After the speech, the president spent nearly three hours with 19 families, mostly from Idaho, that lost relatives in Iraq and Afghanistan. The families were selected by Gov. Dirk Kempthorne (R), who telephoned them on Sunday night, officials said.
White House spokesman Trent Duffy said that as in all similar meetings with the president, "Sometimes they share tears, sometimes they share laughter, sometimes they share both. The president is just there to console them and thank them for their sacrifice."
During his speech, to huge applause, Bush promised to minimize extensions and repeat mobilizations. He said reservists would now get 30 days of notice "in most cases" before mobilizing for duty, greater access to the military medical system before and after reporting for duty, and funds for education.
These pledges come during one of the deadliest months among the National Guard and reserves. The National Guard has been stretched to its limits by battles in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Idaho National Guard has had eight casualties in Iraq, and the Defense Department estimated that an additional 128 have been injured. Last December, Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, head of the Guard, said that his troops were "under-resourced" and "under-equipped."
In his remarks, Bush noted that he is one of 19 presidents who have served in the National Guard -- in Bush's case, as a pilot in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War era. That tenure, and questions over whether Bush met his responsibilities, erupted in Bush's reelection effort last year.
Locals lined up before dawn to get some of the leftover tickets for the speech, and they gave the president more than a dozen standing ovations during his 43-minute speech. Jill Blue, whose brother Marty is serving in the Air Force, said she was reassured by Bush's words. "I'm glad that he's seeing out the job. I liked what he said about honoring the people who have died by not pulling out. It was a good comment."
Allen reported from Washington.
