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Leadership. Character. Commitment. |
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April 07, 2003 |
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Remarks at Groundbreaking for Route Nine: Challenging Days Ahead for America |
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This is an extraordinary time for our nation. A time of peril and tension. A time of worry and wondering. But this is also a time of great
patriotism and of unity and support for our troops. West Virginians have had a proud tradition of military service to our country. That tradition continues today. At present, West Virginia
Guard and Reserve units from throughout state -- several hundred West Virginia sons and daughters -- have been called up in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. That service is a painful sacrifice; but time and again, West
Virginia families have made it. Today those families worry, wait, watch the ever-present news coverage, and hope for the safe return of their loved ones. There is reason to hope. Last week, the nation joined
us in relief and celebration as we learned that Private First Class Jessica Lynch had been found alive and rescued. Her story captivated the country and her sweet face may forever linger in the nation's memory of this war.
Her courage and her endurance have given many families hope. I have always supported our men and women in uniform, and I stand behind our troops today. They have been called to duty and they will carry out those duties
in a way that makes us all proud. We owe them all of the funds necessary to help them succeed in their mission and to bring them safely home again. But members of Congress have a duty as well. Ours is a
Constitutional duty to continue to raise questions about policies that put America's sons and daughters in harm's way and to oppose those policies when we believe that they are wrong. Likewise, citizens have a duty to question
and to seek answers to their concerns. At times of national distress, it is natural to want to come together and to look for leadership from a single, clear voice. But America's song has never been expressed by a
single note. It was never intended to be. America's music is not a solo, but rather a symphony made richer by the harmony of different views. Remember, our founders rejected a Monarchy, and sought, instead, a
Republic. They chose a representative form of government that allowed the many voices of America to be heard. There are no alternative voices in countries like Iraq. Cruel and despotic governments illustrate
exactly why we must cling to our traditions of open debate, and why we must vigorously uphold the checks and balances which are the hallmark of our form of government. Upholding those traditions also reflects patriotism and
performs a service inspired by love of country. The freedom to dissent, to speak out, and to question is the birthright of every American. Occasions of national urgency, such as war,
bring government to the forefront of American minds. Today, with the news so heavily saturated by coverage of the war in Iraq, we focus on the government's military responsibilities. But, our Framers intended
the government to ensure those promises set forth in the Preamble to the Constitution -- not only to provide for the common defense, but also to establish justice, secure domestic tranquility, promote the general welfare, and secure the
blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. Those promises take many forms. They encompass both large and small aspects of our lives. They include that ribbon of highways that
stretches across the country which serves not only as a system of transport for commerce, but also as part of a national defense strategy that recognized the need to enable evacuation of U.S. population centers. Highways provide for
greater economic opportunity, for a better quality of life, for the general welfare of the people. Ralph Waldo Emerson, in 1844, described the necessity of highways in holding the Union together, saying that America's
"days already seem numbered by the mere inconvenience of transporting representatives, judges and officers across such tedious distances of land and water." Highways, therefore, have provided for a stronger union --
connecting us, connecting communities, connecting states. Route 9 provides such a connection. And Route 9 serves as an important connector to our history. This route traverses some of our State's most historic
territory. This is colonial territory, Civil War territory. And the construction of this road, which will make it easier for visitors to learn about our nation's heritage, entails the preservation of local historical treasures.
Today, we break ground for construction of a 0.34-mile segment of a wider, safer Route 9. It was in 1991 that I secured $110 million in the highway authorization bill for construction of this road. In that
same year, I added $1.04 million to the Transportation Appropriations Bill for environmental studies and preliminary design work. Last year, I added another $10 million to an appropriations bill for this road. This day has
been a long time in coming. But we have arrived, and we are moving forward. The days and weeks ahead will not be easy. Our nation faces great challenges. But with humility before the Almighty, with an
enduring and resilient faith, I am confident that we will meet the challenges before us. I urge you to take comfort in everyday acts. Find strength in the morning ritual of tying shoe laces and collecting backpacks
to send your children to school. Seek joy in the gathering of the family at the supper table. Seek peace in your nightly prayers. Psalm 40 tells us "Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust."
There is much wisdom in that brief passage. As I was preparing to come here today, I ran across a notation concerning a 1787 penny that was found along this route. That penny, minted in Connecticut, bears the Latin
inscription which translates "In freedom and liberty." As we break ground today, and ask God to protect our sons and daughters who stand in harm's way, let us dedicate this road to their
bravery, and to the beautiful country which they so ably serve. ### |
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