Posted on 05/07/2011 2:57:05 PM PDT by blueyon
Take a look at this picture from Friday, April 29th. President Obama is greeting Brig. Gen. Ed Wilson after Air Force One landed at Cape Canaveral: Seems pretty ordinary, right? A typical tarmac greet for the Commander-in-Chief.
But there may be a little more to the brief moment at the bottom of the airstairs.
The state-owned Italian television channel Rai News has posted a video that highlights a curious exchange between the two men:
(Excerpt) Read more at theblaze.com ...
btt
Challenge coins signify a military member’s camaraderie with other coin holders. It stands to reason there would be an Obama Challenge Coin since he is the new Commander in Chief. However, challenge coins come with an expected response by the military member. Challenge coin history dates back to World War I when an American Lieutenant was captured and stripped of all of his identification other than a pouch with a medallion which identified his squadron’s insignia. When French captors recognized the insignia, they gave the Lt time to confirm who he was and let him go. After that, it became a tradition for all members to carry their coin with them and to ensure they did so the coin challenge, known today as a Coin Check was established.
No accounting for conspiracy nuts.
Challange coin
Challange coin
“How’s that ‘Hopey, Changie’ thing working out for ‘ya?”
It’s a challen coin
oops. Challenge coin.
Very intersting. Thank you.
“After that, it became a tradition for all members to carry their coin with them and to ensure they did so the coin challenge, known today as a Coin Check was established.”
***************************
Interesting history - thanks. But does anybody find it odd that a guy that looks like the president, getting off of Air Force I, has to give a coin to another guy to confirm his identity.
But he doesn’t have to prove his identity to become president in the first place!?
Maybe Trump needs to demand that Obama tells us what that was all about...
..."it's Derby Kitten in da race today...I've been told!"
It’s some ritual exchange of coins.
Note says:
“4 gd time meet me 2-nite in the guest bathroom after SHE goes to sleep”
I got a ten year AA coin
I have nearly a couple dozen challenge coins I acquired throughout my career, even though I was not in many of those organizations. Giving a challenge coin is just a nice gesture, nothing nefarious.
How stupid! Why didn’t they just hand each other the notes, instead if trying to palm them to each other - what they were doing was SO obvious; it was CLEARLY visible. Man, that looked dumb!
That’s what this was about? Passing coins to each other??! Oh, brother!
They have NEVER been given or exchanged in a note passing fashion. In fact, all but one, my retirement COIN from Commander, USSOCOM, were given in a ceremony so everyone present knew I had the coin. That public knowledge is important because, if you are challenged to produce a coin and don't have one you expected to “buy the bar” for everyone who can produce their own coin.
The USSOCOM Coin was presented to me upon my retirement by my squadron commander at my retirement ceremony. he also read the accompanying letter. It was a surprise to him and to almost everyone who attended that ceremony, Friday 13 April, 1990.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.