Remarks as Prepared for Delivery for
The Honorable Dirk Kempthorne,
Secretary of the Interior
Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemoration
Anniversary Park, Jamestown, Virginia
May 13, 2007
Today we commemorate the remarkable journey of 104 individuals who left behind all that was familiar and set sail to embrace an uncertain destiny. We remember their landing on an unexplored continent and their establishment of a colony 400 years ago that ultimately would be the first seed from which would emerge—nearly 200 years later—the United States of America.
In this respect, when we commemorate their journey—a journey of faith and a journey of unimaginable resilience—we commemorate our own national journey, which too has been a journey of faith and of great resilience.
The other night, thanks to the gracious invitation of the President and the First Lady, I was among the invited guests to the official state dinner of the Queen of England and Prince Philip.
Following dinner was the wonderful music of both Isaac Perlman and the United States Army choir.
And it was in that setting, in the East Room of the White House, where I sat behind the queen, that I admit there were a few occasions when I admired the crown she wore as the Queen of England.
As I did so, it was also in my line of sight to admire the magnificent painting of another Virginian, General George Washington.
I was struck by the history and juxtaposition of that moment. Here was the Queen sitting beneath the portrait of the man who led our fight to challenge the crown. There the Queen was, having dinner and entertainment with her close friend and ally the President of the United States.
This is another journey in faith and resilience.
The next day, her Majesty the Queen, came to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. There she paid honor and respect to those who died in the effort to save England in her darkest hour.
She then shook hands with our American veterans who were there. In that gesture, she again honored America for its resilience.
My friends, Jamestown, The White House and the World War II Memorial were all places that Queen Elizabeth visited. They are also all national park sites.
`` As Secretary of the Interior, I have the honor of overseeing our nation’s 391 national parks, battlefields, monuments and other historical and cultural sites that make up the National Park System. Together, they tell a story of America—our land, our culture, our heritage.
This week we are celebrating 400 years of history at a national park. To their great credit, the President and the First Lady are charting a course for the future of national parks by issuing a Centennial Challenge to Preserve National Parks for the next 100 years.
But it all starts right here in Jamestown.
Let us commemorate this great beginning.
Let us admire the men and women who made the journey and bore the hardships.
And let us give thanks for the great nation that eventually grew from this special place that is Jamestown.
May God Bless America the Beautiful.