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Trump's Remarks in a Presidential Recognition Ceremony: Hard Work, Heroism, and Hope
REMARKS
Remarks by President Trump in a Presidential Recognition Ceremony: Hard Work, Heroism, and Hope
Issued on: May 1, 2020
Blue Room
4:47 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. It’s a great honor to have you all. I know your stories. I got to read about your stories. In some cases, I knew your story without having to read about it — from Staten Island. So, thank you all very much. It’s a great honor to have you.
This afternoon, we’re going to recognize several individuals who have responded to the invisible enemy with courage, determination, and grace. Terrific people. In recent weeks, our nation has endured extraordinary hardships and loss, and we mourn with one heart for every life that’s been taken from us.
In the midst of so much pain, the heroes we honor today are a true source of inspiration for us all. You really are very great inspiration for us all. And the whole country is watching.
{snip}
Also with us are Libby Bish and Rafael Melo. And they’re real estate agents in Northern Virginia — great business, real estate. When one of their clients told them that his restaurant had been hit hard, Libby and Rafael decided they wanted to do something to help. They began raising money to buy food from restaurants to donate to local hospitals. Within a few weeks, they have raised over $6,000, made 18 deliveries, and fed over 500 healthcare workers.
And Libby and Rafael, please, I’d like to thank you and acknowledge you by having you step forward and say a few words. Please.
{snip}
Today, we also want our TJ Kim, a high school sophomore from McLean, Virginia. TJ hopes to serve as a pilot in the United States Navy. At just 16 year old — 16, boy, that’s a great age — TJ is already taking flight classes to get his pilot’s license. When he heard that hospitals needed more personal protective equipment, he launched his own mission, Operation SOS, which stands for Supplies Over the Skies.
He worked with his school, church, and community to collect medical supplies. With the help of the flight instructor, who probably was a very good person — what do you think? Pretty good?
MR. KIM: (Inaudible.)
THE PRESIDENT: Good flight instructor too?
MR. KIM: Yes.
THE PRESIDENT: Knows how to fly, right? Pretty good?
MR. KIM: Yes.
THE PRESIDENT: You better take lessons from somebody that knows how to fly. But who also joins us today.
And TJ has flown and delivered more than 10,000 pieces of personal protective equipment. That’s pretty — that’s a lot of work. That’s a lot of flying too. That’s great. And there can be no better preparation for flying the military planes, right?
MR. KIM: Yes, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: I think there can be nothing better.
But you’re going to four rural hospitals in Virginia. So, TJ, come on up and say a few words. Please, great honor.
Thank you. (Applause.)
MR. KIM: Thank you, Mr. President. I’m beyond humbled to be here today. My name is TJ Kim, and I’m a sophomore at the Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland. A little over a month ago, I turned 16 when, due to coronavirus, my school year and my lacrosse season were effectively over. All I had left was my flight training. Ever since I was nine, it’s been my dream to attend the Naval Academy and become a fighter pilot in the Navy.
So I talked to my dad about ways that I could continue my flight training while serving the community at the same time. We came up with Operation SOS, meaning Supplies Over the Skies.
In my home state of Virginia, I found that there are seven critical-access hospitals serving the rural communities around them. And I realized that while every hospital is hurting for tier-one PPEs, it was the rural hospitals that were often forgotten about. So I wanted to do something to help and bless them.
I’ve flown four Operation SOS missions so far to Luray Caverns, Winchester, the Highlands of Hot Springs, and the northern neck of (inaudible).
I’ve sourced and delivered 8,000 medical gloves, 2,000 head covers, 1,500 shoe covers, 400 masks, as well as protective eyewear, isolation gowns, hand sanitizers, and disinfectant sprays. The response has been amazing.
Throughout my journey, I’ve learned two lessons: First, is that it takes a community to serve the community. What I mean is that I’m blessed by an incredible community that includes my family, my teachers and peers at Landon, my flight school, my neighborhood, and my church. It’s been their support that has allowed me to complete each Operation SOS mission successfully.
Second, I’ve learned that you are never too young to think about how to serve others in times of need. Mr. President, you once said that America is the place where anyone can rise, and today there are youth everywhere in America rising up to help sew masks, deliver groceries to the elderly, and write thank-you letters to our frontline workers. And when I think about them, I’ve realized just how undeserving I am to be here.
Mr. President, I’m so honored by this award, and I also don’t know how to repay you. Let me make you this promise instead: As long as there’s a need and as long as I can find the PPEs and fly them to rural hospitals, I’m going to do it.
THE PRESIDENT: That’s fantastic.
MR. KIM: I promise to continue to rise and be of service to my campus, my community, my Commonwealth, and my country.
Thank you. (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: That’s great. Where’s your flight instructor?
MR. KIM: Oh, he’s right there, in the back.
THE PRESIDENT: Where’s your instructor?
MR. KIM: In the back, middle.
THE PRESIDENT: Good. How about standing up? (Applause.) Was he a great — a great student?
PARTICIPANT: (Inaudible.)
THE PRESIDENT: Huh? Did a good job?
PARTICIPANT: (Inaudible.)
THE PRESIDENT: He did job, I’ll bet. Thank you very much. That’s great. Thank you.
MR. KIM: Thank you, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Fantastic story.
{snip}
We built the greatest economy in the history of the world. Greatest employment numbers. Greatest stock market. Greatest number of jobs. Any way you want it. Greatest industries. Greatest creations. And one day, we had to close it down. They said, “Sir, we’re going to have to close it down.” And we did that. And everybody suffered, but they did an incredible job.
And because of that, we’ve saved maybe millions of lives. And I just want to thank everybody. This is a scourge all around the world — 182 countries as of a week ago, so it’s probably higher. A hundred and eighty-two countries are going through relatively the same thing, and it’s a very sad — it’s a very sad chapter. There was no reason for this. There was no reason for this. This should’ve been stopped at the source.
But I’d like to congratulate these incredible five Americans. And I’d like to ask them to come forward and receive their award and their recognition. And they deserve it. And we’ll be watching you throughout your life. You may be around a little bit longer than me, Mr. Mailman, but I’ll be watching you as long as I can. I’m watching all of you, and I want to thank you very much. And to my hometown man, thank you very much. Thank you, Frank. Please.
(The awards are presented.)
So, that was great. And you represent a very important part of this country, and we appreciate it very much. Thank you very much. Go have a good day. Bye. (Applause.)
END
5:10 P.M. EDT
Remarks by President Trump in a Presidential Recognition Ceremony: Hard Work, Heroism, and Hope
Issued on: May 1, 2020
Blue Room
4:47 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. It’s a great honor to have you all. I know your stories. I got to read about your stories. In some cases, I knew your story without having to read about it — from Staten Island. So, thank you all very much. It’s a great honor to have you.
This afternoon, we’re going to recognize several individuals who have responded to the invisible enemy with courage, determination, and grace. Terrific people. In recent weeks, our nation has endured extraordinary hardships and loss, and we mourn with one heart for every life that’s been taken from us.
In the midst of so much pain, the heroes we honor today are a true source of inspiration for us all. You really are very great inspiration for us all. And the whole country is watching.
{snip}
Also with us are Libby Bish and Rafael Melo. And they’re real estate agents in Northern Virginia — great business, real estate. When one of their clients told them that his restaurant had been hit hard, Libby and Rafael decided they wanted to do something to help. They began raising money to buy food from restaurants to donate to local hospitals. Within a few weeks, they have raised over $6,000, made 18 deliveries, and fed over 500 healthcare workers.
And Libby and Rafael, please, I’d like to thank you and acknowledge you by having you step forward and say a few words. Please.
{snip}
Today, we also want our TJ Kim, a high school sophomore from McLean, Virginia. TJ hopes to serve as a pilot in the United States Navy. At just 16 year old — 16, boy, that’s a great age — TJ is already taking flight classes to get his pilot’s license. When he heard that hospitals needed more personal protective equipment, he launched his own mission, Operation SOS, which stands for Supplies Over the Skies.
He worked with his school, church, and community to collect medical supplies. With the help of the flight instructor, who probably was a very good person — what do you think? Pretty good?
MR. KIM: (Inaudible.)
THE PRESIDENT: Good flight instructor too?
MR. KIM: Yes.
THE PRESIDENT: Knows how to fly, right? Pretty good?
MR. KIM: Yes.
THE PRESIDENT: You better take lessons from somebody that knows how to fly. But who also joins us today.
And TJ has flown and delivered more than 10,000 pieces of personal protective equipment. That’s pretty — that’s a lot of work. That’s a lot of flying too. That’s great. And there can be no better preparation for flying the military planes, right?
MR. KIM: Yes, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: I think there can be nothing better.
But you’re going to four rural hospitals in Virginia. So, TJ, come on up and say a few words. Please, great honor.
Thank you. (Applause.)
MR. KIM: Thank you, Mr. President. I’m beyond humbled to be here today. My name is TJ Kim, and I’m a sophomore at the Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland. A little over a month ago, I turned 16 when, due to coronavirus, my school year and my lacrosse season were effectively over. All I had left was my flight training. Ever since I was nine, it’s been my dream to attend the Naval Academy and become a fighter pilot in the Navy.
So I talked to my dad about ways that I could continue my flight training while serving the community at the same time. We came up with Operation SOS, meaning Supplies Over the Skies.
In my home state of Virginia, I found that there are seven critical-access hospitals serving the rural communities around them. And I realized that while every hospital is hurting for tier-one PPEs, it was the rural hospitals that were often forgotten about. So I wanted to do something to help and bless them.
I’ve flown four Operation SOS missions so far to Luray Caverns, Winchester, the Highlands of Hot Springs, and the northern neck of (inaudible).
I’ve sourced and delivered 8,000 medical gloves, 2,000 head covers, 1,500 shoe covers, 400 masks, as well as protective eyewear, isolation gowns, hand sanitizers, and disinfectant sprays. The response has been amazing.
Throughout my journey, I’ve learned two lessons: First, is that it takes a community to serve the community. What I mean is that I’m blessed by an incredible community that includes my family, my teachers and peers at Landon, my flight school, my neighborhood, and my church. It’s been their support that has allowed me to complete each Operation SOS mission successfully.
Second, I’ve learned that you are never too young to think about how to serve others in times of need. Mr. President, you once said that America is the place where anyone can rise, and today there are youth everywhere in America rising up to help sew masks, deliver groceries to the elderly, and write thank-you letters to our frontline workers. And when I think about them, I’ve realized just how undeserving I am to be here.
Mr. President, I’m so honored by this award, and I also don’t know how to repay you. Let me make you this promise instead: As long as there’s a need and as long as I can find the PPEs and fly them to rural hospitals, I’m going to do it.
THE PRESIDENT: That’s fantastic.
MR. KIM: I promise to continue to rise and be of service to my campus, my community, my Commonwealth, and my country.
Thank you. (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: That’s great. Where’s your flight instructor?
MR. KIM: Oh, he’s right there, in the back.
THE PRESIDENT: Where’s your instructor?
MR. KIM: In the back, middle.
THE PRESIDENT: Good. How about standing up? (Applause.) Was he a great — a great student?
PARTICIPANT: (Inaudible.)
THE PRESIDENT: Huh? Did a good job?
PARTICIPANT: (Inaudible.)
THE PRESIDENT: He did job, I’ll bet. Thank you very much. That’s great. Thank you.
MR. KIM: Thank you, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Fantastic story.
{snip}
We built the greatest economy in the history of the world. Greatest employment numbers. Greatest stock market. Greatest number of jobs. Any way you want it. Greatest industries. Greatest creations. And one day, we had to close it down. They said, “Sir, we’re going to have to close it down.” And we did that. And everybody suffered, but they did an incredible job.
And because of that, we’ve saved maybe millions of lives. And I just want to thank everybody. This is a scourge all around the world — 182 countries as of a week ago, so it’s probably higher. A hundred and eighty-two countries are going through relatively the same thing, and it’s a very sad — it’s a very sad chapter. There was no reason for this. There was no reason for this. This should’ve been stopped at the source.
But I’d like to congratulate these incredible five Americans. And I’d like to ask them to come forward and receive their award and their recognition. And they deserve it. And we’ll be watching you throughout your life. You may be around a little bit longer than me, Mr. Mailman, but I’ll be watching you as long as I can. I’m watching all of you, and I want to thank you very much. And to my hometown man, thank you very much. Thank you, Frank. Please.
(The awards are presented.)
So, that was great. And you represent a very important part of this country, and we appreciate it very much. Thank you very much. Go have a good day. Bye. (Applause.)
END
5:10 P.M. EDT
