Author: Michael Babcock
Posted: 2002-03-28 at 23:53:52
>Subject: An interesting story
>Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 10:06:19 -0600
>
>I enjoyed reading this from a friend.
>
>Why and How the Military Salutes President Bush
> > >
> > > 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 military people see it right away.
> > >
> > > Watch: when President Bush leaves his helicopter or Air Force One,
>the
> > > honor guards salute and face him as he disembarks, then turn their
>faces
> > > toward 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 Bill Clinton's entire Presidency. Our soldiers
>were
> > > forced to obey Clinton's 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 he gets 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
> > > Sept. 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 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. 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 Marine One 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 squat
>right
> > > when he got to steps. The president pulled on its' leash, but the
> > > stubborn Scottie persisted in squatting. 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 would.
>
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