Bush presides over 100 servicemembers'
re-enlistment ceremony at White House
By Sandra Jontz,
Washington bureau
Sandra Jontz / Stars and Stripes
Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Armistad, 37, of the Coast Guard, and his wife, Melissa,
also in the Coast Guard, share a light moment at a re-enlistment ceremony at the White
House. |
WASHINGTON — For Senior Airman Shiquell Miller, the answer to "why
re-enlist" comes easily.
"Why not?" asked the 22-year-old Air Force woman who served four years and
Wednesday signed up for four more.
"It is an honor for me to serve my country, and I’m a real gung-ho
airman," said Miller, standing on the grounds of the White House following a ceremony
presided over by the nation’s commander in chief.
After taking the podium, George W. Bush opened with a joke.
"I don’t know if, as commander in chief, I’m allowed to say this, but
I’m going to anyway — at ease," he instructed the group of 100 randomly
selected servicemembers from each of the five services who chose to dedicate more years of
their lives to military service.
It’s rare for a president to officiate a simple re-enlistment ceremony, White
House aides said, and none knew exactly why Bush decided to hold a ceremony at the White
House.
It didn’t matter why for Cpl. Matthew Cochran, 22, stationed at Quantico Marine
Corps Base, Va. He described meeting the president as "breathtaking."
"It was amazing," said the Marine battle skills instructor. "I mean, the
president was there, standing three feet in front of me."
Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Armistad, 37, of the Coast Guard and based in
Washington, D.C., thought attending the president’s inauguration in January was the
highlight of his life.
Then he got invited to the East Room to hear the president and defense secretary thank
him, his family, and fellow servicemembers for their service and dedication.
He has given 14 years of his life, and Wednesday signed up for six more. His wife,
Melissa, is also active-duty Coast Guard. It runs in the family and they both are grateful
and proud to serve.
Bush recited patriotic history of the nation at war over the past two centuries —
and the critical decisions to get the nation involved rested with the various presidents.
"Every major military operation of the last 200 years was set in motion from the
White House," Bush said.
He not only thanked the servicemembers, but their families.
Marna McMillan, 22, appreciated it.
"A lot of times, the family isn’t recognized," said McMillan, who
celebrated her second wedding anniversary Wednesday to husband Petty Officer 2nd Class
Amanuel McMillan. "We too put in our time."
This country finds itself in a time of peace, though not because of a lack of enemies,
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told the re-enlistees, who stood in a formation, eight
rows deep in the East Room of the White House, the same room where presidents have hosted
state dinners.
"It’s because of you, and men and women like you, who wake up each morning
and voluntarily put your lives at risk so that your fellow citizens can get up each
morning and go about their day in peace and freedom," said Rumsfeld.
"Yours is vital and truly noble work," Rumsfeld said. "As you rededicate
yourself to the life of service and sacrifice, I am proud to join the president in saying
to that the eyes of the world are on upon you and hopes and prayers of freedom-loving
people everywhere march with you."
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