Pakistani soldiers load humanitarian relief supplies onto a Chinook helicopter at Muzaffarabad, Pakistan. In his weekly radio address, President George W. Bush encourages Americans to continue helping the victims of the October 8 earthquake in South Asia, as well as other charitable causes.
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President Bush urged
Americans to continue donating money to help the victims
of the October 8 earthquake in South Asia, as well as other
charitable causes, on the occasion of the Thanksgiving holiday
in the United States.
In his weekly radio address, the president
said November 26 that as the holiday serves as a time to
give thanks for blessings during the year, “we are
mindful of the need to share our blessings and gifts with
others.”
“The universal call to love a neighbor
also extends beyond our shores, moving us to help people
in other lands,” Bush said. “Our nation has
begun to help the millions of people in Pakistan, India,
and Afghanistan who are suffering after last month's devastating
earthquake in South Asia.”
The president urged American listeners to
visit the Web site of the South Asia Earthquake Relief Fund
at www.southasiaearthquakerelief.org
“to find out how you can help.”
Bush also paid tribute to U.S. military
personnel and their families who are separated during the
holiday season.
The soldiers “are serving with courage
and skill in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere to defend
our freedom and extend the blessings of freedom to others,”
he said, and “they have helped the people of Iraq
and Afghanistan hold historic and successful elections.”
For more information on U.S. assistance
to the stricken area, see U.S.
Response to the Earthquake in South Asia.
Following is the transcript of President
Bush’s radio address:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Crawford, Texas)
10:06 A.M. EST
Saturday, November 26, 2005
RADIO ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT TO THE NATION
AUDIO
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week,
we gather with our loved ones to give thanks for the many
blessings in our lives. Each family has its own traditions,
yet we are united as a nation in setting aside a day of
gratitude. We are thankful for our family and friends, who
fill our lives with joy and love. We are thankful for the
abundance of this prosperous land. We are thankful for the
freedom that makes possible the enjoyment of all these gifts.
And we acknowledge with humility that all these blessings
and life itself come from Almighty God.
On Thanksgiving and throughout the year,
we are grateful to the men and women of our Armed Forces
for securing the peace in these dangerous times. Many members
of our Armed Forces are observing this holiday in places
far from home. They are serving with courage and skill in
Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere to defend our freedom and
extend the blessings of freedom to others. In the past year,
these brave Americans have continued to fight terrorists
abroad so we do not have to face them here at home. And
they have helped the people of Iraq and Afghanistan hold
historic and successful elections. They are America's finest,
and we thank them today and every day for their service
and sacrifice.
This week we also extend our gratitude to
our military families, who are making great sacrifices to
advance freedom's cause. Many of our servicemen and women
have endured long deployments and separations from home.
Many of those they leave behind must deal with the burden
of raising families while praying for the safe return of
their loved ones. All Americans honor and appreciate the
commitment and sacrifice of our military families.
We think especially this week of those military
families who are mourning the loss of loved ones. Every
person who dies in the line of duty commands the eternal
gratitude of the American people. The military families
who mourn the fallen can know that America will not forget
their sacrifice, and they can know that we will honor that
sacrifice by completing the noble mission for which their
loved ones gave their lives.
The Thanksgiving holiday reminds us that,
"to whom much is given, from him much will be required."
As we count our blessings, we are mindful of the need to
share our blessings and gifts with others, and America is
moved to compassionate action. This compassionate spirit
was seen again this year, when Americans rallied to help
their neighbors in need after the destruction caused by
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We pray for continued strength
as we rebuild these communities and return hope to our fellow
citizens.
The universal call to love a neighbor also
extends beyond our shores, moving us to help people in other
lands. Our nation has begun to help the millions of people
in Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan who are suffering after
last month's devastating earthquake in South Asia. I urge
you to visit the website of the South Asia Earthquake Relief
Fund at SouthAsiaEarthquakeRelief.org to find out how you
can help. And to help others in need in your hometown, across
America, and around the world, please visit the USA Freedom
Corps website at USAFreedomCorps.gov.
This week of Thanksgiving, we ask that God
continue to bless our families and our nation. Laura and
I wish you all a happy and safe Thanksgiving weekend.
Thank you for listening.
END
(end transcript)
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