President Bush Our Leader
Have you noticed a difference in the salute by our military men and women as President Bush walks by? Most folks wouldn't notice anything, but military people see it right away. Watch: when President Bush leaves his helecopter 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.Soldiers aren't required to turn and face the presidents back as he walks away. They can remain face forward the entire time. They are only required to salute. And that is what they did during the prior presidency.
Why is such respect afforded President Bush? The following incident accounts may give us some insight:
Major General Van Antwerp lost nearly all his staff on Sept. 11, 2001. His executive officer LTC Brian Birdwell was badly burned and in the hospital when President and Laura Bush visited him. Our President spent time and prayed with Brian. As he was getting ready to leave, he went to the foot of Brians' bed and saluted. He held his salute until Brian was able to raise his badly 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 was not required to return the salute, but he did, out of respect for his president - a soldiers' president.
Congessman J.C. Watts (R-Oklahome) said, "Character is doing the right thing when nobody is looking. In this time of war and danger, I am so glad to have a president whom the soldiers salute fully." On Special Report with Brit Hume, at the close of the show when they usually 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 a leash, and the President is right behind her with the scotty on the leash. As the First Lady enters 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 they got to the steps. The President pulled on it's leash, but the stubborn Scottie insisted on 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 emerged from the helicopter and out unto 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 recieved his return 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.
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. Make no mistake about it - the decisions he makes in the coming days, weeks and months will literally define the future of our country and the free world. Pray for his protection and that of his family. Our president needs Christians around the world praying for him. People praying for him 24/7!! He needs it.
Our thanks to the unknown author.
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