REMARKS:
Mayor John M. Fabrizi, City of Bridgeport, Connecticut
April 16, 2007 Good
afternoon everyone! Chairman Gioia, Dr. Radeechay, Congressman Shays, fellow Big
Read Mayor Moccia, distinguished guests, students, educators, residents of Bridgeport,
and partners from throughout the region, it gives me great pleasure to welcome
you to Connecticut's largest city, home of this spectacular P.T. Barnum Museum.
As mayor, I am especially honored to welcome Laura Bush, Honorary Chair of the
Big Read, to Bridgeport as we celebrate Harper Lee's timeless novel, To Kill a
Mockingbird. Thank you so much for weathering this terrible storm to be with us
today. For those who do not know, Bridgeport has a very special
connection to the White House and the First Lady thanks to a woman by the name
of Anita McBride. Anita, who was born and raised right here in Bridgeport and
graduated from the University of Connecticut, serves as Assistant to President
Bush and as Chief of Staff to the First Lady. Her White House service spans two
decades and three administrations, during which time she helped to create the
White House Internship Program, to name just one of her many distinguished accomplishments. Anita,
as a former Bridgeport school teacher, I must say it is wonderful to see one of
our own go on to lead such an auspicious career. You are a shining example to
all our young people that anyone from anywhere can accomplish anything they set
their hearts and minds to. Thank you for all you do in service to our great country;
you have made Bridgeport very proud indeed. During my tenure
as mayor, I have worked with so many of you in this room to shepherd Bridgeport's
economic and cultural revitalization. In so doing, I am amazed at how many of
Laura Bush's national initiatives reflect the core values we are working toward
at the grass roots level. As Honorary Chair of the Big Read
initiative and Honorary Ambassador for the United Nations Literacy Decade, Mrs.
Bush has put her passion for reading, literacy, and lifelong learning into action.
She joined with the Library of Congress to launch the first National Book Festival,
which last year featured more than 70 award-winning authors, illustrators, and
poets. In Bridgeport and throughout Fairfield County, we have seen our communities
ignited by the words and lessons of To Kill a Mockingbird thanks to the Big Read.
Through our Mercy Learning Center and similar programs, we have seen the transformative
power that is possible through literacy - that by educating a woman, you educate
a family. Laura Bush has worked tirelessly to support America's
youth. In Bridgeport, our Lighthouse Program serves more than 4,000 children daily
is a national model for other communities to replicate. Mrs. Bush knows - and
we know - that providing a safe and nurturing environment after school positions
our children for a lifetime of success. Finally, Laura Bush
helped to start Preserve America, a national initiative to protect our cultural
and natural heritage. Bridgeport is proud to have been selected as a Preserve
America community and is making historic preservation a cornerstone of our downtown
revitalization efforts. Mrs. Bush, your vision in all of these
areas speaks to the heart of our society and I applaud you for your leadership
and dedication. Speaking on behalf of my fellow Big Read mayors and everyone in
this room, we could not be any more thrilled to have you here with us today. Ladies
and gentlemen, please join me in giving a warm Bridgeport welcome to the First
Lady of the United States of America, Mrs. Laura Bush. Museum
Director's Remarks | First Lady's Remarks | 
