Posted on 02/04/2002 5:08:46 PM PST by rintense
It's Monday and President Bush kicked off the week with a full schedule as usual. Bush sent his $2.13 trillion budget to Congress, including the 'largest increase in military spending in a generation.' The President took his patriotic message to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where hundreds of enthusiastic soldiers cheered him on as he spoke about the war on terror. And to add to his busy Monday schedule, Bush also met with Russia Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov to privately discuss regional security issues. Enjoy your daily dose of Dubya!
Thank you for your service to our country.
Since I was in charge of the Family Program for the base at the time, my family was one of the chosen few. Oh, my, word, I lost my mind.
I of course had to buy a new dress, and I wore my pearls. Pulled my older boy from school, and my husband took the day off from his regular job. The base commander was the one who was going to introduce us family by family. To say that I was nervous was an understatement. We were to be at the base 1 hour before Bush was to be there. We pulled onto the base just before 10:00 and had a breath-taking view of Air Force One on the tarmack by our hanger.
The Public Affairs person caught me just as we were approaching the meeting place. She informed me that Bush was running behind schedule (a rarity) and could I run and get snacks for the families. Sure, No problem, I'll just run to Costco, which is a mile away.
Got to Costco just before a minute or two before it opened. We were a team with a mission. My older boy headed for the snack aisle, my husband headed for the cookie aisle as I raced for the bottled water. I'm sure that we were a sight all dressed up AF blues, pearls etc. at 10 AM in Costco. We got some funny looks.
As we came back onto base and turned onto the main drive a helicopter approach the base. I was paniced to say the least. I admit I was said some baad things about our Public Affair Sgt, as the chopper landed. If I missed meeting the President because I went to Costco for snacks, well someone was going to die. Ditched the car at the closest location to the meeting place and raced over. It was only part the SS team. I asked for forgiveness to the Public Affairs Sgt. I managed to regain my composure.
As we gathered in the meeting location, SS wouldn't let me drive in, so I was trying to figure a way to get the snacks in without carrying them. I finally talked to one of our fire/ rescue squad personnel. No problem, they just took the rescue squad over to my van and got the goodies and came back. After a while, more and more people started showing up. In the back of my brain I am adding up people and there were a lot more than just 15 families. Turns out that the Secret Service families, a kindergarten class and some of the Fresno PD and their families came also. Turns out there were 300+ people there. No individual introductions happened. Bush was mobbed.
My younger son handed Bush his Boy Scout ID card to sign. My older boy was passed up, but the couple in front of us handed Bush his Boy Scout card to sign. The couple in front of us were part of the SS families and have met Bush several times already. I couldn't believe that they had already met him 3-4 times and wouldn't let someone else meet him for the first time.
By the way, they did comfirm a report that none of the SS people wanted to be assigned to Clinton. They have to assign people instead of taking volunteers.
I'll see that and raise you a second, four-year term.
AF_Blue, I'm glad you joined us. I haven't been here long but the people are great. I've made some wonderful friends so far! Stay and post. It's addictive. LOL
God bless!
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