Michael,

Thanks for passing this on.

Art Bergquist

abergquis@cs.com

In a message dated 3/28/2002 8:56:19 PM Pacific Standard Time,

vfpmcp@hotmail.com writes:

> >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.

> >