Posted on 08/22/2005 4:09:32 PM PDT by snugs
President George W Bush accompanied by his wife Laura addressed the Veterans of Foreign Wars at their annual convention held today at the Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Salt Lake City's Mayor Rocky Anderson used e-mail this week to call upon activists, Democrats and some of his top administrative staff to organise "the biggest demonstration this state has ever seen," when the President's addresses the National veterans convention today.
The mayor, a Democrat who serves in an officially nonpartisan office plans to join the protest.
The mayor also said he is not protesting the veterans organization.
"I'm extremely supportive of the VFW convention; I'm thrilled to have it in our city."
But Jerry Newberry, VFW communications director said the protest is "unfortunate," but that protests are a common occurrence at the group's conventions, particularly the president has spoken. He said, however, that he didn't know of any previous host-city officials that had participated in those protests.
Mike Parkin, the senior vice commander of the VFW's Atomic Post 4355 in Salt Lake City said the move makes Anderson look "very unpatriotic" and "despicable."
(Thanks for info Gretchen)
After delivering remarks at the Vetrans Conference the President Bush and Laura travelled to Donnelly, to spend two nights at the ski and golf resort
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Kazakhstan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasymzhomart Tokayev in her office at the State Department
Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island
QUOTE OF THE DAY –
President Honors Veterans of Foreign Wars at National Convention
Salt Palace Convention Center
Salt Lake City, Utah
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. (Applause.) Thank you all very much. Thanks for the warm welcome. It's a pleasure to be back here in Salt Lake City, Utah. And I'm proud to again stand with the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Thanks for having me. (Applause.)
really enjoy coming to these conventions. Members here come from all walks of life and you do vital work across our country. I know firsthand the spirit of the VFW. I was raised by one of your members -- (applause) -- a proud veteran of Post 4344 in Houston, Texas, former President George Bush. (Applause.) Where is that mighty Texas delegation? (Applause.) Behaves yourselves. (Laughter.)
I'm honored to serve as the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Armed Forces. The men and women who wear the uniform today are protecting our nation and our way of life. And they are upholding a tradition of honor and bravery and integrity set by America's veterans. All of you defended this country with unselfish courage. You've earned the respect of our citizens. And so, on behalf of a grateful nation, thank you for your service for the cause of freedom and peace. (Applause.)
I appreciate John Furgess. I appreciated working with him for the past year. He's a good, honorable man, and he's represented the VFW with distinction and class. It takes judgment to be the President of an organization. And so when I first saw John this morning, I realized he was a man of good judgment. He said, "You've got to understand, Mr. President, most of the people are really excited to see Laura." (Laughter and applause.) I'm proud she's traveling with me. I'm proud to call her wife. And a lot of folks in this United States of America are proud to call her First Lady. (Applause.)
I got on Air Force One down there in Waco, and they told me that we had a special guest on our plane. I said, well, who is it? They said, well, it's Orrin Hatch. I said, fantastic, glad to give the fellow a ride. (Laughter.) And the reason why I'm glad to give him a ride, he's a strong ally, and I appreciate a strong ally in Orrin Hatch. He does a great job for Utah, and he does a great job for the United States of America. (Applause.)
VFW's mission is to honor the dead by helping the living, and VFW members are making good on that promise every day. Together with your superb Ladies Auxiliary, VFW members have -- (applause) -- VFW members have adopted military units, mentored youth groups, assisted in blood drives, and provided countless services to fellow veterans and their families. When you hear the name VFW, you know a certain type of work is being done -- honorable, decent, and faithful to the nation's highest ideals.
The generation of men and women who defend our freedom today is taking its rightful place among the heroes of our nation's history. Once again, America has found patriots who are selfless and tireless and unrelenting in the face of danger. Once again, the American people have been steadfast and determined not to lose our nerve. And once again, we have confidence in our cause, because we know that freedom is the future of every nation, and that the side of freedom is the side of victory.
I want to thank you for the example you have set for all who wear our nation's uniform. I want to thank you for your bravery and your decency. May God bless this nation's veterans, and may God continue to bless the United States of America. (Applause.)
PHOTO OF THE DAY
After addressing the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention, President George W. Bush chats with troops from the Utah National Guard shortly before departing Salt Lake City, Utah, August 22, 2005.
Here I am ;-)
Dose going up please wait for the all clear to post or re-post graphics - some good photos today!!!
Great pic.
President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush wave at the airport in Waco, Texas, August 22, 2005
President Bush and first lady Laura Bush boards Air Force One at Texas State Technical College airport in Waco, Texas, Monday, Aug. 22, 2005
Magnets again OHIO!!!
There's Bush, once again doing nothing on his vacation.
Hello
Hey, I coulda been a contender--if my stupid neighbor hadn't move her DSL connection to another part of the house.
Glad you liked it
Woohoo! Finally--some pictures. I am all eyes, snugs!
President Bush, second from right, greets Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, Rep Chris Cannon, R-Utah, second from left, and Rep Jim Matheson, D-Utah, left, upon his arrival at the Salt Lake City International airport, Monday, Aug. 22, 2005.
President George W. Bush (L) greets local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) member Wiilie Hunsaker at the airport in Salt Lake City, Utah, August 22, 2005.
Here is a question for somebody to answer:
If Rocky Anderson used the official Salt Lake City computer to send his partisan e-mails out, is not that a criminal offense? "theft of services".
ROFL!!!!!!!
Better luck next time LOL
Sorry no cow boy ones though
Heads up---just in case C-Span comes thru. Email from them says they will show President Bush's speech from earlier today---at 8:00 tonight. Probably need to keep checking the schedule to find out if they will actually show it.
http://inside.c-spanarchives.org:8080/cspan/schedule.csp
Great photo and I am in early!
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.