Message posted by THUD on March 13, 2001 at 10:30:23 PST:
Hey Spooky, I picked up on something very funny this morning, it was a Thud
military courtesy exchange. Very subtle. CNN showed
George W. leaving HM-1. The marine at the front step saluted, GW returned it, and as he walked
away, the marine executed a right face to stand facing GW's
back...something that was missing during the eight years of
the Clinton presidency.
This traditional Marine Corps mark of respect was rendered
to the new president with seemless elegance. This one goes
back to the days in the rigging, when the Marine orderly to
the ship's captain always faced him, no matter his direction of
movement, to be ready to receive an order.
Yet, for eight years, the Marines saluted their
Commander-in-Chief and then simply allowed him to walk
away when they were done transporting him.
Who says that enlisted men can't let it be known when they
don't respect someone? ...And for eight years, they did just
that...in a most inconspicuous and tasteful way.
Clinton never knew the difference, and yet it occurred in
front of the whole world. Here's to the Marine Corps!!
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