President joins Airmen for breakfast

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Bryan Gatewood
  • Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs
President George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had breakfast here with 50 Airmen during a trip back to Washington D.C. after meetings in Singapore and Indonesia, and attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Along with the Airmen, the Officers Club was filled with about 275 other service members from the Marines, Navy, Army, Coast Guard and the Hawaii National Guard from throughout the island to have breakfast with, and meet the president.

During his eight-day Asia-Pacific trip President Bush met with leaders from the Pacific region and discussed common threats such as terrorism, possible pandemic outbreaks, and North Korea's nuclear program. "I told them the United States of America remains committed to Asia because we have key economic and national security interests in the region," said President Bush during his address to service members attending the breakfast.

He said the military has an important responsibility, and he thanked the members of the joint service audience for their service. He acknowledged PACAF's role in bringing humanitarian aid to victims of earthquakes and typhoons, and providing airlift support to hot spots like East Timor. "I want to thank you for your sacrifice. I particularly thank your families for joining you on this noble cause. You belong to the finest Armed Forces the world has ever known," the president said.

President Bush paid respect to members who have paid the ultimate price in the War on Terror.

"We remember their courage," he said. "We pray for their families and loved ones left behind, and we resolve to honor their sacrifice by completing missions for which they gave their lives."

Air Force members attending the breakfast expressed their gratitude in being able to meet the commander in chief and other guests in such a personal setting.

"I am greatly honored to have been given this wonderful opportunity to meet and greet our commander in chief and he is everything I had previously believed him to be -- a down to earth and truly sincere person," said Staff Sgt. Tony Waddell, an information manager with Pacific Air Forces.

Senior Airman Patrick Teel, a Team Hickam Airmen of the Year for 2005 and a PACAF communications commander's support staff member was selected to sit at the head table with the president and representative members from the other services.

"The president talked to us directly for about 10 to 15 minutes," Airman Teel said. "He told us he knew it (military service) was hard for us and hard on our families, but we were doing a great thing by bringing freedom to countries like Iraq and Afghanistan."

After breakfast, the president traveled to Camp Smith for a short meeting with Adm. William Fallon, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, before returning back to Hickam for the flight home to Washington.

Staff Sgt. Misty Park, 293rd Combat Communications Squadron of the Hawaii Air National Guard summed up the visit, "I was glad to meet with the president, Mrs. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. It will never be forgotten."