Gates, Mullen Give Farewell Tribute To Bush

January 7, 2009 4:54 a.m. EST

Arlington, VA (AHN) - Top Pentagon officials bid farewell to President George W. Bush as commander-in-chief on Tuesday, holding a full honor ceremony to pay tribute to what they said was his legacy of deep commitment to the Armed Forces and courageous leadership against "a rising evil."

In a military parade at Fort Myer, Defense Sec. Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen praised Bush, who officially leaves office on two weeks. The ceremony is held by the military for every outgoing president.

"After this nation was attacked by a rising evil, the same evil which later murdered many others in places like London, Madrid, Islamabad and Mumbai, you quickly led us from the grip of fear to a serenity of purpose and unity of action,"

Mullen said. "Serenity well beyond our dreams on September 12th, when all thought further attack was not only likely, but gravely imminent. And through your vision, a new national security was rendered to reach our enemies where they hid and trained and celebrated deadly crimes."

"In my 44 years of wearing this uniform, I have never seen the American public and our military as bonded in understanding, purpose, and spirit as I do right now. For this, Mr. President, we owe you our greatest gratitude," he added.

Gates, who will continue to serve in his current post in the Obama administration, said "the vision of President Bush, propelled by the energetic advocacy of Secretary Rumsfeld" inspired a transformation of the military after 9/11.

"The result is an American military that has become more agile, lethal, and prepared to deal with the full spectrum of 21st century conflict -- and on a personal note, a force that is dramatically more deployable and expeditionary than when I last served in government 15 years ago," he said.

Bush "has not flinched when faced with difficult wartime decisions, including the momentous decision two years ago to send more troops into Iraq and revamp our strategy there," Gates added. "Nor has the President ever hidden from the human consequences of his decisions... The President's deep regard and affection for our service members and their families has played out in ways big and small: Surprise visits to Iraq and Afghanistan, personal phone calls to those deployed, even the occasional chest bump to unwary cadets."

Gates and Mullen also presented the outgoing commander-in-chief the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award for "responding decisively" to the threat of terrorism and leaving "a legacy of sound national defense."

Bush gave a sometimes emotional speech at the end of the ceremony, thanking the military for their service and saying a sincere yet oft-repeated statement that "nothing compares to the honor" of addressing troops as commander-in-chief.

"Over the past eight years, I have seen the valor of the American military time and time again," Bush said. "The decisions I made as your Commander-in-Chief have not always been popular. But the cause you have served has always been just and right. The missions you have carried out have always been necessary. And the work you have done has every bit -- has been every bit as courageous and idealistic as that of any generation that came before you."

"In the years since the war on terror began, America's Armed Forces have led the largest military liberation since World War II. Because of your actions, more than 50 million Afghans and Iraqis have seen the chains of despotism broken - and are living in the liberty that the Creator intended. The new wave of freedom in the Middle East has made America more secure at home -- because it is undermining the culture of tyranny that fosters radicalism," he added.