President Bush shares chest bump with Air Force Academy Grad

To: swampdweller

This is classic and right in character for President Bush. I was there in Falcon stadium for the Class of 2004 graduation when President Bush last did the honors. I remember that he was asked to meet and shake hands for only the top 100 or so special scoring graduates. He nixed that and promised to meet and shake hands with all 960 some odd cadets... which he did. It was truly a magical time as everyone in that stadium knew the extent of the effort he was giving. Everyone loved it and as the hundreds of Cadets streamed across the stage the cadets got a little looser in how they responded to the President. It started with a few female cadets giving him a big hug, which he warmly returned and then it became bigger hugs from any Cadet which could become a few words from the President in the Cadets ear and then you could tell that he wanted to know where the Cadets parents were in the crowd and then he'd wave at them. It got to the point after a while that it was obvious that President Bush was having the time of his life and very generously giving of himself for the benefit of the newly minted officers as well as thousands of family members in attendance for this once in a lifetime milestone. I was hoping to be able to experience this magic again as my own son gradated from USAFA last year with the Class of 2007. The normal three year rotation of the President between the service academies should have brought him back but it didn't happen. The President went to the Merchant Marine Academy for the first time ever and set a precedent and acknowledged them for their fine contributions. I'm sure that this single picture was repeated dozens of times and in many heart warming ways because that is just exactly how the President likes to do things. And you can be sure that he met and shook all 950 odd cadets again, think about that effort. He is as real as it gets and it's obvious to all in attendance that he loves them all and appreciates their commitment to Duty Honor and Country. I will forever be grateful to have experienced the wonderful bond between the armed forces of the United States and this President who gives to them of himself above and beyond what most would expect of a political figure. The Academy makes a fantastic DVD of all the graduation week activities for about $60 and can be contacted at www.usafa.edu/34trw/CWmedia . They make sure to get every cadet on video meeting the guest speaker. It's truly a wonderful thing to have and you can see exactly how many times the cadets will get a little carried away. It's only natural for them since this is the end of the hardest four years of their young lives. Go Air Force and God Bless the United States of America and President Bush.

41 posted on 05/30/2008 12:15:14 PM PDT by FourthBranch (The 2nd Amendment IS the Fourth Branch of Government)

Actually the whole event is recorded so that all the Cadets
have a record of them walking across the stage. They produce
an excellent DVD of the whole graduation week activities. You can contact the Cadet Wing Media at the Academy at www.usafa.edu/34trw/CWmedia and purchase it for about $60.

42 posted on 05/30/2008 12:15:44 PM PDT by FourthBranch (The 2nd Amendment IS the Fourth Branch of Government)

To: stylecouncilor

43 posted on 05/30/2008 12:52:28 PM PDT by windcliff

To: swampdweller

44 posted on 05/30/2008 12:55:35 PM PDT by Southack (Media Bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)

To: FourthBranch

Thanks for your post - I enjoyed reading it.

45 posted on 05/30/2008 5:20:46 PM PDT by Irish Rose (Will work for chocolate.)

To: swampdweller

46 posted on 05/30/2008 8:03:03 PM PDT by 2dogjoe (Have a Blessed Day)

To: napscoordinator

Why turn them off?

Fight back.

47 posted on 05/30/2008 8:09:30 PM PDT by roses of sharon ( (Who will be McCain's maverick?))

To: FourthBranch

Great story, thanks for sharing.

God Bless President Bush and our Military men, indeed!

48 posted on 05/30/2008 8:12:34 PM PDT by roses of sharon ( (Who will be McCain's maverick?))

To: swampdweller

Even with his bullet-proof over coat on President Bush did a great job. ;o)

49 posted on 05/31/2008 1:21:29 PM PDT by shield (A wise man's heart is at his RIGHT hand;but a fool's heart at his LEFT. Ecc 10:2)

To: swampdweller

50 posted on 06/02/2008 12:19:28 AM PDT by newbie2008 (http://www.google.com/reader/shared/11513180806521029900)

To: fieldmarshaldj

He was in Cambodia at Christmas and missed the call. ;)

51 posted on 06/02/2008 12:27:37 AM PDT by kalee (The offenses we give, we write in the dust; Those we take, we write in marble. JHuett)

He was missing a lot of things in those days...

52 posted on 06/02/2008 1:32:22 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps !"~~)

To: swampdweller

I could hang out with this guy any day of the week

53 posted on 06/02/2008 8:51:59 AM PDT by verga (I am not an apologist, I just play one on Television)

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