[GeoStL] A proper salute
- From: "Dan Eubanks" <deubanks@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <geocaching@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 10:05:18 -0600
-
Whether you do or do not like George W. Bush as our President, this
message reveals some interesting plateau's he has reached.
First, an observation. Have you noticed a difference in the salute given
by our military men and women as President Bush walks by? Most folks
would not notice anything, but those of us who have served in the
military see it right away.
Next time pay close attention when President Bush leaves his helicopter
or Air Force One, the honor guards salute and face him as he disembarks,
then turn their faces towards him as he passes by. They continue to
salute his back as he walks away. This kind of salute has not been seen
in the previous eight years, though it is customary courtesy to the
Commander-in-Chief. You see, soldiers aren't required to turn and face
the President as they salute. They are not required to salute his back.
They are only required to salute. They can remain face-forward the
entire time. And that is what they did during the previous
administration. Our soldiers were forced to obey his orders, but they
were not forced to respect him. From their salutes, we can surmise that
they did not.
Why is such respect afforded to President Bush? He doesn't even know how
to bite his lower lip and not get teary-eyed whenever he speaks!
The following incident from Major General Van Antwerp may give us an
insight. Gen. Antwerp is president of the Officers' Christian
Fellowship. He lost nearly all his staff when the Pentagon was attacked
September 11. His executive officer LTC Brian Birdwell was badly burned
and in the hospital when President Bush visited him. Our President spent
time and prayed with Brian. As he was getting ready to leave, he went to
the foot of Brian's bed and saluted. He held his salute until Brian was
able to raise his burned and bandaged arm, ever so slowly, in return.
The Commander-in-Chief almost never initiates a salute, except in the
case of a Congressional Medal of Honor winner. The injured soldier did
not have to return the salute. But he did, out of respect to his
President ... a Soldiers' President.
Congressman JC Watts (R. Oklahoma) said, "Character is doing the right
thing when nobody is looking," (My favorite quote of all time). The
nation and world learned some of what our last President did when nobody
was looking; that President has been disbarred, the worst disgrace
(other than imprisonment) to a lawyer. CNN will have a difficult time
shining his or his wife's tarnished images.
In this time of war and danger, I am so grateful to have a President
whom the soldiers salute -- fully. On Special Report with Brit Hume, at
the close of the show when they normally have some funny video clip,
they showed President Bush and the First Lady on their way to Maine to
leave for Camp David for the weekend.
As the video starts, the First Lady is leading the way into the
helicopter with the spaniel dog on the leash, and the president is right
behind her with the Scotty on the leash. As the First Lady entered the
chopper, the Marine at the gangway saluted and held his salute. The
Scottie the president was walking decided it wanted to sit right when he
got to the steps. The president pulled on its leash, but the stubborn
Scottie persisted in sitting. The president bent down and scooped up the
pooch and entered Marine One. After he entered, the Marine cut his
salute and returned to the position of attention. Moments later the
President reemerged from the helicopter and out onto the steps. The
Marine was standing at attention, head and eyes straight ahead. The
President leaned over and tapped him on the left arm. The startled
Marine turned his body toward the President and received his returned
salute!
I was so impressed by this true act of respect for our military people
by our President! He really does get it. Most any other person of his
stature would have just continued his journey, disregarding the
neglected return salute. Not George W. Bush. He is earning the respect
of the military community, not expecting it -- as most have and would.
President George W. Bush; the man who admitted to having a drinking
problem in younger years, and whose happy-go-lucky lifestyle led him to
mediocre grades in college and an ill-fated oil venture. Who mangled
syntax, and whose speaking miss-steps became known as "Bushisms." He
came within a hair's breadth of losing the election in November. Bush
named Jesus Christ as Lord of his life on public TV. Not an Oblique
reference to being "born-again" or having a "life change." He actually
said the un-PC-like phrase, "Jesus Christ!"
On September 11, he was thrust into a position only known by the likes
of Roosevelt, Churchill, Lincoln, and Washington. The weight of the
world was on his shoulders, and the responsibility of a generation was
on his soul. So President George W. Bush walked to his seat at the front
of the National Cathedral just three days after two of the most
impressive symbols of American capitalism and prosperity virtually
evaporated.
When the history of this time is written, it will be acknowledged by
friend and foe alike that President George W. Bush came of age in that
cathedral and lifted a nation off its knees. In what was one of the most
impressive exhibitions of self-control in presidential history,
President George W. Bush was able to deliver his remarks without losing
his resolve, focus, or confidence. God's hand, which guided him through
that sliver-thin election, now rested fully on him. As he walked back to
his seat, the camera angle was appropriate. He was virtually alone in
the scene, alone in that massive place with God, just him and the Lord.
Back at his seat, George H. Bush reached over and took his son's hand.
In that gesture his father seemed to say, "I wish I could do this for
you, son, but I can't. You have to do this on your own."
President George W. Bush squeezed back and gave him a look of peace that
said, "I don't have to do it alone, Dad. I've got Help."
What a blessing to have a professing Christian as President. Please take
a moment after you read this to "pray for him." He truly does have the
weight of the world on his shoulders. Pray that God will sustain him and
give him wisdom and discernment in his decisions.
Pray for his protection and that of his family.
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