i think there are a lot of interesting things people will learn about and they did not know before, but i also think it would give him an idea about what it is like to be president, and there are successes and the.res, and we all have our presidents are human, and we have the same sort of records. >> as it met your expectations? >> it has. i think people will find it interesting. we tried to include everything. you and i have not to talk about our support for dissidents and freedom of movement. you very much. >> thank you so much for being here. >> wednesday night we will have

the full interview with laura bush as she takes us on a walking tour of the george w. bush library. begins at 8:00 p.m. eastern. >> she married of age of 16 and helps her husband be a better reader and writer. she sneaks supplies to the tennessee mountain, but by the time her husband of students -- assumes the presidency and she is in poor health. meet elisa johnson as we continue our series on first ladies with your questions and comments, monday night on c-span and c-span [no audio3. also c-span radio and c- span.org. >> next, the memorial for those who lost their lives in the explosion in texas. president obama traveled to

waco, where he delivered remarks. this portion is about an hour and a half. [applause] >> hello. i want to spend a few minutes why people you about volunteered to be a firefighter and why they continue to do t hat. during the past few days but has come to my mind and your mind and other people's minds across the country. there are many reasons people give for wanting to be a firefighter. those are as different from the men and women who participate and to die. -- to participate and to do

that. some of those people want to be involved and wanted to be involved since they were children because their families have been involved. their neighbors have been involved, and that is what you do when you are in that community. the reasons vary, but the commitment is the same. when you get into the fire service and into responded, there is a recent you stay. harris is a different reason that brought you to the firehouse -- there is a different reason that brought you to the firehouse, but a reason you stay is bigger than one man. you get a chance to live your life to the fullest.

the greatranklin, leader of our country, the founder of the volunteer fire service, and a great innovator had a quote a about life. life.u loe so, do not squander time, for that is the stuff time is made of. our brothers showed their commitment. they showed they would not squander time they got the opportunity to live their lives to the fullest. now it is our turn to remember them. remember wern to must continue to live our lives. we must continue. on thursday while sitting out

the fire station, the chaplain came in and lead us in of prayer. the stuck withng me the past few days. he talked about the lord promised light from the ofkness, meaning in times evil and bad there would be good. there would be light. i have had a hard time looking for about life and that understanding. understanding.nd i begin to see that, and i want to share what i have seen of the end. the brightness that is coming with you so you can start living your life and start continuing to make sure you get the time and do not squander it. one thing i am beginning to see

is love, compassion, and strength in thistate, is nation highs and is able to provide to the family, friends, loved ones of its heroes. this demonstration by our brothers and sisters of the fire elected officials, leaders, and citizens reaching out to help show the compassion. is shown by those wishing a healing and sympathy on every social media outlet you can find and the common wearing of red to show support for the west and the west fire department. things youore good begin to see. you begin to see these maintain andhelped

keep unification of the fire service. they brought brothers and sisters to help during a tragic time, no matter where they were in the country. they were volunteers. they were paid. they were from of a big city or a small town. they came to help. these brothers and sisters wanted to make sure our families of fallen heroes and who were supported. closing, i say while the light coming from the darkness is not as bright as we wanted to we it exists, while the time have is something we do not wish to squander but to live to the fullest. remember we will always love and support your was your family member loved and supported us.

we will also remember them. they will never be forgotten, and this will be a reminder for us to take each day and not to squander the time but to live our lives to the fullest in service. thank you. [applause] >> thank you for the encouraging and very truthful words. ofce wednesday the state texas has sent aid and assistance to our fire fighters and citizens impacted by this tragedy. leading those efforts in the state of texas and initiating a rebuilding is the honorable governor who rick perry. [applause]

>> thank you for coming. it was just a few years ago we created the star of texas reward to honor our responders, those that were injured or killed in the line of duty. every year we have the families of those we have lost, some of those injured first responders but come to the capital. i have met with those families and hurt those stories. without exception, the stories -- and heard those stories. they demonstrated extraordinary community pride to a person.

our first responders know they are placing themselves in danger, whether they are braving the flames of fire, whether they are transporting injured via a helicopter or racing to the scene of an accident, first know better thantte anyone there is no such thing as a routine emergency. those who died last week certainly know about, but it did theylow them down, as raced toward of earning factory. factory. the burning their stories are in inspiration, but they are also heartbreaking. there the brothers but did everything together, including fire fed -- fighting fires.

they are the young technicians who left a training seminar and wasted no time driving toward the burning and plume of the smoke. there is the dallas fire captain, who is off duty, but who responded anyway because his community who was threatened to -- was threatened. there were more. each of the man who lost their lives, and they have stories and we are seeing. they each have friends and family and hopes and dreams. a true common friend said bounden together -- who common thread and brown them together was their duty. these are volunteers.

ordinary individuals lesson with courage and determination -- blessed with determination to do what they could. they are the ones that proudly said, not on my watch, in the moments following the explosion. many of the remaining volunteer firemen did what they always do. they headed to the flames as well. they knew full well another butosion was a possibility, if there was a chance of saving their fellow volunteers or preventing another blast, they were going to take it. it is also proper to commend all of the people. they have seen their home town so profoundly impacted. they have seen so many injured.

can ease no words that the pain this community has suffered. no way to coach a sense of normalcy to it, but just know spirit of those men live on. that spirit lives on in fellow volunteers and family and friends they left behind. let their deeds serve as an inspiration for all of us to live lives of meaning and committed to serving our neighbors and communities. we will never forget what happened here nor forget the sacrifices of those who first responded. god bless you, and may god continue to bless the great state of texas.

[applause] >> thank you, gov. kerrey, and god bless you. governor perry, and god bless you. let us honor and celebrate their lives. they served in numerous ways. here are their stories. >> our son was born april 7,

1987 in taxes. -- in texas. excitement's followed him from the point on. gary was a child who had been you need from the beginning. he rushed out to push a wheelchair and help widows get safely inside. he was playing soccer, was -- fascinating announced enough to keep them occupied. >> he kept himself focused when do, earning manyank belts. he talked about technology and who knows what other types of

conversations. >> he is a crazy boy cousin in a large group of girls. they love being with him. his child, he pestered sister. they were test nodes or could been bitter enemies. as an -- they were best friends or could be bitter enemies. as a high school student, he would daydream a lot, and it would start them thinking about what the rest of his life would be like. dad rebuild the engine in his pickup so they would be able to fix it if it had problems. when our family relocated when in 2003, and terry began the work phase of his life. scooping ice cream was fun, and getting messy was good for him.

he was messy, but aren't they all? after being initiated into the work world, he worked hard. he became of pizza hut manager, of putting in countless hours for little pay. he did what he had to suit survive. >> he looked forward to moving out on his own. he took two jobs, but none of it was faster facing enough to keep him occupied. >> he made a special friend, and the french did -- friendship left him to his new passion, the volunteer fire department. he was always excited when he would get called out, and he grew to love it. along came his opportunity to further his love of helping others are becoming an emergency medical technician, so back to school he went. he discovered his perfect niche

on the way to the treatment of becoming a helicopter paramedic. he will ever be on our hearts and awaits us in heaven. he passed on april 17 and still have someone's back and always will. we are proud of you, and we love you so on. we will love you forever. we will like you for always tripped as long as we are living, our son you will be. -- we will like you for always. as long as you are living, our son you will be. .ut the first of three children i am his brother, brian. he should have been born of an earlier era. he loved to.

around cowboy.all- he was a very hands-on dad, helping his daughter train horses and coaching his son. he was very proud of them. he instilled love of the outdoors. humor a great sense of and a smile on his face. he was always the same. to his wife, the children, mom, dad, and extended strains, he leaves generosity. i know he would be amazed by the outpouring of kind words.

we are going to miss you. we love you both. >> the day i heard the was right i knew he there on the front. the hero is a am encouraged he gave to him when the community gave to thee community. thought is who he was very good if he had a job to do, he did -- that is who he was. if he had a job, he did it sooner is the best.

best.his story, a to go with a mother of raises her children, and then they get wings that are strong enough to leave home, and you worry about them. was so mobled around his heart. had a beautiful smile onlys face, but he is the one able to keep me in line and show me i need to be more loving and caring, and i am so proud of saven to be able to people's lives and sacrifice my

.wn joey, rest in peace. i love you. >> i am his wife. word express how much i .m going to miss him he was my everything. brought three kids into our marriage, and he brought one an, and we join together as family. it was our children. he took care of the children that loved him so much.

i know he has been watching over us and smiling, and saying, i will keep you safe until i see you again. you.e >> i am julie's sister-in-law. i am going to miss your strong and -- joey's sister-in-law. i am going to miss your strong hugs. thi brave.grave we are so proud of you. we love you, and i am going to miss you so much. you are truly a brother to me. and -- toa brother, my brother, from way back to raising heck on the streets

growing up andto being a good catholic and a strong family man. i am going to miss you. have too much fun without me. take care. >> i am his run another. grandmother. i loved him very much. always loved his smile with his little dimples. when he came over, he always wanted fried chicken. when i have fried chicken, i will think of you.

and son.proud of you you were just the perfect person and you did give up your life and i know you're in heaven and we love you and we'll miss you and we hope to join you. not too soon, but join you eventually. joey. my nephew. you were a strong man. you loved life. but yet you were willing to give all. you were a hard worker that never asked for anything. you were the first to step forward. i'm going to miss you. i love you.

hero.re my i'm proud of you. >> my name is judd harris, representing my dad, captain kenneth harris, and i want to let people know what kind of man he was. best man i could ever hope for. an awesome human as well. i am just glad -- he was my dad and i was able to be around him. he just was a strong, caring man. a good family man who did everything for us. he never missed a sporting event of ours in his life. and the way he cared for others, there was nothing you could ask of him he wouldn't do for you, and he put other people before

himself. and -- i have heard a lot of stories, from firemen and stuff like that that worked for him and they all have him in their highest regards. people working under him say he's the best captain they ever worked for and everyone who knew him knew -- who he was. it is me losing my dad and them at the firehouse losing their brother. you know how they felt, to get through this and all they've done for us, it really is like a separate family up there. [applause] >> for those of you who don't know me, i am cody dragoo's brother in law. he was like a brother i never

had. i know the day cody died, our family, the city of west and the great state of texas and the big sky of montana lost a special person. cody was the type of guy who would do anything for anybody at any time, no questions asked. he knew you could call him him for any -- call on him for any need. he was a dedicated firefighter and dedicated his time to other activities like the west volunteer fire department fundraiser and tractor pull. he really enjoyed his time doing that. and other organizations, as a member of the west 2305 and the president of the cottonwood water supply.

a history behind how patty and cody met. he moved to west from the mountains of montana at the local koa. patty had given up on men, and she said -- i would marry me a montana mountain man. never did she dream it would happen. but one night she went to the local bar with her sister susan, and susan said, that guy at the bar is the one for you. that night, patty met her montana mountain man. cody was an amazing husband and patty loved cody with all her heart. cody was her best friend and they could talk about everything. they talked every night two hours. he kissed her when she got home from work and before they went

to bed. he would leave notes that say -- i miss you and i love you so she'd find them. everyone knew he'd watch his favorite nascar driver, dale earnhart jr. on sunday. my little girl katie would run straight to uncle cody. he;'d pick her up and say, "that's my little girl." and she was his little girl. whenever she was in trouble with who would feel sorry for her. he would pick her up and give her a big kiss. cody grew up hunting in montana becausedeer and elk and

of that we got a deer lease and spent time with our family and friends. cody shot and dropped a doe and waited a few minutes to get it. clayton ran down and yelled, "you got it." cody forgot his backpack and knife at the stand. as cody went to move the deer, it jumped up and pawed him in the face, with a hoofprint on his cheek and ran off. i have the picture on my phone. patty said -- shoot a deer or get off the deer lease. he said -- i get to stay on the deer lease. and this lsasast season he shot three deer, with lots of deer meat for sausage and steaks we eat all the time. he was a blessing to our family

and he will be missed. cody, patty just wanted to say -- "i love you with all my heart, forever and ever and ever." [applause] 14th, 2001, the following passage from the wedding of robert and allison snokhous, from 1st corinthians. if i speak in the tongues of angels but don't have love, i am a clanging symbal. if -- cymbal. if i have all knowledge butfaith can move mountains not have love, i have nothing. if i do not have love i gain

nothing. love is patient, love is kind, it does not in the and it does not post and -- boast and it is not self teaching and it keeps no record of wrongs. love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. it always trusts and always hopes and always perseveres. it is clear to all who knew robert snokhous that he was a true hero as a firefighter and as a husband, father, brother, uncle, son, and man. he demonstrated his commitment and his bravery, the first to answer every call. robert was also a wonderful husband. he and allison married not once but twice, in october 1999 and 2001 -- they wanted to celebrate

their marriage with a real wedding. he was allison's best friend, her rock. i spoke to his sister karen and she said -- she wanted everyone to know she and barry loved their brothers. i am quoting, "they gave us hell growing up," and they were so proud of doug and bob, not just now but always before. robert was an amazing dad. i remember when his chidlren werldren were little, he would t in the car to pick them up and never cared about the drive, just happy about spending time with bubba. he wrote -- he may be my

stepdad, but there is nothing step about thour relationship. he was with me for car breakdowns, breakups and everything in between, and i will never be able to share my love adnd respect for that man. he treated me as one of his own and i was lucky to have him as my hero. it is heartbreaking to lose such an important person but i am happy others see what a true hero he was. our family because we lost uncle doug, too, but they will be together in heaven. robert will be known as a hero. my prayer is for peace and hope and those who hope in the lord

soaring ontrength, wings like eagles, they will walk and not be weary, they will walk and not be faint. [applause] >> for the benefit of those wondering about the rest, we will be back wtih thith the finl six. the stories are so powerful but remind me of so many stories we hear from families of firefighters we lost. many to thank for the assistance this community recieved -- we want to bring up someone who has been helpful. the people of baylor university which weheir doors,

will always be grateful. the staff as assist us in building this memorial service led by their president, ken starr, who joins us now. [applause] >> thank you. what a beautiful and stirring tributes, mr. president, america's first lady, you honor us by being here. the governor and lieutenant governor and the attorney general are here -- congressman floras, former congressman are to representatives are here and our two mayors. mayorduncan of waco, and mosca of west. perhaps may say so, above all, the people, the good good people ofhe

west. [applause] america's great poet laureate robert frost wrote "good fences make good neighbors." today there are no fences. on the banks of the brasas and across the river -- to bell view and ross and over to abbot, home of willie nelson, and then up to west itself. there are no fences. we are all together as neighbors. standing figuratively, arm in

arm, and a beautiful reception as the people came into the paul j. meyer arena, where we are accustomed to celebrating graduations, victories -- earned championships. today is a day of remembrance. a time to treasure one another and these great stories we hear, stories about our neighbor. what powerful world that is. captured beautifully in a book we here in waco read as a community, in a project called "one book, one waco." the title of the book, "where dreams die hard." the story of a little town near

west, called penelope. and it is so small, people would ask, "where's penelope?" be, "it'sse would east of west." this is a book about neighbors loving one another. here at baylor, we know and love our neighboring community, called west. we know the special places, the wonderful town center. we know the village bakery. we know the czech bakery. travelers on 35 check in to the check-in, and stop by the check-stop, and getting colachis, not just for

themselves but friends and neighbors, and we like going to labor dayestfest on weekend. this is our community. a place of volunteers as we see so vividly before us and as we see and hear, those who come alongside us. and this is at the heart of who we strive to be and seek to do here at baylor. to our own first responders, including volunteer firefighters in the student body. we cannot restore these precious lives with their great stories of volunteer firefighters and two other neighbors who made that ultimate sacrifice. we pay tribute to a day of

remembrance. remembrance here in our community of neighbors. it is my privledge to read a statement from president george w. bush, who regrets he was unable to be with us. his words. "today we dedicated the new george w. bush presidential center, and are sad we can't be here with you. we send our heartfelt sympathies to west, and all suffering are in our prayers. stay strong and may god bless you." let me say in closing, i was asked one business item. the city council of west is concerned about the flurry of information, the accuracy of

information and i am asked by the city council to set before you, the people of west -- that the best source for information is the official city website, www.cityofwest.com. god bless the city of west, and these great neighbors. thank you. [applause] >> let's continue looking at the lives of these heroes. these are men who willingly accept t risk so others could escape injury. without them, the city of west will never be the same.

kevin sanders was a husband, father, a son, a grandson, a brother, an uncle and a cousin, a nephew, a co- worker, a neighbor, and a friend. as anyone who met him could tell you, he was an animal-lover, a mechanic, a star trek fan, and hopefully this is not a surprise, but also a superman fan. when i turned 16, i was handed chevyhis first car, a 1981 painted with a house roller and with a superman logo. you would be hardpressed to find someone who hadn't seen the

superman car. before moving to texas, he got a charger, a red dodge perfect mix of his love of muscle cars, dukes of hazzard, and the man of steal. h-- steel. he drove his car in the last day before being certified as an emt. he was a member of the bruceville fire department and with almost everything i described him -- he was everything you think of when i say volunteer fire department. his wife and six cats knew he would be out of the house within minutes of the fire pager going off. what slowed him down is he may have his newborn son in his arms

and would have to hand him off before hopping in his superman car. heading off to help is what he and his emt classmates were doing, in the middle of a lesson when the first call of the fire came out. it was not until the second call that duct tape and superglue coudln't hold anyone in theriir seats. he did not need his superman car, the emf building is only five football fields away. the perfect timing for the most horrible event many of us have experienced. kevin and others were killed instantly by the blast that registered as a n earthquake. his physical presence was taken

from us by force, faith, or divine reason. what is never forgotten is his joy and levity that he freely gave to everyone he met. many of his friends and family remember him playing pratical jokes, seein with a superman cape and paintball gun and one memory, pretending to be me when my wife would call. memories like that, pictures and letters, emails and gifts, these by.gs we remember kevin and two things to represnet him. that bright red dodge charger survived with a few dents. the second thing is kevin and

sarah's newborn son. he will be fortunate to grow up with the spirit of a dad who at his very core, was about helping and loving everyone he encountered. reid, who they named after the actor from the original film will have a real life superhero, a hero who -- up to and including his final moments, he would give everything to anyone who needed it. kevin was 33 years old, ried is eid is 3 months old. we ask you strive to make the world better for you, your family, and for his. [applause] for those of you who don't

know me, my name is ronald and i had the privledge of being one of perry's best friends. it is a sad and heavy heart that i come to talk about the life of my friend. it is hard to understand why tragedies happen to such good people. it is not for us to understand. god has a special plan for perry. so instead of dwelling on the loss, we should celebrate his life and all the fun times he gave us. i moved to texas in the fall of 2004 and i didn't know anybody here. i lived here two months and met the one and only perry calvin. he was talking to me like he'd known me his whole life. if you were a stranger, you

weren't for long. i knew i had made a friend for life. so many stories i could tell you, the rodeos hwe clowned togeteher and the remodeling projects -- two of his qualities were his ability to make you feel welcome and his ability to always help out wherever he could. perryof you who knew -- you were guaranteed that you woudl get his opinion whether you liked it or not and if he was around long enough he would play a practical joke on you, and you were guaranteed you knew a man who would help you any way he could. i always knew perry was a phone

call away and the door was open. we didn't always agree on things and we would argue like brothers but the greatest respect i had was his love of the lord, his sons and wife and his desire to help everyone and the passion he had for helping no matter what time, where, or what the cost. we will never be able to fill the emptiness in our hearts that the loss of such a great friend has left us but i think we should take the time to reflect and smile and see him with that toothpick and saying, 'what you ought to do is this," or "don't worry about it." you will be missed dearly. thank you for the friendship and memories that will last forever.

[applause] james snokhous is my dad. he is also a friend, brother, uncle, grandpa, and hero. he grew up in west his entire life, and i continue to reside in the town my family has loved for generations. he as thwas the oldest followedy uncle bob. he attended st. mary's catholic church in west. daddy graduated at west high school. he will say his high school football team was the best in school history because he was on it. cannot believe that

the two men who gave her such a hard time became pillars of the community. he spent his child at the west volunteer fire department with my uncle. service was instilled in him at a young age and there is no greater gift than to serve your neighbors, family and friends and it is no surprise to me that he and uncle bob became volunteer firefighters, that is just the kind of man that they are. he was a man of dedication and he began working at central texas in works a few weeks after high school graduation and have celebrated 32 years with the company. that same dedication that he showed in volunteering at the fire station. of thenre many family said he had to leave early from, -- events that he had to leave early from. he would get two hours of sleep and leave the next day. nothing made him happier than

helping others. dad, he would tell stories about anything, whether his hunting adventures or his golf outings. he also loved to sing karaoke and would invite anyone to go -- and he thought he could sing songs better than the original artist. he spent a lot of time barbecuing for firefighters and family events. although his barbecue is delicious, everyone knows that it always took a long time. there is nothing that he liked more than to sit on the back porch with family and friends and talk, and he would talk about nothing and anything. we would meet him on the back porch and he would ensure that everything would work out. he was the most, and laid back man i ever met. and laid back man i ever met.

when he was delivering flowers -- he would say that everything would get done. my stepsister crowded -- credited him for helping her get through her high-school years. he really enjoyed taking his step grandchildren to the fire love it andby would ove it -- she likes to say that he took her on a fire truck that did not have a floor. seven months ago i gave birth to his first grandchild. as you can tell, i gave him the same middle name of my father and it -- could not be prouder. after he was born, daddy came into the room and said, he is beautiful, he looks exactly like me. he talked about how he would take him hunting and fishing

when he could start walking. him aboutait to tell what a great man his grandfather was. he cried at the wedding and he was a loving man who care for his family and his community. caring for his community is what he was doing at the west fertilizer plants, and never thought twice about going into a theerous situation, and community that he loved so dearly. his best friend, my uncle bob was with him. wouldsaid that he knew he be okay in a fire is uncle bob was with them. he ran out on an especially bad car wreck, he said, the good die young. we have found comfort in saying that over the last few days. the men like my dad who rushed into danger our special kind of

man who will give their life without any thought of their own is the definition of a hero. hogan to look up to these kinds of men and could not be more proud to call doug snokhous my dad. name is carmen bridges, wife of morris bridges jr. son.is his two yoear old -- two-year-old-son. morris has three children. that he loved more than anything in the world, french, brittany, and jamison. he loved his job. he wason fire pro -- always ready to work and well-

liked and respected by everybody and loved his community and the people in the community. he would have done anything to help them. we lost morris in an explosion. and morris is a hero. not only to his children but to his community. and he will be missed. we heard him say -- he got the clal. -- call for the fire. usually he just ran out of the house without stopping, as fast as he could. but he stopped that day and picked jamison up and said "daddy loves you, and i'll be right back."

and he didn't come back. morris has two sisters. -- he lovedlouise them very much and he loved them more than anything in the world. he had a lot of nieces and nephews he loved. morris -- he was -- he jsuust would have done anything for anybody. and my son will grow up knowing his dad was a hero, and that we love him and will miss him. [applause] honored to have the opportunity to tell you about cyrus, my brother, and the light he shined in my life and

others. fallenembering the say -- i wish i would have, i never got to. cy was not that kind of guy. and people who reveal their shortcomings when looking back at his life -- he lived as if tomorrow was not an option. he held nothing back in his passion and life. he would dedicate all he had and never lead a life to regret the bitter taste of apathy. he was on fire for life. he lived his life knowing one day he would meet his demise and accepted this with a smile on his face. cyrus loved fire, to a fault to be honest. his parents and friends can

attest to it, by the burn marks i noun our yards. my wife would ask, "where's the ez cheese." i would find he had not only taken the product, but the can had been shot with a b-b0 gun and looked like spaghetti. imagine a swath of compressed dairy product, on windows, chairs, sometimes the dog. when confronted, he would giggle and plead his case, and he'd say, "it was 15 feet in the air and it was fun and so cool." and i will miss that. he lived by john 15:13. greater a love hath no man than

this, to lay down his life for a friend. cy paid the ultimate price to try to save the lives of fellow emt firefighters and for you, for me, strangers, and simply because that is the fabric of what cy was fron. cy was -- from. cy was a firefighter. cyrus lived for the department and i can think of no better way for him to pass on, taking comfort in knowing he died doing what he loved. in death we focus on the day someone was born and when someone died, the only thing on the marker -- is the dash between the dates. he lived his dash. he had a zeal for life that

could not be contained. his dash should go past any length that marble could contain. we focus on the day they left us and joined us but the fact is, they lived. he lived a life of the virtues i hope to one day master. by moral and ethical -- we hear about valor and loyalty and dedication and prudence. never once did i hear him say those words. but i watched him live them without compromise. mark and lucas were concerned if he left the nest with the tools he would need to be a complet e person. i had the chance to tell them

about their son. not only did he have those tools for a life of morality and hisgrity, the hhe mastered craft to abide with dedication and vigilance. he hated the term hero. beliefi shared the heroes were etched in marble, a sacred and solemn term for those who paid the ultimate price when others faltered and ran. all privy to this incedent can attest that my brother and all with him are heroes, now and forever. i would like you all to learn from my brother. he risked and gave his life because there is no greater love

than to lay down your life for a friend. vigilance alive, and there to love, and put that glove out there. love is -- love out there. love is -- dont' be afraid to love and even i nthe face of -- in the face of adversity, take his example and don't be afraid to love. god bless you all, and thank you very much. [applause] >> a lot to think about their, a lot that was said, powerful words and powerful statements,

it reminds me of firefighters that i empties -- emt's have worked with over the years, the threats that keep us working the way that we do but when you hear about their stories and lives, you know that they are everyday people, who, under pressure and stress performed heroic tasks. we really do of the families ank you for putting together those video eulogies. [applause] representing congress and the congressional delegation from texas, the great state of texas, -- [applause]

the senate minority whip, john cornyn. [applause] >> today, we have been reminded as the scripture says, there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for a friend. lives of 12nor the great man, who gave their lives in an enduring act of love. for their neighbors, their families, and their community. when the call went out for -- along withn , intless others in west

immediately towards the danger, not away from it, looking for a way that they might help. and though they were taken from us in a blast that shook the earth and shattered buildings, nothing will ever shake the memory of their heroism, and their bravery. aftermath of a tragedy like this, we find ourselves asking the question -- why? fallen,e remember the let us also asked the question, how? such greate find courage, as these men did it. to face overwhelming danger, on behalf of their community. their families.

and their friends. how does one find such selflessness, to put the safety of everyone else before your own. loveow does one find such to be willing to lay down your life so that others may live. forever be the legacy of those who ran towards the fire last week, we're here today asking an almighty god -- to give comfort to the grieving, may he bring healing to those who are injured, and we never forget the courage and the resolve the people of west and this great community have shown the world.

know that the i events of this terrible week have captured your attention, as we grieve for those who are mourning in boston, people the suffered injuries there, and we know today, you have seen the great loyalty, the fierce loyalty that we texans feel for one another. forget what one resident of west told me when i came here last friday. doesid -- being a texan not just described where you are from, and describes and your family is. i will never forget that. morning foramily is its lost members, our loved ones, families and friends,

fathers and sons, uncles -- mr. let ment, and mrs. obama as we expressy our profound appreciation for your presence. my fellow texans, it is my honor to introduce the president of the united states. [applause] >> thank you. thank you so much. in --you to center court to sen. cornyn, gov. perry, president starr. the community of baylor and

waco, and the family and friends and neighbors of west, texas. power of theh the voices you just heard on that video. and no words adequately that wasthe courage -- displayed on that deadly night. -- all for the ofe and support and prayers the nation. the book of psalms tells us, for you, o god, have tested us, you

have tried us, we went through yet youd through water, have brought us out to a place of abundance. we went through fire and through outr, you have brought us to a place of abundance. and for ourte, country, these have been trying and difficult days. we gather here in texas to mourn the brave men who went through fire, and all those who have been taken from us. we remain mindful of our fellow americans to the north to indoor the high waters, we pray for those in boston who have been tested and the wounded and

his greatest test still lies ahead. but no this. the eyes of the world may have been fixed on places far away, our hearts have also been here. time of tribulation. andeven amidst such sorrow, so much pain -- we recognize god's abundance. for the courage and the compassion, and the incredible grace of the people of west. mayor moscaful for and all ofduncan, those who have shown such leadership. in this tragedy.

and the families and neighbors grappling with unbearable loss, we are here to say that you are not alone. and we not forgotten, may all live here in texas but we are neighbors, too. american, too, and we stand with you. [applause] we will be there after the cameras leave. and after the attention turns elsewhere. your country will remain ever ready to help you recover and rebuild, and reclaim your community. [applause] until la week, is fair to say

that few outside of this state, had ever heard of west. is the way most it.le in west like [applause] it is true that travelers and -- wider world, out of all the former senddent's in dallas, they their thoughts and prayers, george w. and laura bush talked --gingly about the company as they have driven through west. understood and

what all of you understand, is what makes west special, is not the attention coming from far- long places. what makes west special and puts it on the map, is what makes it familiar. the people who live there. neighbors that you can count on, places that haven't changed. solid and true. and lasting. of the people in west know everybody in west. many of you are probably descendants from some of those first settlers, emigrants a copper -- crossed the ocean and kept going, so for you, there is no such thing as a stranger. when someone is in need, you reach out to them and you support them. you do what it takes to help

them carry on. that is what happened last wednesday when the fire alarm sounded on a quiet, texas evening. the call went out, to the volunteers -- not professionals, people who just love to serve and what to help their neighbors. farmers and out to -- people who were selfless enough to put in a full day of work and then be ready for more. you answered the call. he stopped -- you drop your school work and you got in fire trucks, and he rushed to the flames. and when you got to the scene, you forgot the fear and you fought the blaze as hard as you

could, knowing the danger, buying time so others could escape. and then, aut 20 minutes after the first alarm, the earth shook and the sky when dark, and west changed forever. today, our families are with whosebut we have lost, -- memories will live in our hearts and parents to love their kids and leaders to serve their communities, they were young and old and from different backgrounds and different walks of life, and a few were just going about their business. but an awful lot planowards the scene of a disaster, trying to help. one was described as the kind of guy whose phone was always ringing with the phone calls of

people in need of help. that is to these people were. our thoughts are with those who face a long road. the wounded, the heartbroken, families who lost their homes and possessions in and instead, they will nee their friends in west, but they will need their friends in texas, and across the country. they will still need you to answer that call, they will still need those things that are lasting and true, for scripture teaches us, a friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. the people of west -- we have seen the love you share in better times as friends and brothers and sisters, these hard

days have shown your ability to stand tall in times of unimaginable adversity. you solve this with mayor munson and the hospital staff that treated people that they knew, toiling through their fear as they did what had to be done. in the folks to help to evacuate an entire nursing home, one man who drove an elderly relative -- elderly residents to safety, and came back to do it again, twice. we saw this in the people so generous that when the red cross set up a shelter for those who could not go back to their homes, most had already been offered a place to stay with their friends and families and neighbors. complete strangers drove hundreds of miles to donate supplies. from surrounding

communities, manning stations so surviving volunteers could recover from their wounds. in -- in baylor stood for hours to give blood. a nearby school district opened its doors to the students who cannot go back to their classrooms, putting welcome signs on their lockers and in the hallways. thing about this tragedy, this small towns family is better now. extends beyond the boundaries of west. this love days ahead, and support will be more important than ever. there will be moments of doubt and pain, the temptation to wonder, how this community will ever fully recover, the families

who have lost such remarkable man, the sort that we saw in that video, there will be times when they don't understand how this could have happened. today, i see in the people of west, in your eyes -- that what makes west special is not going to go away. anisette of changing who you are because of this tragedy, it has simply revealed to you have always been, it is the courage debra -- the works around the fire station, she says, we will stay around because we are fighters, and that coverage will bring us back.

[applause] the love of carla ruiz, who lives in austin and last week she drove all the way back. "i had to be here," she said. "you have to be here going.l keep west the faith of pastor john crowder -- his church was damaged. the congregation assembled outside. what happened on wednesday was awful, he told them, but god is bigger than all of this. [applause] he is here with you in west. he is bigger than all of this and he is here with you.

going forward, it is not just your town that needs your courage and your love and your faith, america does to. -- too. towns that hold fundraisers to help folks pay the medical bills. that take the time to drop off a home-cooked meal because they know a family is under stress. america needs communities where there is our somebody to call if your car gets stuck or your house gets flooded. theeed people who so loved neighbors as themselves that they are willing down to lay their lives -- are willing to lay down their lives for them. [applause] america needs towns like west. [applause]