From this morning's E-mail.
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Friends, Americans, Oregonians and Special Forces Patriots,
This is my story and I will stand by it until death do us part.
I have been politically active for most of my almost 67 years. (Another Story, mostly about my Father's Blue Collar Democrat Connections)
Tonight was an experience I can only say was part Luck, part Dedication and very much Part --------- Special Forces. I did wear my Beret to this event.
We left Redding CA at 11 Am for a Presidential rally in Medford Oregon at 6 PM. We arrived at 2 PM and I saw more human beings lined up than I saw in Raleigh NC at the JUDD'S Concert in 1984 when the line to get in to their concert was wrapped around the venue 6 times.
This line today was over 2 miles long. (Eventually 20,000 People showed up)
We had a "Blue" ticket to get in. This was supposed to put us in close proximity to the Prezzzzzzzzzz..
After "7" CHECKS and clearances, (they took our water bottles, umbrella's, flags, etc etc.
Of course once we got in they gave us Flags, Plackars, etc etc back.
We just could not take anything in that might be a threat. The MEDIA caught hell and were vetted, but let in.
You had to have a picture ID with your Pass/Ticket to get in... I used my "MILITARY ID CARD" (Good chose John) I have NEVER been treated with such respect as I was in this process of clearances to get in to see our CIC.
Finally we arrived in our section, which was designated by the "Color" of your "PASS/TICKET"... There were three colors, Green, Blue and RED.....
Green put you in the "Cheap Seats", Blue put you real close, and Red put you on the stage.
I ended up three feet from the stage on the "West" side, which is the side that the President and his very special lady came in to the event on.
I will say that there were two guys placed in the "CENTER" of the Bleachers behind the Prezzzzzzz that had on "Green Berets" and they also wore Camies from a later time & medals from our time in VN. They were with a Brown Water Navy guy...He had on a Beret like Ken Delfino wears..,.
The CIC was to speak at 6PM. He arrived at 5:45 with Mrs. Most Beautiful and Elegant Bush, and John McCain and Senator Gordon. McCain is a little guy. Not fat or tall.
I shot pictures of President Bush walking toward me three feet away when he entered the venue.
He hit the Ground Running and before over 20,000 Oregonians and 20 Northern Californians he charmed us with his genuine Texas swagger, down home approach, honesty and an incredible humor that all of us SF would respect, and spoke for exactly one hour.
OK, I am on the front line. Sitting beside Ken Turner USN, WWII (survivor of the Philippines and later the invasion). We are the only Veterans sitting on the Western side of the stage against the railing.
Of course Ken's daughter thought that the Prezzzzzz would most definitely come by us and shake our hands.
WRONG..........Instead he was directed to walk off of the Stage to the right front of the podium and greet those in an area the size of a horse shoe on one side of a street in front of the podium.
I prayed for me and Ken that he would come by us and greet us, but it was not to be. He came back on the stage, waved at the crowd and then shook some hands with some of those on the bleachers behind him.
It seemed in a moment that he turned and waked directly toward Ken and I. Was I dreaming, or was the President of the United State turning and walked directly toward Ken and I. He walked up and stopped at the edge of the stage in front of us, he pointed his finger at us and came to attention and saluted us. I lost it...
I was poised to take a picture of him leaving and was totally taken by his direct approach to Ken and I. We were the only Veterans setting in this area, then standing on this side of the Stage.
I have a picture of him saluting us. I was flabbergasted. I did shoot a shot of President Bush doing this, but standing at attention out of our wheel chairs, Ken and I returned our CIC's salute. Gentlemen, the closest HONOR to this was when Colonel Rheault asked me to be his aide & 5th Group Briefer etc) .
I had hoped that President Bush would pass by us and shake our hands. He did not.
But to be honored by the President of the United States, stopping and saluting two old Veterans meant more to me than anything I can ever imagine.
John E. Cleckner Sr. (Guys, we have to re-elect this guy, trust me)(One of his best lines tonight was:, " It's good to be here with a bunch of people wearing Cowboy Boots, and very few if any wearing business suits.... |
