- The story about not saluting the back of Clinton is false.
The story about Bush saluting Birdwell in the hospital is true.
The story about the salute after the doggie carry-- is not on the Snopes page. However, I offer this up in evidence:
Posted on 04/17/2002 11:05:25 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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 honour 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 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 Honour winner. The injured soldier did not have to return the salute. But he did, out of respect to his President — a Soldier’s 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 re-emerged 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
Ya'll Stay Safe !
NOT this thing again?????
How many times has it been posted in the last year? And debunked every time?
Regards, Ivan
Yes, the left wingers do all they can to weaken the military (it's true here in the UK) with political correctness and peacekeeping missions, underminine the esprit and elan of our warriors. It's amazing the soldiers don't spit in the faces of the politicians.
Regards, Ivan
Inward strength and outward respect. These are the characteristics of true leaders.
I paraphrase Orson Scott Card, a sci-fi author, who summed it up so neatly, by saying (as I remember):
In a society that values chastity and fidelity, those who cannot follow the norms of society end up as sheep or wolves; either predators of society who take what they can and give nothing in return, or those who mindlessly follow the path laid before them. Unlike the sheep or wolves, leaders follow a script of self-sacrifice, virtue and decency... Of civilization. And in the pretense, it becomes reality.
Though there are still a lot of bad times ahead of us, I believe that W. is doing his best, that he's the best man for the job (especially now!), and that he'll do the best that he can for this country- regardless of the criticisms of less-informed tongue-wagging detractors...
Thanks again, for the reminder. Be well,
Nicely said!
I really like Bush's attitude on so many matters!
The story about Bush saluting Birdwell in the hospital is true.
The story about the salute after the doggie carry-- is not on the Snopes page. However, I offer this up in evidence:
I saw the dog and the Marine at the helicopter steps footage. It happened!
Stay Safe !
Basically, I zeroed in on his observation, and copied it down, kept it for many years. Eventually, the hard-drive I had it stored on died, and I simply am relying upon memory...
Sorry...
In a society that expects chastity and fidelity, those who are either too weak to resist temptations or too contemptuous of society's norms end up as either sheep or wolves: either mindless members of the herd, or predators who take what they can and give nothing.
Inner strength and outward respect. These are the values that a leader holds. Unlike the sheep or wolves, they act out a higher script- one of decency, of self-sacrifice, of public honor... Of society.
And in the pretense, it becomes reality.
After all this time, I still think it holds true.
Be well,
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