Call to Aviano Troops

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T H E W H I T E H O U S E

President Clinton's Remarks in Telephone Call to Aviano Troops

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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Norfolk, Virginia)

For Immediate Release

April 1, 1999

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
IN TELEPHONE CONVERSATION TO THE TROOPS
AT AVIANO AIR BASE

12:46 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Colonel Nichols, I know you're about to leave on amission. I just called to tell you we're proud of you and we appreciateyou andall your Buzzards there at the 510th, and all the other people who arecarryingout this difficult mission.

And you may know that I'm down in Virginia, and I just met withsomeservice families to tell them how much I appreciate their sacrifice. And I knowmany of you have families back home, pulling for you as well.

So I just want to tell you that and tell you how proud we are. I'm herewith Secretary Cohen and General Shelton and a number of other people fromWashington, and we're all there for you.

LT. COLONEL NICHOLS: Thank you, Mr. President, sir. You have the81stand the 23rd Fighter Squadrons here also. It's a great team. And we aretrulyhonored to have the privilege to hear your voice this afternoon.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you. I know that I'm taking you almost upto your departure time, and I don't want to keep you late for your mission. Butyou just know we're all proud of you and what you're doing is veryimportant forour country and for the future of the world. And we thank you very much.

Good-bye.