These miners lived — as they died — in pursuit of the American dream.

Nothing I or the Vice President or the Governor... can fill the hole they leave in your hearts or the absence that they leave in your lives.

All that hard work, all that hardship, all the time spent underground, it was all for the families.

Never forget, they say, miners keep America's lights on.

How can we let anyone in this country put their lives at risk by simply showing up to work; by simply pursuing the American dream?

The atmosphere of mutual trust and shared commitment to victory is especially called for today when Russia and the United States are building a partnership for the sake of a stable and prosperous world.

Even as we mourn 29 lives lost, we also remember 29 lives lived.

Nothing I say can fill the hole they leave in your hearts; the absence they leave in your lives.

We pay tribute to the courage of those who fought together to liberate Europe from fascism.

God bless our miners.

We cannot bring back the 29 men we lost.

But we decided that while providing additional assistance was a risk, the far greater risk to families and communities across our country was to do nothing.

I did not run for President to get into the auto business or the banking business.

I won't be satisfied until folks who need work can find good jobs.

Entrepreneurship is a fundamental American value, and it's also a force that has the ability to unlock opportunity for people around the world.

The United States wants to build and deepen a set of partnerships with Muslim communities around the world on issues that are really fundamental to our own lives related to education and economic opportunity.

Citizenship is not just a collection of rights, but it's also a set of responsibilities.

Today we celebrate the common spirit that lives within each of you.