I was up at the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library yesterday, on a bus trip with a group from church. While in the gift shop, I bought myself a ball cap for the USS George H. W. Bush, CVN 77 -- because this Navy brat has always had a soft spot for ship ball caps, ever since my father gave me one when he was XO of USS Savannah.

Imagine my surprise -- and my pleasure -- to come across this article today.

David Rushing was perched high above the ground Saturday morning in the cab of the big blue crane at Northrop Grumman Corp.'s shipyard.

He was awaiting orders to lift into place the final large piece of the George H.W. Bush, the aircraft carrier being built at the yard. The section to be moved was the 700-ton "island," the tall structure found atop all carriers that houses each ship's bridge, its main flight control center and radar and communications equipment.

On this day, which marked a major milestone in the construction of the 10th and final Nimitz-class carrier, Rushing waited for his instructions. They came from an unlikely source - the ship's namesake and the country's president from 1989 to 1993.

"David Rushing, this is George H. W. Bush," the former president announced via walkie-talkie, while standing under a ceremonial tent on the ship's flight deck. "Are you receiving me clearly in the 900-ton crane?"

Rushing replied: "Yes, sir, Mr. President."

"David, contact your crane crew and hoist the island house and bring it to the flight deck," Bush said.

"I copy, Mr. President. Hoisting the island house to flight deck," Rushing responded."

In October, the USS George H. W. Bush will be formally christened and launched into the James River. In 2008, she will be delivered to the Navy and join the fleet -- a fitting tribute for the youngest man ever to serve as a pilot in the US Navy, a combat veteran who survived to serve his country as a Congressman, UN Ambassador, Special Envoy to China, CIA Director, Vice President, and President.

The former president looks at the matter with typical humility and grace.

"This may be the nicest thing that's ever happened to me," Bush said, adding that he's had "far more than his fair share of nice things" happen to him. "They've named this ship after me and I'm not even dead yet.

"One thing I want to make clear is that I certainly don't feel entitled to this high honor. I feel no sense of entitlement nor sense of possession - simply pride and honor."

And lest we ever forget that the Bush family, while springing from a background of wealth, privilege, and power, is very much an all-American family, is very much a typical American family, consider this little anecdote.

To remember the day, Barbara Bush used her digital camera to snap pictures of the island as it was moved into position. Her husband and daughter posed in front of the massive structure for some shots.

These are folks who could have had any number of pictures taken and fowarded to them by the official photographers. Consider it one of the perks of being a former President and First Lady of the United States -- and the parents of the sitting President. But instead you've got just another family taking pictures for the family album. It sort of reminds you that we have, since the founding of the Republic, strived to avoid aristocracy and made "Citizen" the most honored and honorable title any Anerican can claim.

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Posted by: Greg at 07:21 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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