Dubya, my bullhorn bud

NY Post ^ | September 7, 2011 | KIERAN CROWLEY and ANDY SOLTIS

[dead]

They met as perfect strangers in the rubble of the World Trade Center, but in the 10 years since, retired firefighter Bob Beckwith and George W. Bush have become old friends, as this photo shows.

“He said he was going down to Ground Zero [for Sunday’s memorial] and asked, ‘Are you going?’ ” Beckwith told The Post.

“And I said, ‘Yes, I guess I’ll see you there.’ ”

The chat between the two men, who’ve gotten together 11 times since their accidental first meeting was captured in an instantly famous photo in 2001, happened in the former president’s office in Dallas.

Time magazine escorted Beckwith there to take the new photo, which appears in the magazine’s 9/11-anniversary project, “Beyond 9/11: Portraits of Resilience.”

Their story began on Sept. 14, 2001, three days after the terror attacks that flattened the World Trade Center, when the president was surveying the devastation.

Beckwith, of Baldwin, LI, was volunteering at the site and had helped find Engine Co. 76’s crushed pumper truck in the rubble. He jumped on top of it when he heard a commotion headed his way.

< snip >

“I pull him up, turn him around, and I said, “You OK, Mr. President?’ ” Beckwith recalled.

“He said yeah. Then I started to get down, and he says, ‘Where you going?’ I said I was told to get down.”

But Bush wouldn’t let him. He put his arm around Beckwith for the historic photo...

< snip >

He said he feels “honored” by the way history has brought them together.

“I’m talking to a former president of the United States,” he marveled. “Who am I?”

[dead]

Real nice story.

[Servant of the Cross]

[Outlaw Woman]

I thought I read he passed away. Good to see this. Thx for the post

[I still care]

Bush has class. He really does. I can’t imagine Obama getting together with anyone he met on a mound of rubble eleven times. How many times has he had the beer summit guy back since the photo op finished?

[Mike10542]

“I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked down these buildings will hear all of us soon.”

-President Bush

One of the greatest rallying calls that I have heard in my lifetime. I luckily lost no one on 9/11, but I tear up whenever I watch this.

[Irenic]

I can’t imagine Obama getting together with anyone he met on a mound of rubble eleven times.
******************************
heh

Obama would have never made it up that mound of rubble— not with the floppy hand trot that he always does. He would have fallen or slid down.

He does that silly pretend jog—even up 2 steps of a stage— hands pulled up in front of him, floppin’ like a beggin’ dog.

[Sacajaweau]

My screen is blurry for some reason...

[Mr Ramsbotham]

This was Bush’s finest hour, in my opinion.

[ridesthemiles]

Neither NObama or Biden attended the retirement ceremony for General Patreaus last week.

I don’t know if Patraeus retired early-—after 37 YEARS—to take the job of CIA director.

IF I had been him & neither NObama or Biden came to MY retirement ceremony, I would be having serious second thoughts about taking any post they asked me to take.

I would be just taking myself & my retirement money off to some quiet place & not putting myself into harm’s way to be thrown under the bus sometime in the future by Barry or Plugs.

[Churchillspirit]

Brings a lump to my throat recalling that scene

God bless both these men.

[Danae]

President Bush has so much class. Truely he is an honorable gentleman. I don't agree with everything he has done or said, but then I don't agree with anyone all the time.

No, what disagreements we have, are honorable ones, and one made without the vitriolic BS that the left so often uses to make its points with.

Boy howdy do I miss that man~!!

[Churchillspirit]

Sent President Bush a "Thank You" card this week.

In September 2001 he promised "Freedom will be defended".

I thanked him for keeping that promise for the next seven and a half years.

[yellowhorse]

Like Mike said. The lump in my throat and sudden rush of emotion. The thought of all who died that day and all the troops who have made the ultimate sacrifice. I am both overcome with pride and rage at the same time.

Proud that so many patriotic Americans still have those feelings of honor and duty.

Rage at the people who did this to our great country. And extreme rage at our own traitors in this country who want to forgive and explain that it was somehow our fault that they hate us. They can't see what is before their own eyes. That being, that these SOB’s hate us all and want to kill all of us a take over this country. God how I hate these people!!!

[Servant of the Cross]

George W. Bush - 9/11 Bullhorn Speech

America today is on bended knee …

I can hear YOU …

The rest of the world hears you …

And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon!

[LZ_Bayonet]

I bet Obama looks at this photo and keeps trying to find the teleprompter.

[Coldwater Creek]

How do you send President a card? E-mail, snail mail or what?

[Churchillspirit]

Thank you for the link. I think I have bookmarked it (hard to tell with vision clouded for some reason).

Loved the shouts in the background ....."Go get 'em, George!.

[Churchillspirit]

Real nice story indeed. Thank you for posting it.

[Future Snake Eater]

I found this:

How do I write to President George W. Bush?

Please send all correspondence, including requests for congratulatory or retirement letters, to the following address:

Office of George W. Bush
P.O. Box 259000
Dallas, TX 75225-9000

[21twelve]

‘Where you going?’

In so many stories of Bush, especially with our armed forces, he really does seem more concerned about the people around him than he does for himself, and trying to bring the attention and praise to them.