REMARKS
FOR
THE
HONORABLE NORMAN Y. MINETA
SECRETARY
OF TRANSPORTATION
SECRETARY’S
35TH ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY
WASHINGTON,
D.C.
NOVEMBER
14, 2002
1
PM
Thanks, Michael, and thank you to everyone for coming out today.
One of the things I like best about my job is the opportunity to reward achievement and recognize success. As President Bush has said, “Public employees’ work is often behind the scenes and unsung, yet invaluable to the vitality of America.”
This year's 35th Annual Awards Ceremony at the U.S. Department of Transportation is a special one.
This has been the Year of the Hero.
This year’s entire team at the Department of Transportation has been called upon to do more than ever. We have worked long and hard in the shadow of the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001.
Hundreds of DOT employees heeded the Nation’s call to service. Some risked their lives, some stayed on duty around the clock to save the lives of others, and still more have worked harder than ever before because they had to take on the regular duties of colleagues assigned to work on special security-related projects.
You got the job done, and because of you, DOT continued to meet its mission.
The unwavering solidarity that I personally witnessed in every single administration here in DC, and the stories I heard about those of you who worked outside my line of sight, make me very proud to be the Secretary of this great Department. And you make me proud to be an American.
Many of the tasks you were called upon to perform were not in your job description. They weren’t in anyone’s job description, but you did them. And you did them under circumstances that none of us could have imagined just over a year ago. You showed the world what it means to be a public servant, in the very best definition of service.
Today, we will highlight a few of the outstanding contributions made by our DOT colleagues, but make no mistake; we have not lost sight of the contributions made by every single one of you this year.
To each of you, I give my heartfelt thanks.
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