Embassy of the United States

ambassador

Ambassador's Speech

Welcome to the American Club on this most American of holidays!  Happy July 4th!  I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the American Club for organizing this event.

My wife Pam and I are delighted to be here with you to celebrate Independence Day.  As many of you know, this is my first 4th of July as U.S. Ambassador to Argentina.  My wife and I arrived here from Washington, DC last November. 

It is always a pleasure for me to meet the larger group of fellow Americans who live in Argentina.  I hope that I will be able to talk with many of you; I encourage you to tell me a little bit about yourself and what you do in Argentina.

The 4th of July is always a special time for Americans, but the day becomes even more important when we are living overseas, separated from family and friends.   It becomes a time when we can feel connected with other Americans and celebrate the values that define us.   The ideals of equality, self-determination, and liberty that our forefathers wrote into our constitution are still the cornerstone of the American way of life and the basis for our foreign policy.

If you will permit me, I’d like to read the proclamation issued by President George Bush in honor of this day:

I send greetings to Americans everywhere celebrating Independence Day.

Two hundred thirty-one years ago, 56 brave men signed their names to a bold creed of freedom that set the course of our Nation and changed the history of the world. On this anniversary, we remember the great courage and conviction of our Founders, and we celebrate the enduring principles of our Declaration of Independence.

Through selfless sacrifice and unrelenting determination, the patriots of the American Revolution ensured that our Nation's claim to liberty and equality would not be dismissed or forgotten. The ideals they fought for and the country they helped establish are lasting symbols of hope to the entire world.

Our commitment to America's founding truths remains steadfast. We believe that freedom is a blessing from the Almighty and the birthright of every man and woman. As our Nation faces new challenges, we are answering history's call with confidence that our legacy of freedom will always prevail. On Independence Day, we express our gratitude to the generations of courageous Americans who have defended us and those who continue to serve in our country's hour of need, and we celebrate the liberty that makes America a light to the nations.

Laura and I wish you a Happy Fourth of July. May God bless you, and may He bless our wonderful country.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Regardless of what brought each of us to Argentina, we, as Americans, are bound together by the values our country embodies and an appreciation for the sacrifices of Americans who over the past 230 years have helped keep alive the ideals that we celebrate today. 

I would like to thank you for the work you are doing in Argentina that contributes to a better understanding between the US and the Argentine peoples.  All of us, in our own way, are ambassadors for the United States and have a role to play in establishing good relations between our two countries.

Thank you for inviting Pam and me today.