Subject: Cheney Salutes the Military
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2001 17:32:35 -0600
By Linda D. Kozaryn
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2001 -- In a break from tradition, Dick Cheney changed
the ceremony offering a salute to an incoming vice president. Far better, he
said, to offer a salute of his own. On the eve of the inauguration, the vice
president-elect saluted America's veterans at George Washington University
Smith Center here. He told the veterans his years as defense secretary were
the most rewarding of his public life.
"It is sometimes said that heroes are hard to find," he noted. "But I never
heard that said around the Pentagon. Those who would understand the
meaning of duty, honor and country, need look no further than the
nearest veteran of America's armed forces." The United States is a
peaceful nation and its people are reluctant warriors, Cheney told
the veterans. "We take up arms only to protect our country, to throw
back tyranny and to defend the cause of freedom," he said. "At times
the price has run high and never higher than in the last century with
so many conflicts."
After acknowledging Secretary of State-designee Colin Powell, Defense
Secretary-designee Donald Rumsfeld, Defense Secretary William Cohen, and
others in the front row, Cheney paid tribute to the nearly 100 Medal of
Honor recipients in the audience.
"When you meet one of them," he said, "remember the moment ........... For
you have just met one of the bravest men in our nation's history."
After a nearly two-hour tribute of poignant tales of heroism, patriotic
music and expressions of gratitude and pride, excitement among the several
thousand veterans and family members ratcheted even higher when Cheney made
a pledge to the military. Of the many duties the president and vice president
were about to assume, he said, "none is greater than preparing the
military for the challenges and the dangers to come.
"We will give them training that is thorough and missions that are clear,"
he vowed. "We will give them the kind of military where men and women are
proud to serve and proud to stay. We will give them the respect they have
earned and the support they deserve.
"All of this begins in less than 24 hours, when the Chief Justice
administers the oath of office to the man I now present, the 43rd president
of the United States, George W. Bush."
Just for a moment, there was a hush -- as if everyone in the crowd was
saying, 'Huh? What did he say?'
Then it registered. They realized the president-elect was making a surprise
appearance. Carol Rascon, wife of Medal of Honor recipient Al Rascon, called
the moment, "electric."
Whistles, cheers, and applause burst from the crowd. From the stadium seats
to the right and left, came a thundering
rumble of stomping feet. Secret Service agents cleared the way as George
"Dubya" entered stage right.
"I'm certainly glad the vice president-to-be invited me," Bush said in
amusement when the hoopla subsided. "It does
not surprise me, however, that he turned the tribute that was supposed to be
to him, to honor somebody else. That's
why I picked him to be the vice president. He is a decent, honorable man."
Referring to the Medal of Honor recipients and other heroes in the audience,
Bush said, "There are thousands of Americans who when called are willing to
serve a cause greater than self. What an honor to be here."
Acknowledging those in the front row, Bush saluted his newly designated
national defense team. "I believe, in all due respect to other presidents --
one whom I happen to know quite well -- that I believe the national security
team that I put together is the best in our nation's history, led by Colin
Powell and Don Rumsfeld.
"I look forward to hearing their opinions. I look forward to their advice. I
look forward to doing what is right to make the world more peaceful."
Gladly noting active duty generals in the crowd, Bush stressed what he sees
as the armed forces' overarching mission -- to be prepared, trained and ready
to fight and win wars, and therefore prevent war from happening in the
first place.
"In order to keep the peace our military must be strong, morale must be
high," he said. Then, like Cheney, the president-elect made his pledge to
the military. "We will make sure our soldiers are well paid and well housed,"
he vowed. "We will make sure our soldiers are well trained."
* Bush then pointed out Tony Principi, on tap to head the Department of
Veterans Affairs, who was also sitting in the front row. "In order to make
sure that morale is high with those who wear the uniform today, we must keep
our commitment to those who wore the uniform in the past, " Bush said. "We
will make sure promises made to our veterans will be promises kept.
"In less than 24 hours I have the highest honor and that's to become the
commander-in-chief of the greatest nation in the world," he said.
"I accept that honor with pride. I accept that honor
with purpose. Thank you for having me. God bless America."
Several thousand veterans and family members attended the event emceed by
Gerald McRaney, of television's "Major Dad." Actress Connie Stevens, who
noted she's entertained G.I.s for five decades, sang "God Bless America."
Actor and former Marine Robert Conrad, former Senator and World War II
veteran Bob Dole, and Senator and Vietnam veteran John McCain paid tribute
to the men and women of the military past and present.
A Holocaust survivor, a woman whose fiancée died in Vietnam, and a policeman
whose life was saved by a National Guardsman spoke of how the American
military members touched their lives. A video tribute highlighted the
sacrifices of those who served in the nation's wars.
Veterans and family members throughout the crowd wiped away silent tears as
Congresswoman Heather Wilson, an Air Force Academy graduate, paid homage to
the POWs and those missing in action.
Cheney summed up the remarks of all when he said that all who have served
the military have one thing in common. "In our country's hour of need, they
answered the call. They gave America the best years of their lives and they
stood ready to give life itself." |
