Intrepid Salutes Our Veterans with the President of the United States

Intrepid Salutes Our Veterans with the President of the United States – The Honorable George W. Bush

11/12/2008

Veterans Day - November 11, 2008

Intrepid Museum Salutes Our Veterans with the President of the United States

The Honorable George W. Bush


Photo Credit: Kathy Lloyd Boehm

On Tuesday, the leadership of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum presented President George W. Bush with the Intrepid Freedom Award during the Museum's Veterans Day ceremonies in New York, which were part of the Museum's re-opening festivities after a two year refurbishment.

The award recognizes world leaders who embody the ideals of world freedom and democracy. Prior honorees include Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Clinton, Prime Ministers Yitzhak Rabin, Margaret Thatcher and Silvio Berlusconi and Russian President Boris Yeltsin. Intrepid Museum co-chairmen Charles de Gunzburg and Richard Santulli presented the President with the award.

In addition to President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, among the guests and speakers who attended the Veterans Day ceremonies were New York State Governor David Paterson, U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk A. Kempthorne, Congressman Charles B. Rangel, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and former NASA Astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Scott Carpenter.

"We are deeply humbled that the Commander-in-Chief visited the Intrepid on Veterans Day and accepted the Intrepid Freedom Award," said Charles de Gunzburg, Intrepid Museum co-chairman. "We are thrilled because this is the second time that a sitting President has visited us."

"The President's visit says a great deal about the importance of Intrepid's mission to support and honor our heroes & our troops and their families," said Richard Santulli, Intrepid Museum co-chairman.

According to White House spokesperson Dana Perino, the President wanted to acknowledge all 55,000 Americans who served aboard the Intrepid, including some who were in the audience for the ceremonies. President Bush also paid tribute to all who have served our country in uniform through the generations, and thanked our veterans for what they have done to keep our country safe and our liberty secure throughout our history.

The President also talked about the new generation of Americans serving in uniform today, including five outstanding service members, one from each branch of the armed forces, who flew up with him and the First Lady to New York. He spoke of the responsibility our nation has to support our veterans and their families, highlighting both some of the steps his administration has taken and also the work of private charities like the Intrepid Relief Fund and Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.

The Intrepid Veterans Day ceremony included numerous other highlights, including performances by the USMC Drum and Bugle Corps and a laying of a ceremonial wreath in honor of American veterans by President Bush, assisted by Buzz Aldrin and Scott Carpenter. In addition, the Intrepid was re-christened by the First Lady and assisted by Mrs. Sally Hoover Casale, whose grandmother first christened the ship in 1943.

"Veterans Day is one of our country's most important holidays," said Bill White, President, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. "We owe our troops our deepest gratitude and respect for their service and sacrifice for our freedoms."

An estimated 5,000 guests including 2,500 veterans were on site at Pier 86, the home of the Intrepid, for today's special event. At the conclusion of the ceremonies, the veterans marched from the Intrepid to 42nd Street and 5th Avenue to join with other veterans in New York's annual Veterans Day Parade.

Below are some links to press stories from the event and a more detailed photo gallery will be coming soon.

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