Personal Stories About President Bush

Here in Colorado Springs, President Bush has often made private visits with family members of soldiers killed in Iraq. What's most reported by the families is how genuine he is, and how he takes the time to listen, really listen and that he'll take the time to meet with each family member individually. While most military families support the President and back their loved ones for volunteering to be members of the Armed Forces, even President Bush's few detractors in the military community have stated that he is sincerely interested in hearing their point of view, even when they blame him for their loved one's deaths, and that he'll feel their sorrow to the point where he sheds authentic tears of his own, which takes the family members by surprise, but not one of them has stated him to be phony or unmoved, just the contrary.

I met the President's nephew, George P. Bush in September of 2004 and was impressed that he was so easy to talk to, and matter-of-fact like his Uncle, and when pressed for time, he and his wife, Amanda, stayed to talk.

After George P. Bush left, a woman told me that she had been to her son’s 2004 graduation from the Air Force Academy and that what impressed her, and so many other’s is that the President, not being obliged to, shook each graduate’s hand, and returned many excited hugs, when it was only expected that he would shake the first few hands because of the sheer number or graduates.

The personal stories are the ones that move me and I've decided to share some that I've asked permission to post.

1.  I live about ten minutes from Ellington Field, where Air Force One always lands when the President comes to Houston. Recently, President Bush was here for the memorial service of the fallen astronauts of the Columbia tragedy. My sister, who lives even closer to Ellington, decided to go out and greet him as his motorcade passed. They were on a narrow street, very close to the curb, when his limousine passed. President Bush made a point to lean over his wife’s lap to wave at my five year old nephew.