A SOLDIER'S PERSPECTIVE
THE WEB'S LEADING MILITARY BLOG SINCE 2004
 As the days count down to President Bush leaving office, a barrage of emotions have come over me that I did not expect. I knew it would be hard for me to see President Bush go, but these feelings caught me off guard. You see, the Bush presidency became very personal to me. It literally defined my life and changed it forever.
When President Bush took office in 2001, we were an average middle class family with three kids, then ages 12, 15 and 18. Life was hectic but nothing too out of the ordinary. President Bush instilled confidence in me. I felt like he had good insight and understanding and could get the job done. After 9/11 he demonstrated an ability and strength of character that made me believe he was the right man at the right time, and that America would be well served by him. I admired his determination and steadfastness to do what had to be done. I knew that President Bush was driven by his depth of character, his core values and beliefs, and his desire to always do what was best for America.
President Bush did not seem to care about scoring political points or making personal gains. That knowledge comforted me when my son Adam joined the Marine Corps in 2004. It was a fact that Adam would be going to war, but he would do so under a president who desired nothing more than to protect America. Knowing that, reassured me. My son would not be putting his life on the line as a pawn in someone’s political game or to fulfill some ulterior motive of the powerful. No, my son and every other person who served, did so at the direction of a man who himself was a servant to the people.
On August 31, 2006 President Bush sat with my family and privately expressed his condolences for our son’s death in Iraq. The sincerity of his heart was evident. Our son’s death was personal to him too. This young American had gone into battle at his direction and had come home to his family in a casket. He grieved with us but remained steadfast in his duty to defend America. Although we had just buried our son, we held firm to our belief in the need to complete and win the war in Iraq. The future of the American way of life depended on it.
In addition to taking the fight to the terrorist and keeping it off our homeland, the U.S. presence in Iraq liberated 25million people, and helped form an oasis of emerging freedom and democracy in the a volatile middle east, which was necessary for our safety here at home.
The President’s development of the department of Homeland Security and implementation of various programs to monitor, detect and thwart threats against America have worked. Since 9/11 no attacks on the homeland were able to come to fruition. The homeland had been kept safe.
The last eight years have brought good and bad. I won’t say I have agreed with everything President Bush has done, but what he has done, he did out of a conviction to do the right thing for the people and for the country. He has acted with courage, honor and integrity throughout his eight years as our president.
To President Bush I say thank for serving our nation in such an honorable way. Thank you for recognizing the real threats we faced and for acting to preserve and protect our nation and it’s people. Thank you for being a man of integrity and being willing to do the right thing regardless of the direction the political wind was blowing. You honored God, you honored our country and now Mr. President I honor you and thank you for a job well done.
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MissBirdlegs in AL
Amy, that’s a beautiful post. We owe so much to families like yours, who remain courageous, honorable and steadfast Americans through almost unbearable sacrifice. You do great honor to your son and his choices. You have my gratitude, love, respect and many prayers.
Donna
Amy,
Thank You so much for expressing your views about President Bush. I couldn’t agree with you more. He is a man of integrity and honor and I believe that he truly tries to do what’s best for our country.
I am so sorry for the loss of your son but I believe that he didn’t die in vain. I am so appreciative to your son and the many who have died for our protection and freedom. Thank You for your sacrifice and my prayers go out to you for your loss. May God Bless You and your family and the many families like yours!
Laura Cowan
Amen, Amy.
Thank you for your son’s Magnum Opus and for your courage and love.
I agree re: Pres. Bush. I want to drop him a personal note of thanks.
G-Man
I want to add my condolences and my thanks, which are not nearly enough to even begin to show the appreciation and admiration you and your family deserve. You have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, there is none greater or harder to give. Words cannot adequately express it.
I agree with everything you wrote about our President, George W. Bush. The least we can do for him at this time is to show some class and to give him the credit he deserves for being the upright and honorable patriot (and more) that he truly is. His deeply-held values and intestinal fortitude are rare finds these days and I admire him more than words can say.
Thanks very much for posting your personal thoughts. Your kind of patriotism is what made and continues to keep this country great.
Sincerely,
G
Uche
Thank you Amy,you are an example of a great American. May GOD grant you and your family the fortitude to endure the loss of your honorable and brave son. To my President Goerge Bush I say thank you sir for all your efforts.I will miss the President dearly and I know with time America will know the greatness of his Presidency.I will always respect George Bush my President.
brat
Thank YOU, Amy!
I have linked to your words here over at my site.
Mickey
Amy, Even though I have not had the honor to meet President Bush I agree with you on all levels. My son like your did not die in vain. Thank you for writing with your heart.
I too would love to write him a personal note of thanks. God Bless
Phil Gallegos
Amy,
Nely, Isaac, and I spend many a day remembering the opportunity we have had to interact with you and your husband. There is a special bond we have and we appreciate the time you have taken with us.
I would agree that all Americans owe President Bush a debt of gratitude for all he has done for us. Unfortunately there will always be those sour grapes who understand little and have even less knowledge than what is printed in a Dr. Suess book.
What is even more unfortunate is the fact Americans have chosen to put their faith in talk rather than action. Our son and your son were men of action…and actions speak louder than the mere utterance of words.
If only we Americans would start to look at the deeds, not listen to words, we would be able to not hope for something, but live for something!
God Bless and
Semper Fidelis
Phil, Nely, & Isaac Gallegos
Kay in Texas
Amy: thank you so much for writing these words. I, like you, have not agreed with everything that President Bush has done, but I have so much respect and admiration for him. I too trusted him with my son who joined the Marines. Chris has never regretted his service to his country and his President.
I think history will be kind to Bush. I’m so disappointed at the lack of respect that he has received.
I am so greatful for heroes like Adam and all the others who have made the ultimate sacrifice, along with their family that still continues to sacrifice. God Bless President Bush, God Bless the Marines, God Bless America and God Bless Texas!
Robin
Amy,
We agree with you so much about President Bush being a honorable, highly moral, loving man. We are so thankful you had the opportunity to spend some time with him after Adam’s death. Paul and I are so blessed to be able to work you at church doing care packages for our Marines. We are so thankful that our two boys have served in Afghanistan and Iraq and have some home safely. We marvel at how you and Tony shine the light of Jesus despite your loss. God bless you. We love you, Paul and Robin
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wordsmith
Amy,
Thank you for writing this post and sharing your personal story. I am so grateful for the service your son Adam provided in defense of our country. God bless his soul! And God bless you and your family for the sacrifice and loss of such a fine son. It’s because of his efforts and patriots like him, that the world is left a much better and safer place.
A grateful nation mourns the loss of the patriot even as we celebrate his dedication and sacrifice to a cause greater than self.
Mike's America
Amy, I can’t say Thank You better than Wordsmith and others above but I too want to say how much I appreciated your sharing this story with us.
There are so many military families across the country with similar stories of service and sacrifice who have also been touched by the evident goodness and caring of President Bush.
I’m glad you had the opportunity to have that personal moment with him but so sorry it had to be under those circumstances.
Thousands of Americans are alive today because of your son and the leadership of President Bush.
The love that motivated your son to defend his country is the reason this nation is great.
Lana Cox
I’m not very good with words, but I would like to tell you how thankful I am for your son and other soldiers who have fought for our freedom and kept us safe. He is truly an American Hero! Thank you for sharing your story.
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CJ
Amy, I”m late to this, but we talk enough offline that you know how I feel about you, your words, and our President. Thank you for giving us your perspective!
Mary
I don’t know Amy, I am so sorry you lost your son in Iraq…Thank you for your post and sharing your experience with former President Bush. I cried as I watched the President and Mrs. Bush climb into that helicopter. Thank you for the above posts…I’m glad I kept searching the internet and found others that feel the same way I do…Kind of lost these days.
Chris
Amy,
May God bless your son, an American Hero. I’m so sorry for your loss. I too am a HUGE George Bush fan! I love the man! lol How he stands on his principles, how he perseveres through tough times, I could go on forever. I just want to thank you for writing this beautiful piece.