Dr. NoSleep

Nancy and I, rest assured, understand your concerns.

I will tell you now that if there were any other option available, we would not hesitate to accept it.

But just as our forefathers a century ago, as did their forefathers before them, understood that sacrifice is a core tenet of American philosophy, so too must we accept this.

Whether it was through the soldiers on the beaches of Normandy, or the laborers in our factories and oil fields,

Americans have known sacrifice.

We sacrifice our time, our money, some even their lives, to ensure the safety and prosperity of their fellow citizens.

Even today, when our enemy is more ancient than our nation itself, we must accept this as another sacrifice for the common good.

3,000 individuals will accept the mantle of hero in the hearts of their countrymen

and will live on in hearts, in minds, and in eternity.

Tomorrow is no different.

Yes, it will be hard, and there will be some personal loss.

Some of our bravest citizens may be called to go above and beyond for the continued survival of their nation.

But much like America's finest generation that stood to combat an unrelenting force in the most overwhelming odds, we too shall stand to drive back the forces that may destroy us.

As those brave men shed their blood to ensure America's future, so too shall we shed our blood to ensure our own future.

There is a deep sense of courage to be found in that.

I ask you to remember that.

Their half-full drawings will be held in two hours.

Vice President Bush will oversee it to ensure that all participants are chosen equally and fairly.

I ask all Americans to cooperate with law enforcement officials during this time.

We will rise to this crisis with the same courage, honor, and dignity our forefathers carried before us.