Character

Thu, 27 Sep 2001 19:07:49 -0700

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C 2001 Premiere 
Radio Networks 
All Rights Reserved 

Rich Galen, who used to run GOPAC and now has an online newsletter
called Mullings, published an e-mail somebody sent him about a story
published in Officer Christian Fellowship. It really, really puts the
perspective of this president in total focus. The e-mailer writes a
story about the president's visit to one of the military officers
injured during the Pentagon attack. Here's the letter: 

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 of Brian's bed and saluted him. 

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. 

Picture that, and remember that there were no cameras or microphones
around, just an eyewitness who saw it. Therefore it did not happen for
history or posterity. It happened because the president of the United
States respected Lieutenant Colonel Brian Birdwell enough to go to the
foot of the bed and hold the salute, knowing how difficult it was for
the soldier to respond in kind. This was President Bush's paying of the
deepest respect to Brian Birdwell, and also inspiring and motivating. 

After I related this story, I received an e-mail from a member of the
military who led me to more fully understand the true significance of
this. He wrote, "As the commander-in-chief, President Bush never first
initiates the salute. So the statement when the president salutes you
does not apply. The only case where a president is expected to initiate
a salute is to a Medal of Honor winner. So Bush is acting out of deepest
respect when he initiates a salute. Lieutenant Colonel Birdwell is under
no compunction to return a salute from the president. However, he did,
since it was the mark of respect to the person initiating the salute, in
this case, the president of the United States." 

That's a new one to me, too. If the president salutes you, you don't
have to return it? Okay. For those of you in the military, I deeply
apologize for my ignorance. The e-mailer concludes, "Lastly, Bush held
the salute when he saw Lieutenant Colonel Birdwell begin to respond. To
have dropped the salute would have pointed up Birdwell's injury. It's a
testament to the respect that Bush had, that he put his life on hold for
as long as it took for Lieutenant Colonel Birdwell to return the salute.
Just thought you'd like to know, Rush." 

I've received a couple of other e-mails such as this. "Rush, something
even more dramatic. Not only did our president salute the lieutenant
colonel, but military customs and courtesies demand that the personnel
with lower rank always salute a superior first and then hold it until a
superior salutes back. Our president was holding an inferior-ranked
individual in higher regard than his own rank - that of the supreme
commander of the United States." 

Lieutenant Colonel Birdwell will never, ever forget this, because I'll
bet you he did something he thought he couldn't do that day, through the
pain and the bandages. The president held that salute until he returned
it, an ultimate display of love and respect, with nobody around to see
it. What is it J.C. Watts always says, "Character is doing the right
thing when nobody is watching." 

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<DIV><FONT face=3DVerdana size=3D2>&copy; 2001 Premiere <BR>Radio =
Networks <BR>All Rights=20
Reserved <BR><BR>Rich Galen, who used to run GOPAC and now has an online =

newsletter called Mullings, published an e-mail somebody sent him about =
a story=20
published in Officer Christian Fellowship. It really, really puts the=20
perspective of this president in total focus. The e-mailer writes a =
story about=20
the president's visit to one of the military officers injured during the =

Pentagon attack. Here's the letter: </DIV>
<DIV> I just came from an =
informal, outdoor=20
memorial service that MG Van Antwerp gave for the two ladies from ACSIM =
that=20
were lost last week. It was quite moving. The families were there and it =
was=20
clear that this meant a lot to them. The General has a sincere way of =
sharing=20
his own faith that helps lift everyone's spirits. What I wanted =
to=20
share, however, was a vignette General Van related about the President =
and the=20
general's executive officer who was badly burned over 50% of his body. =
General=20
Van said that the President visited LTC Brian Birdwell at Washington =
Hospital=20
Center. He spent time talking with Brian. He prayed with Brian, and then =
as he=20
was getting ready to leave, he went to the foot of Brian's bed and =
saluted him.=20
 The President then held that salute as Brian, with burned and =
bandaged=20
arms, ever so slowly returned the salute. It wasn't hard to picture the =
scene in=20
my mind, and I think it says a lot about our Commander-in-Chief. =
 Picture=20
that, and remember that there were no cameras or microphones around, =
just an=20
eyewitness who saw it. Therefore it did not happen for history or =
posterity. It=20
happened because the president of the United States respected Lieutenant =
Colonel=20
Brian Birdwell enough to go to the foot of the bed and hold the salute, =
knowing=20
how difficult it was for the soldier to respond in kind. This was =
President=20
Bush's paying of the deepest respect to Brian Birdwell, and also =
inspiring and=20
motivating. After I related this story, I received an e-mail =
from a=20
member of the military who led me to more fully understand the true =
significance=20
of this. He wrote, "As the commander-in-chief, President Bush never =
first=20
initiates the salute. So the statement when the president salutes you =
does not=20
apply. The only case where a president is expected to initiate a salute =
is to a=20
Medal of Honor winner. So Bush is acting out of deepest respect when he=20
initiates a salute. Lieutenant Colonel Birdwell is under no compunction =
to=20
return a salute from the president. However, he did, since it was the =
mark of=20
respect to the person initiating the salute, in this case, the president =
of the=20
United States." That's a new one to me, too. If the president =
salutes=20
you, you don't have to return it? Okay. For those of you in the =
military, I=20
deeply apologize for my ignorance. The e-mailer concludes, "Lastly, Bush =
held=20
the salute when he saw Lieutenant Colonel Birdwell begin to respond. To =
have=20
dropped the salute would have pointed up Birdwell's injury. It's a =
testament to=20
the respect that Bush had, that he put his life on hold for as long as =
it took=20
for Lieutenant Colonel Birdwell to return the salute. Just thought you'd =
like to=20
know, Rush." I've received a couple of other e-mails such as =
this.=20
"Rush, something even more dramatic. Not only did our president salute =
the=20
lieutenant colonel, but military customs and courtesies demand that the=20
personnel with lower rank always salute a superior first and then hold =
it until=20
a superior salutes back. Our president was holding an inferior-ranked =
individual=20
in higher regard than his own rank - that of the supreme commander of =
the United=20
States." Lieutenant Colonel Birdwell will never, ever forget =
this,=20
because I'll bet you he did something he thought he couldn't do that =
day,=20
through the pain and the bandages. The president held that salute until =
he=20
returned it, an ultimate display of love and respect, with nobody around =
to see=20
it. What is it J.C. Watts always says, =
"Character=20
is doing the right thing when nobody is watching."=20
 </DIV></BODY></HTML>

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