Remarks by the President in Commencement Address at Greensburg High School

GREENSBURG, Kan.--(Business Wire)--

Greensburg High School

3:28 P.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Superintendent, thank you for
that kind introduction. Governor Sebelius, thank you for being here.
Senator Brownback, Senator Roberts, Congressman Tiahrt, Mayor Janssen,
Mayor-Elect Dixson, City Administrator Hewitt, Principal Fulton,
members of the administration, faculty and staff, distinguished
guests, family, friends, and most importantly, the Class of 2008.
(Applause.)

I am honored to be at Greensburg High School -- home of the
Rangers. (Applause.) As some of you may know, I used to be one of the
owners of a baseball team with that name. (Laughter.) So from one
Ranger fan to another, I give you this message: "Beat 'em up, beat 'em
up, G-H-S." (Applause.)

And I thank you for rescheduling this ceremony so I could make it.
(Laughter.) I know you originally planned to hold the commencement
next weekend -- it's the same weekend as my daughter's wedding. I
could have suggested changing the date of the wedding instead --
(laughter) -- I think we all know how that would have turned out.
(Laughter.) So thanks so very much.

It is fitting that we hold the commencement on this day -- because
it marks the one-year anniversary of the tornado that forever changed
your lives. Those of you who lived through the storm remember your
ears popping from the change in the air pressure. You remember
huddling with your loved ones in basements. And when it was safe to
come out, you remember the shock of seeing your entire town in ruins.

At this ceremony, we celebrate your year-long journey from tragedy
to triumph. We celebrate the resurgence of a town that stood tall when
its buildings and homes were laid low. We celebrate the power of
faith, the love of family, and the bonds of friendship that guided you
through the disaster. And finally, we celebrate the resilience of 18
seniors who grow closer together when the world around them blew
apart. When the Class of 2008 walks across the stage today you will
send a powerful message to our nation: Greensburg, Kansas is back --
and its best days are ahead. (Applause.)

To reach this day, the Class of 2008 has overcome challenges
unlike those faced by any other graduating class. You spent a year in
portable classrooms that look very different from the red book -- red
school you attended as freshmen. Many of you have gone home to
trailers that lack the comforts of the houses you had. All of you have
had to juggle a full load of schoolwork and activities while also
working to help this community rebuild. Through it all, you've shown
determination and perseverance -- and today you have earned the right
to call yourselves graduates of Greensburg High School. And I
congratulate you all on a tremendous achievement. (Applause.)

To reach this day, the Class of 2008 depended on the support of
loving families. Your families are proud of what you've accomplished
-- and I know you are grateful for their unconditional love. I ask all
the parents to stand and receive the thanks of the Class of 2008.
(Applause.)

To reach this day, the Class of 2008 also relied on the guidance
and wisdom of your teachers and administrators. They have known many
of you since your first day of kindergarten -- and they were
determined to help you graduate in the town where your education
began. Less than four months after the storm, they managed to reopen
classes for the start of the new school year. Under the leadership of
your superintendent and the principal, the faculty and staff of
Greensburg High School have given this community stability and
strength in a time of desperate need -- and today, we give them all
our thanks. (Applause.)

Over the past year, the members of your class have relied on
fundamental values that have given you strength and comfort as you
deal with hardship, and you heal your community, and you rebuild your
lives. You've learned some important lessons that will serve you for
whatever you do next.

The Greensburg Class of 2008 has learned that America's
communities are stronger than any storm. The tornado tore apart the
beams and boards that held your houses together, but it could not
break the bonds of family and faith that hold your town together. We
see the strength of those bonds in the way you held commencement last
year on a golf course just weeks after the storm. We see the strength
of those bonds in congregations that have stuck together despite
losing their church buildings. We see the strength of those bonds in
the caravan of cars that follow your school sports teams wherever they
go. Because the storm destroyed your athletic facilities, you had a
full schedule of away games. Even though you're always on the road,
they tell me you always had a home crowd.

When your boys' basketball team made it to the sub-state finals,
nearly every person in this town turned out. The team even got a
police escort -- they say it was bigger than the one I got.
(Laughter.) Your fans rushed to the court after you won on a buzzer
beater to advance to the state tournament for the first time in 30
years. And I have been told that the first person to spring out of the
stands was Principal Fulton. (Laughter.) The basketball team finished
with a great record -- and along with all your other school teams, it
has given this good town a lot to cheer about.

As the Class of 2008 ventures into the world, your hometown will
always be a source of stability and comfort and pride. Greensburg is
where many of your parents and grandparents grew up. It's where you
went to church with your neighbors on Sundays. It's where you wanted
home to be after the storm. So wherever you go, you will be able to
rely on the ties of family, and your faith, and your friends that were
forged here, and you'll always carry Greensburg, Kansas in your heart.

The Greensburg Class of 2008 has learned that Americans will
always rebuild stronger and better than before. Often in life, you're
dealt a hand that you did not expect. The test of a community -- and
the test of an individual -- is how you play the hand. Over the past
seven years, I've seen Americans in communities across our country
overcome some tough hands. I've seen the resolve of the American
spirit in the wake of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the flood waters
of Hurricane Katrina, eight hurricanes in Florida, tornadoes in states
like Missouri, Tennessee, and Alabama, wildfires of southern
California and in Oregon. I saw the same resolve and the same
determination in the people of Greensburg, Kansas.

When I visited Greensburg last year, I remember walking your
streets, and I remember meeting Kaye Hardinger. She was standing
outside the wreckage of her home. She took a look at me and said, "I
would have invited you in for coffee," but she didn't have time to
dust. (Laughter.) Today, Kaye lives in a trailer with her family in a
nearby town. But she continues to plan for the day when she and her
family move back to Greensburg, and rebuild. And Kaye, when that day
comes, fire up the coffee pot. (Laughter.)

When I visited Greensburg I also met a man named Kelly Estes.
Kelly is a John Deere dealer. I remember so very well walking with
Kelly and his wife and his family through the rubble after that storm
hit. He lost more than $18 million worth of equipment. But he was
ready to look for the future. After caring for his employees who had
lost their homes, he began making plans to bring his business back to
Greensburg. Earlier this year, he broke ground on a new dealership
that will be a model of energy efficiency, create more than two dozen
new jobs and inject new vitality into Greensburg economy.

People like Kaye and Kelly are part of a more hopeful future for
your city. The leaders of your town understand that out of the
devastation of the storm comes an opportunity to rebuild with a free
hand and a clean slate. They envision a future where new jobs
flourish, where every public building meets the highest environmental
standards, and where the beauty of rural America meets the great
possibilities of new technology. The community is dedicated to putting
the "green" in Greensburg. (Applause.) And as you work to achieve this
vision, the federal government will honor its commitments, and
continue to stand by you.

Ultimately, the future of Greensburg -- and the future of our
nation -- will belong to the young. The education that you've received
at this school will prepare you for a lifetime of opportunity and
achievement. And the lessons that you have learned in this town will
give you the strength to rise above any obstacle in your path. You've
seen life at its most difficult. You have emerged stronger from it.
Now I call on you to take this spirit forward -- and help our country
in a way that makes us more resilient and more courageous as a people.

And finally, the Greensburg Class of 2008 also understands what it
means to serve a higher cause. In the hours after the storm, your
concern was not for what you'd lost; it was for the safety of the
people you loved. As Senior Class President Jarrett Schaef said, he'd
look for his friends in the dark of night. And I appreciate that kind
of leadership. When someone suggested that he leave town, he refused.
Here is what he said: "I hadn't found nearly enough of my friends, and
I wasn't going to leave until I had."

Jarrett wasn't alone that night. As you well know, many of your
family members rushed to Greenburg (sic) from nearby counties and
other states to offer love and support. Other folks came from towns,
as well -- compassionate citizens who came to do their duty to help a
neighbor in need.

You'll always remember these generous and caring souls. And you
will always remember the thousands of other volunteers who descended
upon Greensburg in the months that followed. The volunteers came from
all across America. One of them was a student named Christopher
Skrzypczak. Last year, Christopher almost lost his life when a tornado
tore through his high school in Enterprise, Alabama. So when he saw
the news reports about Greensburg, he wanted to help. He raised money
to purchase hundreds of new books for your library. He drove with his
family all the way from Enterprise to Greensburg to deliver the books
in person. Volunteers like Christopher brought hope to this community
-- and they set an inspiring example for our country.

Over the past year, students in Greensburg have also answered the
call to serve others. Despite all that you lost, each of you has
discovered that you have far more to give. Over the summer, many of
you worked with AmeriCorps to clear debris and help the needy. On
Greensburg Make a Difference Day, you helped plant new trees and
flowers in the parks. When a tornado hit Jackson, Tennessee in
February, elementary and middle school students worked with their
teachers to raise more than $5,000 in aid for the victims. In these
acts of service, we are reminded that as much as Greensburg changes,
the compassion of its citizens is a constant source of strength.

One member of your class who represents the spirit of service is
Aaron Widner. This fall, Aaron decided to enlist in the Marine Corps.
Like many other courageous young men and women across America, he has
stepped forward to defend our freedom during a time of war -- and we
honor him today. And, Aaron, I wish you the best of luck at boot camp
-- and I look forward to serving as your Commander-in-Chief.
(Applause.)

On this graduation day, I ask every member of your class to devote
your lives to a cause larger than yourselves. Over the past year
you've learned that you can never predict what tomorrow will bring.
Wherever the winds of life take you, you can be certain that serving
others will always make your lives more fulfilling.

As we watch the Class of 2008 graduate today, the dark clouds from
one year ago have parted and have made way for a brighter future.
We'll always hold in our hearts those who lost their lives. But with
faith in He who rides above the mighty storm, we go forth with
confidence that Greensburg will rise again. (Applause.)

I thank you for having me today. God bless you, and may God bless
the Class of 2008. Thank you. (Applause.)

END 3:44 P.M. CDT

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