June 12, 20
10:35 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for ing. Please be seated. Dr. Edwards, thanks for your kind words. Congressman Lantos -- no better friend to freedom, by the way; Congressman Rohrabacher, the same. Members of the Czech and Hungarian parliaments; ambassadors; distinguished guests; and more importantly, the survivors of munist oppression, I'm honored to join you on this historic day. (Applause.)
And here in the pany of men and women who resisted evil and helped bring down an empire, I proudly accept the Victims of munism Memorial on behalf of the American people. (Applause.)
The 20th century will be remembered as the deadliest century in human history. And the record of this brutal era is memorated in memorials across this city. Yet, until now, our Nation's Capital had no monument to the victims of imperial munism, an ideology that took the lives of an estimated 100 million innocent men, women and children. So it's fitting that we gather to remember those who perished at munism's hands, and dedicate this memorial that will enshrine their suffering and sacrifice in the conscience of the world.