Little Things

sometimes speak loudest.

June 6, 2010 was the 66th anniversary of the World War Two invasion by Allied Forces of Mainland Europe. It was a mission in which American soldiers and Marines knew there was only one way to make the invasion succeed... storm the shores faster than the Germans could kill them. The body of the force did succeed, but thousands of Americans died in the effort.

In France, where the landing occurred, civilians honored those dead, as they always do. But our president, Barack Obama, completely ignored the anniversary. Members of his administration marked the event playing summer games with no observance of the anniversary.

A lot of people were upset by the presidents action on that day, saying it just reinforced his disdain for our military. I agree, but we did not need this event to prove that president Obama hates the military.

Each time the president steps out of Marine One, the helicopter assigned for his personal transportation, a Marine, in full dress uniform stands at the bottom of the stairs - a personal guard for the president, and honors his Commander in Chief with a crisp salute.

For those who have never been in the military, the salute may not seem important. But in the Army, I learned that it takes a long time and a lot of hard work to achieve rank. (Yeah, we were a little skeptical of the second lieutenant graduates of Officer Candidate School, who became commissioned officers rather quickly!) Thus, when an enlisted man or woman confronts a commissioned officer, they salute - expressing their respect for that officer's achievements. The officer returns the salute - displaying his gratitude for the honor shown him. So, the salute is not some kind of robotic action - it is an expression of respect.

The president of the United States, as Commander in Chief, is technically a member of the military, and thus entitled to this demonstration of respect - and the salute - by all military personnel.

Now, the little thing!

When Obama leaves the helicopter, he does salute - but it is very robotic. He always looks straight ahead, never at the Marine saluting him... never acknowledging the existence of the Marine guard. What a slight!

President George Bush reacted quite differently. He always turned toward the Marine guard when he saluted, saying with that small action, "Thank you for the honor, and I, in return, honor and appreciate your service to our country."

Little thing? Yeah. A little thing that stabs me in the heart every time I see it happen.