Posted on 07/27/2005 3:11:57 PM PDT by SmithL
WASHINGTON -- President Bush was offering comfort Wednesday to thousands of Boy Scouts mourning the deaths of four of their leaders, telling their national jamboree that the men who died in this week's tragic accident should be honored and remembered.
Bush's speech Wednesday evening at the Boy Scouts of America's quadrennial jamboree — initially intended to celebrate volunteerism and military service — was turned into more of a consolation session after four men died on Monday while erecting a large dining tent at the gathering.
Military and Scout officials were investigating the incident, in which the adult Scout leaders lost control of a huge center pole, sending it into nearby power lines. The men burned to death in front of stunned children.
White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Bush would preside over "a moment to keep in our thoughts and prayers the families of those four parents who tragically lost their life earlier this week."
He said the president, speaking to the National Boy Scout Jamboree being held at Fort A.P. Hill about an hour south of Washington, would stress that "these parents were role models to those Boy Scouts."
The 10-day event at the sprawling Army base, which draws 40,000 Scouting enthusiasts from around the world for camping, fishing, archery and merit badge competitions, was closed to visitors Tuesday as Scouts reviewed safety procedures and mourned the four men.
But the event was trying to return to schedule Wednesday, with a memorial service during the opening ceremony and Bush's appearance and remarks.
"The president is going there to highlight all the positive things that the Boy Scouts do, and all the positive contributions that troop leaders make to instill in them a sense of leadership and responsibility," McClellan said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Thank you for being a leader.
I heard a report the ceremony was being cancelled? Any reports out there?
Backing Boy scouts, and giving a speech that probably mentions God...how out of touch with the elites...
Thank God we have such a president.
In fact, he's off on a merit badge blowout four-day camp right now. Just talked to him and he passed his 1st Class swimming requirements this morning, something he's worked very hard on at the pool for the past several weeks.
You should see the atrocities being posted at DU right now concerning the Scouts and their leaders.
And they still can't grasp why the rest of the country doesn't embrace the leftwing political agenda.
That was a lovely thing for the Presiden to do: Be there. My heart continues to go out to these boys and men coping with this. I think most there are learning even more about the value of character, and how it is built -- when in high stress.
Luckily they are obsessed with their futile pursuit of Karl Rove as evil spymaster, and with their equally futile predictions of a Democratic landslide in 2006. (chuckle)
Somehow after spending two hours with the President last friday this does not surprise me in the least. This is a man who has true compassion and none of it is phony. Watching as he went in to speak to the family of a young man killed in Iraq you could see the anquish in his eyes.
God Bless our President........
Both stories were written by the same author, and were both written in the past-tense. Do you think someone was phoning it in?
I noticed the same thing that the original article was in past tense as if the event happened. Yet due to last minute schedule change the ceremony was cancelled. I really wish these reporters would only phone in stories on thing that actually happen rather than prewriting a story about and event that has not occured
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