George W. Bush: “The American people need to know that the Pentagon is forward thinking.”

To you and the honored dead, our country is forever grateful.

It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve as your President.

For eight years, it has been my honor to serve as your President. The first decade of this new century has been a period of consequence—a time set apart.

The actions taken by my Administration in response to the financial crisis have laid the groundwork for a return to economic growth and job creation.