Text 4903, 88 rader
Skriven 2007-06-27 23:31:02 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (070627d) for Wed, 2007 Jun 27
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President Bush Attends Seventh-Annual White House Tee Ball Game
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary June 27, 2007

President Bush Attends Seventh-Annual White House Tee Ball Game South Lawn

˙ /news/releases/2007/06/20070627-13.wm.v.html ˙˙Presidential Remarks
˙˙Audio

3:16 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to opening day right here on
the South Lawn of the White House. Jonas Brothers, thank you guys. Good to
see you. Proud you're here. As usual, you did a fantastic job with the
National Anthem. Just give them a hand. (Applause.) I'm proud to be here
with the Commissioner of Tee Ball, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Michele
Smith. Thanks for coming, Michele. (Applause.) Proud to be with you.

First, we want to welcome to tee ball here on the South Lawn, the Bobcats
from Allegany County Little League, Cumberland, Maryland. (Applause.) And
we want to welcome their mighty opponent, from Luray, Virginia, the Red
Wings. (Applause.) The Commissioner and I wish the girls all the very best.
We want to thank the coaches, and of course we want to thank the parents
for coming. We welcome you here. Opening day of tee ball on the South Lawn.

I do want to thank the Arizona Wildcat National Champs for joining us
today. (Applause.) Taryne Mowatt, the coach at first base. Taryne, thanks
for coming. Congratulations. Caitlin Lowe, the third base coach. We've got
bench coaches, we've got the team. We want to wish you all the very best
next year. That would be a three-peat, right? Good luck to you all. Thanks
for setting such a fine example.

One reason that we invited the Wildcats to come to honor these girls
softball teams is because it's in the nation's interest to promote women
athletics. We're a big believer in Title IX programs. We think it's good
for America that our women are playing sports. The best way to convince
women to play sports is to start early. So these champs are here to
encourage these young girls to play hard, play often, and play good, and
one day you may be national champs, as well. So thanks for coming. We're
glad you're here.

I do want to thank Mayor Ralph Dean of Luray. I forgot to welcome you, Mr.
Mayor. We're proud you're here. Thanks for coming. (Applause.) We want to
thank Girl Scouts of USA for joining us today. Girls, thanks for bearing
the colors. We thank you for coming. We're proud you're here. Thanks for
being Scouts. (Applause.)

And by the way, we're about to get the first pitch in. And Meredith Cripe
is going to give me the ball in a minute. Meredith, we're really glad
you're here. Thanks for coming. It's a big day to be here to put out the
first pitch on opening day, and we're glad we selected you.

I do want to thank Hannah Storm, the announcer today. Hannah, thanks for
lending your talent. Mother of three soon to be all-start softball players.
We're glad you're here. We want to thank the Little League International
staff. Thanks for putting on this event. Thanks for supporting Little
League baseball. Thanks for helping our kids understand the blessings of
exercise and team sports.

I do want to thank representatives from the YWCA, the Boys _

And finally, after this event, the Commissioner and I are going to present
each of you all a token of our appreciation for you coming, and we're also
going to say thanks to Erica Minor, who is the youth volunteer. We like to
honor people who serve their neighbors, love a neighbor like they'd like to
be loved themselves. And Erica is such a person.

And now before we begin the game, and before you give me the ball,
Meredith, we're going to have the Little League Pledge. Are you ready?

(The pledge is recited.)

THE PRESIDENT: Play ball. (Applause.)

END 3:20 P.M. EDT


Tee-Ball on the South Lawn


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