Today an interfaith ceremony was held to honor the five police officers murdered in Dallas last week. Native Texan and former President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush sat in the front row as honored guests.
President Bush led the nation after 9/11, somehow finding a way to deliver the right words to a shaken nation and today, in the wake of the worst loss of law enforcement life since that horrible day, he offered words of healing, support and unity to the country.
"Laura and I see members of law enforcement everyday, we count them as our friends," Bush said. "Their courage is our protection and shield. We're proud of the men we mourn and the community that has rallied to honor them and support the wounded. The Mayor and the police department have been mighty inspirations for the rest of the nation."
"With their deaths, we have lost so much. We are grief stricken, heartbroken and forever grateful," he continued. "Each new day can bring new dangers, but none of us were prepared, or could be prepared, for the ambush and shock of hatred and malice."
"To renew our unity we need to remember our values," he said. "We don't want the unity of grief, nor do we want the unity of fear. We want the unity of hope, dignity and high purpose."
"[To the children of those lost] Your loss is unfair, we cannot explain it, but we can stand beside you and share your grief and we can hope God will comfort you with a hope deeper than sorrow."
Watch his full remarks below: