Former President George W. Bush talked about what it means to be a patriot while honoring the late Mike Ilitch, the man behind the Little Caesar’s pizza empire and was also the owner of the Detroit Red Wings and Tigers.
“I believe it is patriotic to create jobs for your fellow citizens,” Bush said at a ceremony in Downtown Detroit on Wednesday. “Because of Mike’s entrepreneurial successes, thousands and thousands of people were able to find good work and were able to support their families and be able to realize a better tomorrow.”
The former president expounded upon Ilitch’s military experience as a marine and said that patriotism means being an example for fellow citizens, pointing to Ilitch’s marriage to his wife Marian.
“Mike and Marian’s strong and loving marriage sends an important message about honoring commitment,” Bush said. “Mike Ilitch loved his family a lot. He loved his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. There’s a lot of them to love.”
He added: “A patriot understands the importance of family for the future of his country.”
Bush had shared a friendship with Ilitch, who died at the age of 87 on Feb. 10 due to illness.
In a statement released upon Ilitch’s death, Bush said: “Mike was a great citizen of our country, a self-made man with talent, drive, and a huge heart.”
Bush said that his favorite memories with Ilitch were “our discussions about our shared love, baseball.” Bush himself was an owner of a major League Baseball team, the Texas Rangers.
He continued: “Another of Mike’s passions was his beloved Detroit. He generously gave back to his city and made it a better place. Most of all, Mike loved his family a lot.”
