[BigSkyFreeper]

PING!

[metesky]

Madame Dufarge and I can die happy now: we've seen the greatest man of our age twice.

President Bush was tremendous yesterday. He'll boot Kerry all over the lot in the debates.

[Madame Dufarge]

Thanks for posting this!

It was a great day - perfect weather and a great speech by the President.

Glad you and amd didn't get sunstroke up there ;-)

[AmericanInTokyo]

They might have been told for security reasons to all sit down.

If not, and if it were me, I don't think I could ever keep sitting if the Prez approach me with a handshake, standing. (picky picky picky, I know).

Other than that, great pics. Really shows how the troops and Bush are naturals for each other, something Lurch and the Breck Girl could only dream about.

[P.O.E.]

God Bless our Troops. What a great President and Commander-in-Chief. The genuine enthusiasm and bond they have comes through those pics loud and clear.

[stevio]

Very cool!

[loveitor..]

Now kids...compare and contrast the following...

[Grampa Dave]

Great Pictures! Thanks for posting them!

[Grampa Dave]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1225400/posts?page=7#7

BANGOR, Maine, Sept. 23 -- It had been a pretty glum day for Spec. Brian Parker, who along with the other members of his National Guard unit said goodbye to their families and departed on a charter flight for a long-term stint in Iraq. But then, on a refueling stop here, a familiar figure boarded the plane.

"We were down when we left our families," Parker said, giving a thumbs down. "But then we heard Air Force One was here. It's a good morale boost."

President Bush, after a campaign appearance in Bangor, held his plane on the tarmac when he heard an MD-11 carrying 292 Army reservists and National Guard members were about to refuel here. For the troops, grimly heading toward an 18-to-24-month assignment in Iraq, it was a welcome lift. For Bush, who has been accusing his Democratic presidential opponent, Sen. John F. Kerry, of demoralizing the troops in Iraq by criticizing the war effort, it was a chance to demonstrate his devotion to the troops. "May God bless you all," the commander in chief said over the plane's public address system. "May God keep you safe."

[happygrl]

This made my day to see these photos.

What a guy!

What a Man!

What a President!

[housewife101]

Lots of friends in Maine made it to his visit there. THey were so HYPED that Bush came. Guess it was a great rally!

[The Sons of Liberty]

Now that's a Commander in Chief!

[TexKat]

Geat pics armymarinemom. I know the troops were quite pleased.

U.S. President George W. Bush waves from the steps of Air Force One under the partial Moon in Bangor, Maine, September 23, 2004. Bush, who was in Bangor for a campaign stop, later boarded an adjacent chartered plane on the tarmac of Bangor International Airport where he personally greeted hundreds of soldiers and National Guard on their flight bound for Iraq, before returing to Washington aboard Air Force One. REUTERS/Jason Reed REUTERS

[fight_truth_decay]

It was a beautiful day in Bangor fitting for the rally of 3-4,000. If anyone ever gets a chance to see the President in person, do so; he is totally awesome!!!

[Norski]

This is great! Thanks!

(I don't watch much tv, but bet it didn't make the tv news).

Note: most of these folks look older than recruits. Are they all NG?

Norski. :-)

[Armywife_DarlinPie]

Thank you so much for posting these great photos! My husband was on that flight. He called me on his cell phone from the plane in Bangor and said "guess who's on this plane"! He was so excited he sounded like a little kid in a candy store! I don't know how long President George W. Bush was on that flight but I know he took the time to shake hands, speak to, and sign autographs for about 300 soldiers! The guys are still talking about it! Wow! Talk about a moral booster! Anyway, I have been searching the net for photos of that visit. I have found some but if anyone knows of a site that has others posted, could you please let me know? I'm working on a scrap book for the unit. Thanks so much!