Memorial Day Impressions

Thanks to my good friend VFC (http://vfcshouse.blogspot.com/) - scroll down on his site to read his review on Savo Heleta's book.

- but back to what I was saying... I was convinced on opening up a blog, a small piece of interent real estate if you will. Since my dance card is farily empty and I have many free Friday nights ahead of me, it did not take much to sell me on this idea. To start off this endeavor the right way, VFC convinced me to post something I originally had up on MySpace. Thanks for visiting and please come back. While your at it, click on a few of the adds (you don't have to buy anything) but your activity helps attract others to this blog. And if you see something you like or hate please tell others, and once again visit my friends page if you have time.

Monday, May 26, 2008
Memorial Day 2008 Current mood: contemplative
I met a man of conviction today. Prior to today I knew enough to reject what the main stream media "report" and approximately 70 percent of the country think. Thankfully I have the so called "right wing conservative media" to turn to for, as Paul Harvey would say it, "the rest of the story." Until today I could only repeat what I have heard from others, until today I could only support this man and his cause because of an oath I took (three times over). Until today… I stood and in the oval office and heard without filter and without outside interference a message of conviction, hope, optimism and a dream of a future that some of us will not see in our lifetime but each of us are working toward in our own way.

That path that took me to this Memorial day meeting was one that began 16 December 2006. A journey paid with overwhelming sadness for members of my own family and a great loss for the Soldiers of 1/7 Cav. That price was the loss of SSG David Staats, my brother in law, Soldier, father, and friend to many. The current occupant of the oval office did not know David personally but came to know him as well as a few other Soldiers today through their families and friends.

Truth is that I was only there as a extended member of David's family as well as his final escort home. President George W. Bush stood at the doorway to his office and welcomed each one of us into his home and place of work. It is well known he is not the best speaker of those that have held the mantle of our chief executive. But today he spoke to those of us without microphones or cameras on hand. He spoke from the heart and without the aid of a teleprompter nor crutch of any kind. He offered no excuses and never tried to cop out by shifting the blame to others. One of the first things he said was, that HE made the decision, and that HE feels and and HE believes that Freedom breeds democracy and that each sacrifice was painful but necessary.

To have to say those words in front of four grieving families would be hard for anyone especially one who could use even the smallest boost in his approval ratings. But today was not a day for polls or ratings. Today was about those who have fallen and those who have yet to return. Today was Memorial Day and in that spirit he spoke to those gathered.

I cannot say or even begin to comprehend what was in the thoughts and hearts of the two widows and two grieving mothers nor what was in the thoougts of the extended families gathered in a semi circle around the President, but as he firmly shook my hand (no less than three times during the short 20 minute visit) he looked into my eyes as he did with whomever he was speaking with at that particular moment. Since I was in uniform he asked a few questions about where I worked and what I did, I wish I could have had time to tell him that it was not what I do for my day job that was most important. But what I had to do in December 2006 when I escorted David home was the most important duty, and as I did it most importantly for David, my sister, and niece but I also did it as his representative.

The President is truly a man of faith, a man that cares and one who history will not be kind to for many years. I hope that I will see that day that we will look back along with a free Afghanistan, a free Iraq, and join with those of many other nations that will benefit by the actions he set in motion; ones we are not aware are in progress and where we will celebrate those actions much like we do those of Lincoln (W's favorite), Reagan, and Roosevelt.

Like our current president each of those had their faults, but they all had the luxury of time. George Bush (43) has to compete with blogs, internet news, 24 hour cable channels, and well funded opposition groups. Even the great President Reagan had approval ratings as low as 38% and he defeated the worst evil empire in history freeing millions. Truman had the lowest even lower than Bush and he began the programs that rebuilt Japan and Europe after WWII. George Bush will leave office, he has nothing to prove, and his legacy will not be evident for many years if at all, it will be the burden of others to continue. Will they have the strength? Memorial day is almost over, and as many spent the day drinking beer, eating burgers, and watching baseball (as they should since it is their right and today even more than most is a testament to that right) a few of your fellow Americans were allowed just a brief personal glimpse into the vision of the world's most powerful leader.

After the greetings and a short speech on taking responsibility for his decisions, decisions he feels were the right ones, after offering some heartfelt personal words in honor to the fallen, and after the obligatory picture taking out time was up. This moment was about the four fallen Soldiers and the two families that were waiting their turn with the President (the families of SPC Jimenez and PVT Fouty missing since 27 March 2007) As he thanked me for my service just as I was about to walk out of his office into the rose garden, I could only think of one thing to say in response. "Thank YOU sir for YOUR service."