T. Dion of Manchester, Conn., after awarding him a Purple Heart Thursday, May 25, 2007, during a visit to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., where the Marine is recovering from wounds received in Operation Iraqi Freedom. With them are Cpl. Dion's parents, Thomas and Patricia Dion, and brother, Justin. White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian I also am honored to be here at this place of compassion and healing on Memorial Day Weekend. It's a weekend which gives us a chance to honor those who have served this country, whether it be in this war or in previous wars.

In being here, I also want to honor the healers here at Bethesda -- the health care here is remarkable. They're dealing with some of the very tragic injuries in this war. People come here without much hope and they leave, in many cases, healed and ready to move on with their lives. So I thank the doctors and nurses.

I also thank the soldiers and their families who I met here, people who are remarkably brave and courageous. I'm constantly amazed at the strength of character of those who wear the uniform. To be the Commander-in-Chief of such men and women is really an awesome honor.

And so, to our troops and their families, may God bless you. And may God continue to bless our country.

Thank you all very much.

END 12:38 P.M. EDT
President George W. Bush stands with Cpl. Manuel Provencio of Tucson, after awarding him a Purple Heart Friday, May 25, 2007, during a visit to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., where the Marine is recovering from wounds received in Operation Iraqi Freedom. With them are Cpl. Provencio's mother, Manuela, and brothers, Carlos, in red, and Angel.  White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian
President George W. Bush stands with PFC. Arturo E. Weber and his cousin, Lisa, after awarding the Marine with a Purple Heart during a visit Friday, May 25, 2007, to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., where he is recovering from wounds received in Operation Iraqi Freedom.  White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian