Whitehouse.gov (press release), DC - 2 hours ago
President Bush Honors Cinco de Mayo
Rose Garden
7:51 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for coming. Welcome. Si ntese.
(Laughter.) Laura and I welcome you to the Rose Garden for what is
going to be a spectacular evening. We are so glad you are here.
Ambassador Garza, thank you for coming. Ambassador Sarukhan, thank you
for being here as well. I appreciate members of the United States
Senate for joining us, members of the House of Representatives for
joining us, members of my Cabinet, members of the Hispanic American
community.
I want to thank the Mariachi Campanas de America from San Antonio,
Texas for joining us here today. (Applause.) After dinner we are so
fortunate to have Shaila Durcal, who will be singing for us. Hold your
applause for Shaila until after she sings -- I will tell you, however,
that she has interrupted her honeymoon to come to the Rose Garden
tonight, for which we are very grateful.
Cinco de Mayo is a joyous celebration. It commemorates a joyful moment
in history of Mexico -- it's when Mexican soldiers defended their
independence against what appeared to be an elite and insurmountable
army from Europe. Nearly a century and a half later, Cinco de Mayo is
celebrated by Americans and Mexicans alike -- after all, it is a
symbol of determination against great odds and is a source of
inspiration for all who love freedom.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/05/20080505-10.html
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