It’s been a week and I’m still on cloud 9. From what you
ask? From bursting with pride over the love of our country, that’s what. I will
warn you now that this is long, but with so many great moments, I can’t leave
any out.
It all started a few months ago when I got an email asking if I would be willing
to say the Pledge of Allegiance at the dedication of President Bush’s library
in Dallas. The request supposedly came from the big man himself which is hard to believe. But so be it.
I met ‘W’ a year ago on his W100 mountain bike trip where he
brings 20 wounded warriors in for 3 days of mountain biking. It was 3 days I’ll
never forget for many reasons, one of them being the dance I got from Bush on
the last night, and a picture that’s made it’s way around and pictured here. I left that trip
with a big place in my heart for our former president. Politics aside, he is an
incredible man and has some serious mountain biking skills. Passionate about our country, a supporter of our troops and
grateful for his family. So when this opportunity came, it was a quick, yes,
I’d be honored to be there.
Knowing how much my parents would enjoy it, I invited them
both, and they both flew into Dallas for the library dedication, which makes all of this
even better.
On the morning of the dedication we arrived at the event and
I had a quick walk through. Walk up here, stand, say the Pledge here, etc. A
little nerve wracking knowing all 5 living Presidents would be on stage with me
and that this was being broadcast live around the nation. I have said the
Pledge of Allegiance thousands of times, but it never seemed so important and I said
it over and over making sure I wouldn’t forget the words.
Those of us with gold tickets were allowed in this 'Café 43' until
30 min prior to the event. I was only allowed one guest here and my mom won
that one against my dad (I let them choose) and my dad was out in the silver
section. It was a little surreal seeing seats for my mom and I in the section right next too
the President’s daughters, the foreign dignitaries, and the 2nd row
back from the stage. 
When the time came, they escorted everyone out to their
seats except those that were to go on stage from the back. Turns out that was
me. And just me. The others that would be on stage would be coming from their seats,
as their portion was later in the program. I was escorted into this empty
hallway and told to wait. I thought this was a little strange as the event was
close to starting and there was all sorts of commotion as you would expect with
a live event, thousands of people and all the living presidents together for
the first time in years. 
So here I was, in this hallway, alone, wondering what on
earth was going on. Suddenly, from around the corner, come the secret service
followed by Obama, Bush, Clinton, Bush Sr and Carter. Yes, ALL 5 living
presidents, with their wives. Unsure on what to do, I took a stance against a
wall not wanting to get in the way as I realized the magnitude of this moment.
It grew even more when Bush rounds the corner, looks at me, looks down at my
leg, interrupts the conversation he is having and says,’ let me introduce you
to my friend’ Following this is a blur as it is easily the most historic moment
I have ever been a part of. As all the Presidents and their wives circle around
and President Bush tells them about me. He then introduces them all and I am
left almost speechless as I say over and over, Nice to meet you Mr. President,
nice to meet you Mr. President and so on. As we are standing in this circle, I
can’t help but think of first, after the events of Boston, that this is a crucial
moment for the safety of our country. But 2nd, I had never felt so
honored and so humbled. Me. With the Presidents and their wives. Surrounded by
Secret Service. Oh my.
As the circle dispersed Obama turned to me to ask about
my life in Chicago. I mention prosthetics and Dare2tri and we spoke for a few
minutes. He proceeds it with a handshake and says, I’m proud of you, as he handed
me his coin. Then Bush comes over, puts his arm around me and the talk
continues. This time with some laughs, as President Bush is always one with a
quick joke or to make you smile. What a moment it was. 
As the event starts, the Presidents all walk on stage.
Condaleeza Rice mentions that she’s nervous about saying the names of all the
foreign dignitaries and walks out. I wait a few min and then it’s my turn. I
walk out onto this stage as the color guard passes by. They announce my name; I
put my hand over my heart, and confidently said the Pledge, remembering every
word. As I finished and started to walk down to my seat, Bush yells out, ‘Atta
girl Melissa!’ a phrase commonly heard on the W100 last year and one that
always brings a smile. 
The dedication continued, each President taking his turn,
reminiscing about this great man. On this day, political views didn’t matter.
What matters was that he had led our great country and this was a time come
together and honor him. It was a moving moment when Bush Sr spoke. A short
speech, as his son prefers. Being sick and recently in the hospital, he got a
welcome applause from the crowd. As he finished the crowd rose and stood for
him, in appreciation for all he has done. It was than that Barbara Bush and his
son stood and helped him out of his wheelchair for a brief moment as he slowly
stood. Pink socks and a pink tie and a big smile.
When it was time for President Bush to speak, he had his
usual humor and speech in a way that makes you want to listen for a long
time. He finished with, ‘And I will always believe, that America’s best years
are yet to come’ And with a wink he finished, showing a little emotion as sat
down to take it all in with the rest of us.
After the ceremony there was a lunch that my mom joined me
for. President Bush made a round to all the tables and we got to congratulate
him and get a few more pictures. And then we got to tour the incredible
library. One that goes over his time as a President, remembers the trials and
those that lost their lives in 9/11 and other exhibits to give you insight on
the life if a President. And an exact replica of the Oval office. If you are ever in the Dallas area, I highly recommend
you take a look. You won’t be disappointed. 
As the day turned into night, there was one final event
called the Lighting of the Freedom Hall. A perfect night, a historic day and
here we were, back at the library, with 15,000 other people listening to some
of the greatest voices I’ve ever heard that make up the Army choir. When they
sang my favorite song, God Bless the USA, (also know as Proud to be an
American) the crowd started to sing along and you could feel the patriotism in
the air. And when the song ended, the USA chants began, and then the music and
the fireworks and the lighting of Freedom Hall. To say I was bursting with
American Pride was an understatement.
My parents and I went back to the hotel that evening
reminiscing on the historic day we had just been a part of. If it weren’t for
the pictures, I’m not sure I would have believed that I had been a part f it
all. A day filled with honoring the life of a great man. A day filled with
American pride and patriotism. A day filled with the historic event of meeting
all 5 living Presidents and being introduced as one of his ‘friends’. The big
names, the perfect blue sky, my parents there to look on…Oh what a day it was.
I am a lucky, lucky girl.
You see here some of the pictures from that day. The one
that has Bush with his arm around me and Obama solemnly looking on. This
picture captures a powerful moment. But one that is not accurate to the
situation as Obama was every bit engaged in the conversation as Bush was. I have always prided myself as being non-political
and believing in whomever is in charge of this country. Because let’s be
honest, I believe in America, and the people that vote on our great leaders.
So, it was a day indeed. A day that falls near the top of
one of my best days ever. As I mentioned, I am still on cloud 9.
And in case you didn’t hear me the first time, I love
America.
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