SwiftVets.com

[Mary Ann Parker]

I apologize in advance for the posts in this thread. We all
know that it won't interest everyone.

However, we need a few examples of love and compassion,
faith and works to remind all of us about the hope of
mankind. Our President is fairly well known as a "born again
believer" and that is great.
At this particular time we only get
to hear and read about the "hard calls" etc.
MSM not only fails to report important truths about him, they
for sure will NOT report this kind of information.

A REQUEST:
Let's make this a reliably positive thread of good things. If we
do not, I fear that even the most dedicated will stay at home
on election day with a double dose of Prozac!!

Ok. Here goes story number one
Thanks for making it a positive day.
Mary Ann Parker
*********************************

What Kind of Man Would Do Such a Thing?

At Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC recently the
Sergeant Major of the Army, Jack Tilley, was with a group of
people visiting the wounded soldiers. He saw a Special
Forces soldier who had lost his right hand and suffered
severe wounds of his face and side of his body.

The Sergeant Major of the Army wanted to honor him
and show him respect without offending,
but what can you say or do in such a situation
that will encourage and uplift?
How do you shake the right hand of a soldier who has none?

There was a man in that group of visitors who had
his wife with him to visit the wounded.
He seemed to know exactly what to do.

This man reverently took the soldiers stump of a
in both of his hands, knelt at the bedside
and prayed for him. When he finished the prayer,
he stood up, bent over the
soldier and kissed him on the head and told him that he loved him.

A powerful expression of love and Christ-like example,
for one of our wounded heroes.
What kind of a man would do such a thing?
The wounded man's
Commander-in-Chief, George W. Bush; President of the U.S.A.

This story was told by the Sergeant Major of the Army,
at a Soldiers' Breakfast held at Redstone Arsenal, ALABAMA, and
recorded by Chaplain James Henderson, stationed there.

[Mary Ann Parker]

I have seen this one elsewhere on this forum, but don't you
think it goes here as well???

Thanks for a prayerful and positive day.
Mary Ann Parker
********************************
Report Number Two!
This is OUR PRESIDENT!!

For those of us who sometimes find ourselves having doubts
about our President, here is an excellent piece-- worth every
minute it takes to read it. This is from a man,
Bruce Vincent, from Montana who received an award from
the President. He writes:

I've written the following narrative to chronicle the day of the award ceremony in DC. I'm still working on a press release but the
White House press corps has yet to provide a photo to go with it.
When the photo comes I'll ship it out. When you get
done reading this you'll understand the dilemma I face in
telling this story beyond my circle of close friends.

The moment with the President in the Oval Office was incredible.
I want to protect the memory because it was an intensely
private moment between two men. At the same
time I'd like to share it on a broader scale because
I'd like others to know what I know about the man sitting
at the desk in the Oval Office.

For now, I'll just tell it to you folks. As you know,
our efforts concerning the reintroduction of our rural,
resource-providing cultures to the ever
Nominated by the Forest Service for the first ever Preserve America
President's Award was our cultural exchange program
Provider PalsT and our restoration of an abandoned CCC
built Forest Service ranger station (Raven Ranger
Station) for use as a learning center for students from
throughout the nation that are now engaged in our cultural exchange.

The award was given at a White House ceremony on Monday,
May 3. Guest s at the East Room ceremony
(the Rose Garden was going to be used but it rained) included
Secretary of Interior Gorton, Secretary of Agriculture Venneman, Undersecretary Mark Rey, Chief Bosworth, President's Advisory Council for Preserve America, and others.
The East Wing was closed to the public for the event and
those who attended enjoyed brunch and live chamber music.

Provider PalsT was able to bring members of our board of directors,
staff from our partner Communities for a Great Northwest, our
Kootenai Forest Supervisor and Forest Archaeologist, and two officials from our major sponsor Ford Motor Company.
Thankfully, I was also able to bring PJ and all four children.
In the East Room,
Secretaries Venneman and Gorton spoke as did First Lady Bush and Preserve America's Chairman John Nau.

The First Lady then gave autographed copies of a White
book to award winners in this ceremony and posed for pictures.
When the ceremony concluded, the First Lady
stayed for a bit in the Green Room and chatted and posed for pictures. She was then escorted outside to meet the President and
For me, however, the biggest event of the day had
already happened when the East Room Ceremony started up.
While the East Room ceremony was being prepared, the four national award winners and the entities that nominated them were taken to the Oval Office for the official award presentation by
President Bush and First Lady Bush. There were eight of us in total.

Stepping into the Oval Office, each of us was introduced to the President and Mrs. Bush. We shook hands and participated in small talk. When the President was told that we were from Libby, Montana,
I reminded him that Marc Racicot is our native son
and the President offered his warm thoughts about Governor Racicot.

I have to tell you, I was blown away by two things upon entering the office. First, the Oval Office sense of 'place' is unreal.
The President later shared a story of Russian President Putin entering
upon entering, the atheist muttered his first words to the
President and they were "Oh, my God." I concurred.
I could feel the history in my bones. Second, the man that inhabits
the office engaged me with a firm handshake and
a look that can only be described as penetrating. Warm, alive, fully engaged, disarmingly penetrating. I was admittedly concerned about meeting the man. I think all of us have an inner hope that the most powerful man in our country is worthy of
the responsibility and authority that we bestow upon them through our vote.

I admit that part of me was afraid that I would be let down by the moment - that the person and the place could not meet the lofty expectations of my fantasy world.
This says nothing about my esteem for President Bush but just my practical realization that reality may not match my 'dream.' Once inside the office, President Bush got right down to business and, standing in
front of his desk, handed out the awards one at a time while posing for photos with the winners and Mrs. Bush.

With the mission accomplished, the President and Mrs. Bush relaxed and initiated a lengthy, informal conversation about a number of things with our entire small group.
He and the First Lady talked about such things as the rug in the office. It is traditionally designed by the First Lady to make a statement about the President, and Mrs. Bush chose a brilliant yell ow sunburst pattern to reflect 'hope.'
President Bush talked about the absolute need to believe that with hard work and faith in God there is every reason to start each day in the Oval Office with hope.

He and the First Lady were asked about the impact of the Presidency on their marriage and, with an arm casually wrapped around Laura, he said that he thought the place may be hard on weak marriages but that it had the ability to make strong marriages even stronger and that he was blessed with a strong one. When asked what the biggest challenge of the Presidency was, he talked about the daily frustration
of partisan politics. "This from a politician," he said.
He said that when he was
elected he promised that he would do in DC what he had done in Texas and that was build alliances and coalitions that bridged party lines in order to move the nation forward. He had quickly learned that there are those in the nation's capital that would rather see the nation dismantled than work together to achieve a common good.
That, he said is a bitter and continuing disappointment. The President talked about the artwork and other items of interest in the room.

For instance the desk he uses is the one that was given to the U.S. by Queen Victoria and used by FDR and JFK. In fact, FDR had a front panel added to the desk to cover the mid section because FDR did not want the country to know he was in a wheelchair. President Bush laughed and said, "My how things have changed, FDR hid a wheelchair and if I eat a pretzel and get a tingle in my arm it's front page news
around the globe." That little desk faux front is hinged by the way,
and is the door that we all have seen John-John sticking his head from behind in the famous photo of JFK at work.

The President also noted that much of the artwork in the office is from Texas or about Texas. He said that it made sense for him to have it in his office because Texas is part of who he is. He talked about family and place and faith helping to build the person you end up being and noted that the Oval Office reflected who he is.
He noted that it would be a mistake to come to the Oval Office and entertain a mission to 'find yourself.' He said that with all of the pressures and responsibilities that go with the job, you'd best know who you are when you put your nameplate on the desk in the Oval Office. He said he knows who he is and now America has had four years to learn about who he is. If they like what they see, he may have another four years. If not, then he may be going back to Texas.

After about 30 or 35 minutes, it was time to go. By then we were all relaxed and I felt as if I had just had an excellent visit with a friend. The President and First Lady made one more pass down the line of awardees, shaking hands and offering congratulations. When the President shook my hand I said, "thank you Mr. President and God bless you and your family." He was already in motion to the next person in
line, but he stopped abruptly, turned fully back to me, gave me a piercing look, renewed the vigor of his handshake and said,
"Thank you - and God bless you and yours as well."

On our way out of the office we were to leave by the glass doors on the west side of the office. I was the last person in the exit line. As I shook his hand one final time, President Bush said, "I'll be sure to tell Marc hello and give him your regards." I then did something that surprised even me.

I said to him, "Mr. President, I know you are a busy man and your time is precious. I also know you to be a man of strong faith and have a favor to ask you." As he shook my hand he looked me in the eye and said, "Just name it." I told him that my step-Mom was at that moment in a hospital in Kalispell, Montana, having a tumor removed from her skull and it would mean a great deal to me if he would consider adding her to his prayers that day.

He grabbed me by the arm and took me back toward his desk as he said, "So that's it. I could tell that something is weighing heavy on your heart today. I could see it in your eyes. This explains it." From the top drawer of his desk he retrieved a pen and a note card with his seal on it and asked, "How do you spell her name?" He then jotted a note to her while discussing the importance of family and the strength
of prayer. When he handed me the card, he asked about the surgery and the prognosis. I told him we were hoping that it is not a recurrence of an earlier cancer and that if it is they can get it all with this surgery. He said, "If it's okay with you, we'll take care of the prayer right now. Would you pray with me?" I told him yes and he turned to the staff that remained in the office and hand motioned the folks to step back or leave. He said, "Bruce and I would like some private time for a prayer." As they left, he turned back to me and took my hands in his. I was
prepared to do a traditional prayer stance - standing with each other with heads bowed. Instead, he reached for my head with his right hand and pulling gently
forward, he placed my head on his shoulder. With his left arm on my mid back, he
pulled me to him in a prayerful embrace. He started to pray softly. I started to
cry. He continued his prayer for Loretta and for God's perfect will to be done. I
cried some more. My body shook a bit as I cried and he just held tighter. He closed
by asking God's blessing on Loretta and the family during the coming months.

I stepped away from our embrace, wiped my eyes, swiped at the tears I'd left on his
shoulder, and looked into the eyes of our President. I thanked him as best I could
and told him that me and my family would continue praying for him and his.

As I write this account down and reflect upon what it means, I have to tell you that
all I really know is that his simple act left me humbled and believing. I so hoped
that the man I thought him to be was the man that he is. I know that our nation
needs a man such as this in the Oval Office. George W. Bush is the real deal. I've
read Internet stories about the President praying with troops in hospitals and other
such uplifting accounts. Each time I read them I hope them to be true and not an
Internet perpetuated myth. This one, I know to be true. I was there. He is real.
He has a pile of incredible stuff on his plate each day - and yet he is tuned in so
well to the here and now that he 'sensed' something heavy on my heart. He took time
out of his life to care, to share, and to seek God's blessing for my family in a
simple man-to-man, father-to-father, son-to-son, husband-to-husband,
Christian-to-Christian prayerful embrace.He's not what I had hoped he would be. He
is, in fact, so very, very much more.

[CTW]

Wonderful idea. Thanks, Mary Ann. Has anyone heard and/or seen the ad from a group focusing on the support President gave a young lady whose mother (I believe) was lost on 9/11? It is so tender and warm and demonstrates the love and compassion of this man. It is showing in Ohio and probably other states. I heard it on radio this am. God Bless. Rejoice in the day. Visit the Call for Prayer thread when you need to recharge and clear your mind and heart. Also the video (link is on geedunk) about President Bush is absolutely the most powerful, moving piece I have ever seen. I don't have the link right now. Maybe someone or admins can add it. The video should be on tv. Anyone who may have forgotten how much we all leaned on him and how he has defended us should see it...every day. You will fall in love with this man.
God Bless you all. CTW
We need some inspirational and flag waving smilies!

Never Ever Kerry

[Debs]

Mary Ann Parker,

Thanks for the most beautiful and touching story as that is our CIC, that is the real GWB, as he is a genuinely loving and kind man of faith and he is the real thing - what you see is what you get, no pretense, just an honest, humble man of faith, and we are so very blessed to have him as our President, and I pray he remains so for the next 4 years.

I am not sure whether to post this here or not, but I am soooooooooo excited as I just heard back and I have adopted a marine!!! I am so excited and am going to get a letter to him today, and I am going to get my entire family involved, husband, kids, grandkids, and siblings, to help me in helping him by providing him with things he may need and want and just sending letters of support and friendship. I don't have a lot to give, as I am on disability, but I know my family will help and be supportive, and I am so excited, and just had to share this as I feel like a new mom. And thanks to ones on this forum for providing the link to the website www.operationac.com and sharing the adopt-a-soldier program. All you guys on this forum are the best, as are the Swiftees. God bless you all and God bless our CIC and all our troops.

Debbie
_________________
"No greater love..."

[Roon]

Angel Tree, our Prison Fellowship program for prisoners' children, is one of the great unheralded volunteer outreaches in America. Over the Christmas holidays these past few weeks, approximately 100,000 volunteers delivered Angel Tree gifts to more than 525,000 children of inmates.

You didn't read about this in the newspapers, nor would I expect that you should. It's not really that newsworthy that Christians help people in need. But there are two of our volunteers, who delivered forty presents, that I think you should have read about but didn't. For reasons best known to themselves, the media ignored the fact that two of the volunteers were President and Mrs. George Bush. And they delivered gifts to forty inner-city kids in a church basement three days before Christmas.

President and Mrs. Bush arrived at three-o'clock, Monday, December 22, at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Now, presidents don't move anywhere without a great deal of fuss. The police were out, the roads blocked, and Secret Service were roaming around the church. And when the president arrived, he was accompanied not only by his own team, but also by a pool of reporters, forty or so members of the press. For ten minutes they popped their flashbulbs, scribbled their notes, and then were ushered out.

I remember from my days with President Nixon what photo opportunities are: Get the picture and leave. So I thought the Bushes would shortly depart, but they didn't. They stayed long after the cameras were gone to greet every child, to have their picture taken with them, their mothers, and their grandmothers, to talk with them, and to ask questions. Though the press didn't report it, I noticed that both the president and Mrs. Bush talked to the Hispanic children in Spanish.

Just before the president left, I introduced him to Al Lawrence, a member of our staff. I told the president that I had met Al more than twenty years ago in a prison. Jesus had got hold of Al's life, and he's been working for us ever since. Then I told the president that Al's son was now a freshman at Yale. At that point the president stopped, exclaimed, "We're both Yale parents," and threw his arms around Al Lawrence-an African-American ex-offender being embraced by the president of the United States in a church basement. The ground is indeed level at the foot of the cross.

I tell you this story because it's a wonderful Christmas story, and you probably haven't heard it. With all those reporters who crowded into that basement, the visit resulted in almost universal media silence.

I suppose there are many explanations for this, but I'll offer mine. The president is a Christian who really cares for "the least of these," who does this not for photo ops, but because he's genuine. That is something that his detractors in the media simply can't handle. Conservatives caring for the poor? Never. It dashes the stereotypes.

But surely Christians ought to be rejoicing that the most powerful man in the world and his wife, a couple of days before Christmas, had a wonderful visit with the most powerless people in our society.

After all, that echoes the Christmas message, doesn't it? The most powerful came to be with the least powerful to give us hope.

[Mary Ann Parker]

Here is my contribution #3
Make it a beautiful day.
Mary Ann Parker
****************************

This is for real. (a friend) I called Laura Lefler in Sen.. Alexander's office today, and she confirmed that she wrote it and is now overwhelmed with it spreading via the internet. She sent it to several friends and they then put it on its journey.

Subject: Bush in church

I'm at the 8:00 am service at my church, St. John's Episcopal, at Lafayette Square, across from the White House. (I wanted to go early because I was going with Alice and Brent for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel in Manassas.)

Much of the service was uneventful--nice, but uneventful--until it comes to the part of the service when the priest says, "Greet one another in the name of the Lord." I turn to my right to exchange the peace with my friend, Amy Fox Smythe, who was was on the other end of my pew. I then shake hands with the person in front of me, and
turn around to say hello to the person behind me. The person behind me was our 43rd President, George W. Bush.
I am not kidding. A small crowd was forming around him, and not wanting to delay the church service or bother him by waiting to shake his hand, I turned back around and sat down and talked to Amy.

About 30 seconds later I felt a hand on my left shoulder and turn around to see President Bush with his hand extended. "Peace of the Lord, " he said and held my
hand with both of his. "Peace of the Lord," I replied, and held both his hands and smiled at him. I turned back
around and was remarkably calm about the fact that the most powerful person in the world was sitting two feet behind me. I could hear him flipping through his bulletin as the priest made the announcements. I loved the idea of him thinking, "Oh, there's a covered dish next Sunday."

We perched and when I stood up to go to the communion rail, he got up and walked down the aisle behind me. We passed a little old lady who said, "Mr. President, I pray for you every day."
To which he said, "That's a very special gift.
Thank you so much." We got to the communion rail and there were two spaces, one in front of us and one around the side of the altar. We both surmised for ten seconds and then I started off around the corner.
He stopped me and whispered, "No, no. I'll go around" and motioned for me to take the closer spot.

The only exception made in the entire service was that the President was allowed to leave first and then the rest of the congregation followed.

With all sincerity, and partisanship aside I tell you: This is a special man! There is a peace and a Godliness about him. It radiates from him. It is the only reason that I was able to remain calm. It was more than the adrenaline I've felt when I've met other famous people. A goodness flows through this man. He has more than my vote in November. He has my respect, my prayers, and my gratitude.

Whatever your political affiliation, and whether or not you agree with his
decisions, you should take comfort in the fact that--despite recent press
attacks--this is a man of integrity who makes decisions because he believes that they are RIGHT, not popular. He makes
these decisions with a heavy heart and through prayer.

I don't mean to go on and on, but I truly believe this was a blessing from God that should be passed on.

Laura Lefler
Office of Senator Lamar Alexander 302 Hart Senate Office Building
202-224-4944 fax: 202-228-3398

[momofthreegirls]

Here is the website to the ad of President Bush comforting Ashley Faulkner whose mother Wendy was killed in the WTC attack on 9/11. My sister is friends with Linda the woman in the ad who took Ashley and her father Lynn to see the President. It is very moving.

www.AshleysStory.com

I hope I posted this correctly.

[coolhand]

[CTW]

BUMP. Have a beautiful day all. CTW

[buffman]

You know, throughout all this I have heard the reporters say that the Kerry people are voting against Bush and not excited about their candidate--but that the Bush camp had supporters that were very excited about the President. It is almost to the point where I feel them just wondering where this love comes from--they just don't have a clue, hopefully they will one day.
_________________
Never Ever Give Up
America First