Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
323152241
label
Ben Franklin Bill - Pennsylvania 10/9/92 [OA 8485]
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
323152241
contentType
document
title
Ben Franklin Bill - Pennsylvania 10/9/92 [OA 8485]
citationUrl
identifierLocal
13645-011
collections
Records of the White House Office of Speechwriting (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Speech Draft Files
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
323152241
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
182aac14c85193cd
ocrText
Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
S
S
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Speech File Draft Files
Subseries:
Chron File, 1989-1993
OA/ID Number:
13645
Folder ID Number:
13645-011
Folder Title:
Ben Franklin Bill - Pennsylvania 10/9/92 [OA 8485]
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
G
26
18
5
4
BEN FRANKLIN MEM. BILL-SIGNING \ 11:20 A.M.
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA \ OCT. 9, 1992
o THANK YOU CURT. LET OFFER A SPECIAL
SALUTE TO THE FIRE-FIGHTER'S BEST FRIEND,
CONGRESSMAN CURT WELDON -- THE MAN
RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING THIS IMPORTANT BILL
THROUGH THE CONGRESS. SEN. ARLEN SPECTER.
MEMBERS OF THE FIRE SERVICE COMMUNITY. FIRE
CHIEF JOHN GALLAGHER. GENE BIDOLI
[PRESIDENT, DELAWARE COUNTY FIREMAN'S
ASSOCIATION].
- 2 -
0 IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF
YOU THIS MORNING. I HAVE A CONFESSION TO
MAKE... AS A KID, I ALWAYS WANTED To BE A
FIRE-FIGHTER WHEN I GREW UP. IN FACT, LAST
WEEK, BARBARA CAUGHT ME SAWING A HOLE IN THE
FLOOR OF THE LINCOLN BEDROOM. I WAS GOING TO
BUILD A POLE TO SLIDE DOWN INTO THE OVAL
OFFICE. //
- 3 -
EVEN MILLIE IS UPSET ABOUT MY FIRE-FIGHTER
ASPIRATIONS. THIS MORNING, SHE CAUGHT ME ON
THE PHONE WITH "RENT-A-DALMATIAN". //
- 4 -
0 I AM HERE TODAY TO SIGN THE BENJAMIN
FRANKLIN NATIONAL MEMORIAL COMMEMORATIVE
MEDAL AND FIRE SERVICE BILL OF RIGHTS AcT --
WHICH AUTHORIZES THE MINTING OF A MEDAL
COMMEMORATING BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S
CONTRIBUTION TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE
AND THE AMERICAN FIRE SERVICE.
- 5 -
o THE ACTIVITIES FUNDED THROUGH THE SALE
OF THE MEDAL WILL HELP TO CARRY OUT YOUR BILL
OF RIGHTS. THE PROCEEDS WILL HELP PROMOTE
EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND GREATER
PUBLIC AWARENESS AND SUPPORT OF THE MANY
HAZARDS OF FIRE-FIGHTING AND EMERGENCY
RESPONSE. THEY WILL ASSURE THAT SHOULD THE
ULTIMATE TRAGEDY OCCUR -- YOUR LOVED ONES
WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF.
- 6 -
0
THE LIST OF BENEFITS FROM THIS MEDAL
GOES ON AND ON. AND so DOES THE COURAGE OF
AMERICA'S FIRE FIGHTERS. I KNOW IT CAN BE
"TOUCH-AND-GO" IN SOME OF THE CALLS YOU
RESPOND TO / THE DANGER EVERY FIRE FIGHTER
FACES WHEN ENTERING A BURNING BUILDING OR
RESPONDING TO AN ACCIDENT. FOR YOUR BRAVERY
AND UNFAILING DEDICATION, I SAY THIS FROM THE
BOTTOM OF MY HEART: THANK YOU.
- 7 -
0 ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS AcT, IS THE FIRE
SERVICE BILL OF RIGHTS. IT IS A TRIBUTE TO
ALL OF YOU. IT ACKNOWLEDGES THE IMPORTANT
CONTRIBUTIONS FIRE-FIGHTERS MAKE TO THEIR
COMMUNITIES. BUT, MOST OF ALL, THE FIRE
SERVICE BILL OF RIGHTS IS LONG-AWAITED AND
MUCH-DESERVED RECOGNITION FOR ALL YOU DO FOR
YOUR COUNTRY.
- 8 -
o As SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, TEDDY
ROOSEVELT IS AMONG MY FAVORITE PRESIDENTS IN
HISTORY. LET ME SHARE WITH YOU WHAT HIS
FATHER SAID TO HIM ON THE EVE OF HIS 16TH
BIRTHDAY. HE SAID, "ALL THAT GIVES ME MOST
PLEASURE IN THE RETROSPECT IS CONNECTED WITH
OTHERS
WE ARE NOT PLACED HERE TO LIVE
EXCLUSIVELY FOR OURSELVES."
- 9 -
0 You SERVE NOT FOR YOURSELVES ALONE --
BUT FOR THE FAMILY CALLED AMERICA. ON BEHALF
OF THAT FAMILY, THANK YOU, AND MAY GOD BLESS
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU: ALL OF YOU ARE
HEROES. MAY GOD BLESS THE GREAT STATE OF
PENNSYLVANIA, AND THIS MAGNIFICENT COUNTRY WE
LIVE IN -- THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Now, LET'S SIGN THAT AcT. ((SIGN ACT))
# # # #
1926
Oct. 11 / Administration of George Bush, 1992
Remarks on Signing the Benjamin
ing building or responding to an accident.
Franklin National Memorial
For your bravery and for your unfailing dedi-
Commemorative Medal and Fire
cation, I say this from the bottom of my
Service Bill of Rights Act in
heart: Thank you on behalf of all Americans.
Springfield, Pennsylvania
Also included in this act is the Fire Service
October 12, 1992
Bill of Rights. It is a tribute to all of you.
It acknowledges the important contributions
Curt, thank you so very much. And I just
that firefighters make to their communities.
can't tell you what this event means to me.
But most of all, the Fire Service Bill of Rights
I want to offer a special salute to Curt
is long-awaited and much-deserved recogni-
Weldon. He has got to be, when you look
tion for all you do for your country.
at the whole Nation, the firefighter's, the
As some of you may know, Teddy Roo-
emergency responder's best friend. He is un-
sevelt is among my favorite Presidents in his-
believable in his steadfast support for every-
tory, and let me share with you what his fa-
thing we believe in. Curt is very generous
ther said to him on his 16th birthday. He
in his assessment of my role, but it is his
said, "We are not placed here to live exclu-
work, his labor, his efforts that make this his-
sively for ourselves." And you serve, you
toric bill here-gives us this bill to sign today.
serve. You serve not only for yourselves
I want to salute Chief Gallagher; Gene
alone, obviously, but for the family called
Bidoli, the president of the Firemen's Asso-
America.
ciation of Delaware County. I want to salute
And on behalf of that family, thank you.
the 20 national presidents that are here today
May God bless each and every one of you.
representing a million and a half emergency
All of you are heroes in my book. And may
responders all across our great country.
God bless the State of Pennsylvania and this
It's an honor to be here. And I guess like
wonderful country that we are fortunate
Tell
every kid in America, I grew up wondering
enough to live in, the United States of Amer-
whether I could ever be a fireman. Barbara
ica.
saw me drilling a hole in the Lincoln Bed-
And now you will see me sign enthusiasti-
room the other day, trying to put a fire pole
cally and make official this very important
down, curving it around to go down into the
act. Thank you all very much.
Oval Office. But I am here today to sign the
Benjamin Franklin National Memorial Com-
Note: The President spoke at 11:35 a.m. at
memorative Medal and Fire Service Bill of
Springfield Township Fire Co. No. 44. In his
Rights Act. It authorizes the minting of a
remarks, he referred to U.S. Representative
medal commemorating Benjamin Franklin's
Curt Weldon. H.R. 2448, approved October
contribution to the advancement of science
12, was assigned Public Law No. 102-406.
and the American fire service.
A tape was not available for verification of
The activities funded through the sale of
the content of these remarks.
the medal we're going to authorize today will
help to carry out your important bill of rights.
The proceeds will help promote education
Remarks to the Community in
and training programs, a greater public
Springfield
awareness and support of the many hazards
October 12, 1992
of firefighting and emergency response. And
they will help assure that should the ultimate
The President. Thank you very, very
tragedy occur, your loved ones will be taken
much. Give them the sign. [Laughter] Thank
care of.
you very, very much. Let me say it's great
The list of benefits from this medal goes
to be back here in Springfield, great to be
PIN
on and on, and so does the courage of the
back in this all-important part of Pennsylva-
American firefighters. And I know that it can
nia, and great to be accompanied by one of
be touch and go in some situations, some of
the true national leaders who is your Con-
the calls that you respond to, the danger that
gressman, Curt Weldon. He's doing an out-
every firefighter faces when entering a burn-
standing job.