SCOTT LINDLAW
Associated Press Writer
EMMITSBURG, Md. (AP) -- President Bush honored 99 firefighters who died last year, two from previous years
and praised the bravery of more than 300 who perished when the World Trade Center collapsed after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. ``Our nation still mourns,'' he said Sunday.
``The courage and loss we saw in New York we've seen in every community that has laid a firefighter to rest,'' the president said at the 20th annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial service.
``This firefighters' monument belongs to the nation and represents a national loss,'' he said before laying a large wreath, adorned with a purple ribbon, at the bottom of the monument. It is located near the presidential retreat at Camp David where Bush and first lady Laura Bush spent the weekend.
Before Bush's speech, U.S. officials rejected a proposal from Afghanistan's ruling Taliban to detain suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden and try him under Islamic law _ an 11th-hour bid to avoid possible U.S. military retaliation.
The White House said Bush's four demands stand: that the Taliban turn over bin Laden without conditions; that Afghanistan close terror training camps; that those camps be open for inspection; and that the Taliban release eight aid workers in custody, including two Americans.
``The president's demands are clear and non-negotiable,'' said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.
At the memorial service, Bush ignored shouted questions about Afghanistan's offer.
``Firefighting is a hard and demanding job,'' Bush said, addressing relatives of the fallen firefighters. ``It has been said that a firefighter's first act of bravery is taking the oath to serve.''
``The nation pays respect to them for their service and their sacrifice. And we respect you, their families for your sacrifice,'' he added, urging the mourners to ``give one another the strength to go on.''
``All these firefighters loved life. And scripture teaches there is no greater love of life than to lay down your life for another,'' Bush said. ``You can know that today your loved ones are not forgotten.''
