Essays to Mullings ( Inside President Bush's Visit to Washington Hospital Center)

Rich Galen's Mullings ^ | 9/26/01

[Gumption County]

(Rich Galen shares this letter written to him by a reader of Mullings...)

Rich,

This says a lot about Bush. I just received it from my brother. I thought you might appreciate it. It's sort of ironic for me to forward it to you since I'm usually forwarding your columns to him. :-)

Best wishes,
Jennifer Laycock

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Jenn
Thought you would like to hear a story about the President. I think it is very telling how people act when there are no cameras or reporters around. I am sure that the President did not expect this to be reported.

Rob

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Howdy.

The article was written for OCF (Officer Christian Fellowship) about the President's visit to one of the military officers injured during the Pentagon attack.

Subject: Pentagon Update/Vignette

I just came from an informal, outdoor memorial service that MG Van Antwerp gave for the two ladies from ACSIM that were lost last week. It was quite moving. The families were there and it was clear that this meant a lot to them. The General has a sincere way of sharing his own faith that helps lift everyone's spirits.

What I wanted to share, however, was a vignette General Van related about the President and the general's executive officer who was badly burned over 50% of his body. General Van said that the President visited LTC Brian Birdwell at Washington Hospital Center. He spent time talking with Brian. He prayed with Brian. And then as he was getting ready to leave, he went to the foot Brian's bed and saluted Brian.

The President then held that salute as Brian, with burned and bandaged arms, ever so slowly returned the salute.

It wasn't hard to picture the scene in my mind, and I think it says a lot about our Commander-in-Chief.

[Gumption County]

Amen.

[Gumption County]

bttt

[Quilla]

Thanks. GC. That story brought tears to my eyes.

[homegroan]

Salute bump

[Gumption County]

FY reading pleasure...

[Miss Marple]

Thank you for flagging me. I will link this to some other threads.

Character is what one does when no one is watching.

[CheneyChick]

Thanks for calling me over here, MM. This is great.

[WIMom]

Thank-you for posting this. What a wonderful President we have.

[mountaineer]

Amazing. A president who doesn't insist on getting his mug in front of video cameras to show the world his "good deeds!" President Bush talked with the wounded man, prayed with him and saluted him - all without first ensuring that pictures would be prominently spashed all over CNN. Thank God for this man.

[SmartBlonde]

Good idea. I noticed that Laura's eyes were very red as they left the hospital.

[swheats]

God bless President Bush and protect him. Thanks Miss Marple.

[Gumption County]

Thank you for bringing people over to read this telling and inspirational article...

You have a large and loyal "following"...

8^)

[lawgirl]

I just bawled off all of my freshly-applied mascara!! ;-) I think I can't admire the president anymore and then he goes and does something like this--he's amazing!! he has such a way with people- knowing exactly what they need.

[Carolinamom]

What a beautiful action from this really good man. Thank you for posting this account. I shall add it to my lasting memeories of him.

[ohioWfan]

Rush shared this story with deep admiration today, and I wept as I heard it. I agree with you, lawgirl. Just when you think you can't admire him any more than you do, you find out that he's even more admirable than you previously thought!

I have said this a thousand times about this President, but I THANK GOD that he called
George W. Bush to lead this country through this dark hour!

[JulieRNR21]

I also heard Rush talk about this story this afternoon. A caller added that for the President, the Commander in Chief, the highest ranking officer to initiate the salute was a sign of our President according high honor to LTC Birdwell as usually lower ranking initiates the salute.

I thank God every day that we have decent, honorable, disciplined and dedicated President George W. Bush!

[mombonn]

Thanks for posting this - I heard Rush read it. It's the kind of thing I'll bet our President does all the time.

He bends his knee to the Lord, and is not too proud to show honor to a brave wounded officer.

[Patriotic Bostonian]

I love this man. The first time I watched him speak during the campaign I saw the goodness in him. I've always held that the mirror to the soul is in the eyes. And if you've noticed you can see all his emotions in his eyes. It is apparent he grew up with the reflection of his parents love. Again, my eyes are welling up with pride in this man our President.

[JulieRNR21]

Yes....he has a special goodness that shines through his eyes. Unfortunately, I've never seen him in person but I have some gorgeous pictures of him & Laura taken by a friend who got very close to them during the campaign.

I love him too.

[lawgirl]

OH! I hadn't even thought about the fact that the lower rank person salutes first...**sniff sniff**