Text of President Bush's Veterans Day speech

Text of President Bush's speech on the war on terrorism on Friday in Tobyhanna, Pa., as transcribed by CQ Transcriptions:

Thank you all for coming. Thank you for the warm welcome. I'm glad to be back in Pennsylvania, and I'm proud to be the first sitting president to visit Monroe County.

I'm especially pleased to see so many military veterans with us today. Those who have risked their lives for our freedom have the respect and gratitude of our nation on Veterans Day and on every day.

Tobyhanna is a fitting place to commemorate Veterans Day. For the better part of a century this facility has provided critical services for our armed forces.

Around the clock and around the world personnel from here maintain technology that our troops use to take the fight to the enemy. From Afghanistan to Kuwait to Baghdad International Airport, technicians from Tobyhanna are carrying out dangerous missions with bravery and skill.

I know you're proud of them and so is the commander in chief.

Tobyhanna is also home to a thriving community of military families. Your support for those who wear the uniform and your support of each other through difficult times brings great pride to our country.

The American people stand with our military families.

I want to thank Colonel Ellis for allowing me to come and give you this speech today. Thank you for your service to our country, Colonel Ellis.

I want to thank Senator Specter and Congressman Kanjorski and Congressman Sherwood for joining us today. It's good to have them on Air Force One. I appreciate their service to our country.

I want to thank all the state and local officials, and I want to thank all the veterans.

Today our nation pays tribute to those veterans, 25 million veterans, who have worn the uniform of the United States of America. Each of these men and women took an oath to defend America and they upheld that oath with honor and decency.

Through the generations, they have humbled dictators and liberated continents and set a standard of courage and idealism for the entire world.

This year, three and a half million veterans celebrate the 60th anniversary of freedom's great victory in World War II.