Remarks for American Society 4th of July
July 2, 2005

Fellow American citizens and distinguished guests…

I would like to acknowledge the Minister of National Defense, General Otto Alejandro Romero Orellana and thank him for graciously allowing The American Society to use this facility for its Independence Day picnic.

I also want to thank Colonel Salvador Alfredo Giralt Barraza, Commandant of the Military Doctrine and Education Command, for hosting us on his attractive installation.

Special thanks also are due to Carmen Slone, Fritz McGough and the other officers of the American Society of El Salvador for organizing this event, as they have annually for many years.

Finally, I extend a special welcome to the officers of El Salvador's Battalion Cuscatlan who are able to join us today.

Anyone speaking about the independence United States of America would be hard put to equal the words written by Thomas Jefferson that were formally adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776. Let me recall with you a very brief passage from the Declaration of Independence. It appears near the beginning of the document and reads:

We hold these truths to be self-evident,
That all men are created equal,

That they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights,

That among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

That to secure these rights,
Governments are instituted among men.

The words of the Declaration of Independence continue to inspire Americans, and people from many other nations, even today. They do so, I think, because they express the core ideals of the nation America eventually was to become. They remind us of the principles we still must strive to realize and maintain. They voice the political aspirations of freedom-loving men and women of every generation and every place on earth.

It is important for us to remember that the 13 American colonies did not win their independence without help. Today the soldiers of El Salvador's Battalion Cuscatlan are performing valiant and critical missions along side our own soldiers and those of our other allies to assist the people of Iraq gain their own opportunity for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The loss last week in a vehicular accident of one of those brave soldiers, Carlos Armando Godoy Castro, is a reminder of the sacrifices often required in the effort to secure peace and freedom. Therefore, it is particularly appropriate that we are able to commemorate U.S. Independence Day this year as guests of our Salvadoran friends, our partners in Iraq.

I thank our Salvadoran hosts and for all of my fellow American citizens, I want you to know that Deedee and I take special pride and pleasure in being able to be with you on this day.