The focal point for Texas firearms information and discussions
https://texaschlforum.com/
Yet amidst the sea of faces, there is one person among the thousands and thousands of attendees who stands out and catches the president’s eye. President Trump doesn’t know him or his story, but based on the hat he is wearing, our president knows he is a veteran — which makes him an American hero. Instead of just taking that one final step and exiting the arena, the president stops. He straightens and then salutes instinctively. He mouths the words, “thank you.” And with that, he is gone. The crowds collectively exhales — exhausted but exhilarated after all they have just witnessed and shared.
I turn my head to see who the man is that the President of the United States just saluted. I come face to face with Staff Sgt. Roy Hodges, who flew 34 combat missions as a gunner on a B-24 Liberator over Europe in WWII and is now 95 years old. As I thank him for his service, he quiets and asks if I happened to capture that moment on my phone — and thankfully I did. He asks if I will send it to him, which I happily do, as he tells me he has terminal cancer with only a few months to live. He wants to share this moment with his family, as it is one of the proudest of his life — to have been saluted and thanked personally by the Commander in Chief himself. He tries to control his emotions but they are at the surface by now, as are mine.
President Trump, without even knowing it, gave this man, among the last of the greatest generation, a meaningful and memorable send-off into the sunset of his remarkable life of sacrifice and service. As we speak, I think of all the other brave men and women who put themselves in harm’s way all around the world on behalf of our nation, and have no doubt the president would salute them all if he could. He sees them, applauds them, admires them, and acknowledges their bravery and heroism.
I hope not just on Veteran’s Day, but every day, that our brave men and women who serve at home and abroad feel the appreciation and support of a grateful nation, and take pride in knowing they have a Commander in Chief who salutes them.