Corrections_Today_January_February_2019

nEWS & vIEWS

President George H.W. Bush Another ‘true American hero’

I t was my honor to serve on the Jamestown-Yorktown Board during Gov. Gerald Baliles and Gov. Douglas Wilder’s terms of of- fice in Virginia. Years later, Betty and I were invited to attend a reception dedicating a new part of the York- town Victory Center. The guest of honor was former President George H.W. Bush, fondly referred to as “41.” My oldest son, Eric Blanchette, had opened a press conference on the beach in Boca Raton, Florida, when 41 had just been elected and before he was sworn into office. The news- papers picked up pictures and stories of young Eric with 41 and Barbara Bush on the beach. So, naturally, we allowed Eric to attend the reception to once again meet 41. Betty brought the news clippings with pictures of an 8-year- old Eric and then President-elect Bush. When Eric gave 41 the pic- tures to sign, 41 looked at a grown high school student and fondly said, “Eric, we both have changed quite a bit since this picture!” Bush was fond of dropping first or second person in his sentences, pulled out his pen and said, “Glad to do it” and then signed the pictures. Naturally when you meet a president, former or current, you re- member it well. I have been fortunate

Geissinger, M., photographer. (1989); photograph retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2018651363/; Presidential seal: istock/sassy1902

President George H.W. Bush at his Oval Office desk, 1989.

enough to have personally met Reagan, Bush, Carter and Clinton. I have personally seen Johnson, Nixon and Trump. Even though Obama was in D.C. for eight years, I have never personally seen nor met him, but maybe someday I will. So, back to 41. No matter what our politics, beliefs and opinions are of our presidents, we tend to look kindlier on them after they have left office, and as they age. Such is the case of George H.W. Bush. Just like John Kennedy, John McCain and

many others, he was a hero. And just like those men and many others, Bush knew America’s best days are ahead. As our country mourns the loss of this true hero, we must never lose sight of his “thousand points of light,” and belief in the goodness of all human beings and that the best is yet to come!

James A. Gondles Jr., CAE ACA Executive Director

8 — January/February 2019 Corrections Today