Posted on 03/18/2006 4:59:34 PM PST by FairOpinion
BARSTOW Max West was in a U.S. Armys Reconnaissance platoon during World War II when his company met with the Russians in Austria 10 days before the end of the war.
He later was drafted in the Korean War and served for a year. On Friday, West went along with 134 residents of the Veterans Home in Barstow to meet and shake hands with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. We were all high after he left, including the staff, West, 84, said. The nurses were down there with their cameras. We had a lot of fun. West enjoyed the governors attention. He shook my hand, and its sacred. Ill wear a glove, said West, laughing.
Its been 10 years since a governor set foot on Veterans Home grounds, according to Administrator Louis Koff. The last time there was a governor there was during the dedication of the facility during Pete Wilsons administration.
In the private occasion that was held in the multipurpose room, Schwarzenegger spoke for a few minutes and expressed his gratitude toward the veterans. It was their struggle that allowed the Austrian-born, actor-turned-politician to pursue his dreams and have a family, said Koff.
He came by for a brief visit. He spoke with our veterans and then went up to each one of them, greeted them and thanked each one of them for their service, Koff said.
The governor flew into Daggett Airport by plane and took a helicopter to the Veterans Home.
Koff said the meeting was private because he wanted to spend time with the veterans. It was not intended for beyond that group.
Some 150 to 160 people were at the event, which lasted about 45 minutes. The governor then also visited the nursing unit and met nursing staff and additional veterans.
West said the governor talked about his plans to build more schools, improve highways and bring businesses back to California.
Assemblyman Bill Maze and Mayor Lawrence Dale also visited the Veterans Home later in the day.
A good and proper thing for the governor to do. Kudos.
They are our forgotten heroes.
"Arnold arrives at Baghdad International Airport"
Arnold did USO tours and visited the military many times way before he was thinking of running for governor.
Arnold took his son along.
"By Popular Demand" Jan 2002 EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFMCNS) Action movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger cheers with a few Edwards members during his visit to the base in December. The star was on the scene at Edwards for a photo shoot with Talk Magazine. In a recent poll magazine officials have taken, military members voted Schwarzenegger the star they would most like to meet. The photos will be published in the February issue of Talk due out Jan. 11. (Photos by Staff Sgt. Stacee McCausland)
Arnold Schwarzenegger manages to make a service woman smile, during his visit with injured Soldiers at the Army field hospital in Balad, Iraq.
"You're One Cute Military female."
see if you can guess what Arnold movie quote that parodys.
Actually I have no idea. Which one?
(BTW -- if he said that to her, it probably made her day for sure)
Can't remember the name but it was the one where his daughter was kidnapped and his co-star was a black stewardess.
See this thread also:
Governor welcome troops home. (CA) 2,200 soldiers return from duty in Iraq
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1598919/posts
"While hundreds of the regiments soldiers, for mer soldiers, friends, family and children looked on, the governor shook the hands of 13 of the regiments soldiers who had suffered wounds while serving in Iraq and had been awarded the Purple Heart.
The Black Horse regiment soldiers, he said, have done an incredible job (in Iraq). You have assisted the Iraqi national elections, trained and partnered with Iraqi army and police, rebuilt communities and conducted many critical combat operations.
And on top of all that, your regiment maintained a force right here in the National Training Center and trained other soldiers as they prepared to be deployed overseas. So you were really given a huge challenge this past year, and you did it with great honor, he said.
Today I want to say from my heart, as governor, as a Californian, as an American and as an immigrant, Schwarzenegger said. Im incredibly proud of all of you and what you have done for this great nation.
Koff said the meeting was private because he wanted to spend time with the veterans. It was not intended for beyond that group.
That's very cool he kept it private.
That must've meant a great deal to the veterans, not to have lights and reporters glaring at them and making them feel uncomfortable.
Predator, in the scene whewre the Predator catches him, reveals itself from under the mask it wore & Arnold says:
"You're One ugly Mother******."
Oh. I didn't see that one.
"That's very cool he kept it private."
===
I agree. President Bush does the same thing. They are truly doing it for the vets, not for photo op.
Hooah for Patriot Arnold.
Thank you for posting both articles, Fair, which I will soon read. :=)
See Operation Gratitude, my homepage, and join us if and when you can.
God bless our troops and their families.
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