Posted on 12/05/2004 6:44:15 PM PST by hipaatwo
We supplement our post below on the president's attendance at the Army-Navy game yesterday with the following eyewitness report. Navy partisan and Power Line reader Rick Hine writes:
I've been an avid Powerline reader for more than a year. My wife and I are the proud parents of two Naval Academy midshipmen - Adam (07) and Carolynn (08). I attended the game on Saturday and wanted to add the following observations on President Bush's appearance:
1. At about 1245 (two hours before kickoff and shortly after the marchon of the Corps of Cadets and Brigade of Midshipmen) the crowd received a surprise - a flyby over the stadium by Air Force One as the plane circled to land. The stadium was probably half full at that time, and the crowd roared. As noted in the Philadelphia Inquirer article, the President first appeared on the field at about 1330. I was seated in the South end zone and he came out of the tunnel in front of us. As soon as everyone realized what was going on, a 100-decibel roar erupted from the crowd. One of the midshipmen in the Naval Academy section had a life-size cutout of the President with the words "Go Navy, Beat Army" coming out of his mouth. The scoreboard flashed a picture of the cutout - Senator McCain pointed to the scoreboard, and the President started laughing and waved, much to the delight of the midshipmen. The President then moved up the sideline where he took the photos with the Naval Academy cheerleaders. He shook hands and posed for a number of pictures with individual cheerleaders before taking the group pictures that you posted. The pictures are genuine and NOT photoshopped. He then moved across the field and greeted the Army cheerleaders. He reappeared just before kickoff to flip the coin, accompanied by the First Captain of the Corps of Cadets and the Brigade Commander of the Midshipmen. Both young men wore ear-to-ear smiles, as did the President. He shook hands with the team captains, flipped the coin and then proceeded to sit on the Army side for the first half. At halftime, he switched sides and sat on the Navy side. Periodically during the game, the scoreboard flashed pictures of the President and the stadium erupted with loud cheers.
2. Reflecting on the President's visit, two things were clear:
a. The military loves this President with a fervor not experienced since President Reagan. His reception at the game went far beyond respectful, polite applause. The atmosphere was electric - every time he made an appearance or his picture flashed up on the board, the stadium responded. The liberal left will never understand what happened on Saturday - I'm convinced they're incapable of feeling the type of emotion that a popular wartime president generates from the military community.
b. It was clear to everyone in the stadium that President Bush REALLY WANTED TO BE at the game. This meant much more to him than a mere photo-op or political appearance. His genuine affection and respect for the young men and women at Annapolis and West Point and for the tradition of the Army-Navy game was on display for everyone to see. Although the details of his appearance were scripted (i.e., the coin flip, sitting on each side, visiting the locker rooms, etc.), the flow of emotion back and forth between the President and the crowd could not be rehearsed. It's a day I'll remember for the rest of my life.
As you know, the midshipmen continued their stellar season with a 42-13 win and head for the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco on 30 December.
GO NAVY!!
Did John Kerry put himself in for another Purple Heart?
Ping!
I've always wanted to go to an Army-Navy game. Is it pretty much impossible to get a ticket to that game unless you know someone in the military services?
Thx for posting, it made my day.
I love Powerline and this article demonstrates the power of the blog...it is intimate, it is real!
I watched the game on TV and it was apparent that the broadcasters were affected by the character of the folks at our academies.
You gotta love this guy!!
Just look at the grin on his face. He's having a ball with those kids!!
I'm soooooo proud that he's my President!!
When I lived in Philly, I did go to one game. It was really great!! If you get the chance to go, do it. It is something you'll always remember!!
but tell me this guy doesn't deserve to be our leader...this is America and this is our guy...this is who we are...
The single biggest mistake of my life was in not going to the USNA when it was offered to me in bootcamp. Sadly they offered it to me after 10 weeks in GLakes and at that point all I could think of was, God, 4 years of boot camp. But being 17 and stupid, I passed up on it.
Wish him well. And remind him after the first year it gets a lot better. Best of luck.
I was also there--did you hear the crowd chant, "Four more years! Four more years!" It was just incredible--I will never forget it!
This picture and the one of Kerry speaking with the the stone faced marine at Wendys during the campain would go weel together.
Dittos. Thanks for this absolutely accurate post.
We were seated in section 115, and Bush was received like a rockstar. One of the most satisfying days of my life.
Proud father of
2nd Ed, USMC (USNA ‘07)
2LT Anna, USA (USUHS School of Medicine ‘12)
PS: Don’t forget to watch Navy in the Eagle Bank Bowl December 20th!
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