Bush stresses public service to St. Vincent grads

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | May 11, 2007 | Dan Majors and Michael A. Fuoco

[buzzyboop]

President Bush today brought an upbeat message of public service to the graduating class of St. Vincent College in Latrobe.

Speaking at the morning ceremony, the President saluted students for their service projects and encouraged them to "keep it up" and make it "more than a line on your resume."

As Mr. Bush spoke, about 150 anti-war protesters assembled down Route 30 from the campus.

Mr. Bush, whose appearance generated controversy because of the ongoing Iraq War, only referred to the conflict once, and that was also in the context of service to the country. He saluted five students who have volunteered for military service, noting they made their decision even at a time of war.

But he also spent time saluting the four dozen graduates who plan to become teachers. He mentioned that a group of St. Vincent students travels to a school in a poor area of New Jersey during the holidays to mentor the pupils there.

[trimom]

St. Vincent College is a lovely campus, a fine school and a Benedictine Monastery. And I would guess that a number of priests from the Seminary there have gone on to serve as Military Chaplains, even with the motto of Pax in their hearts.

[CeasarsGhost]

"Bush stresses public service to St. Vincent grads"

Hope he asked them to serve where they're needed most, with the Minutemen at the Mexican border.

[Eagles6]

My niece was one of the graduates. Though I didn’t get to attend, her grandparents, parents, aunt and brother were there. It was a memorable experience for all.
Despite the coverage given to the protesters in the article, they were noticed by few.
The ones within St. Vincent’s College, including tenured faculty, who planned to turn their backs on the President didn’t. If they changed their minds and didn’t as a show of class and decorum, I commend them.
I do wish that they would give a thought to the 50 million people that now live in freedom as opposed to tyranny, the true result of the war and the President’s policy. Ask the women of Afghanistan and the Kurds of Iraq. For all the bloodshed now, it is less than it was under the tyrants. If that were the only measure, they are further ahead.