Both personally and professionally, June 19 is a day I’ll always remember. On that date, I had the great opportunity to travel with President Bush, Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta and other dignitaries aboard Air Force One as the president flew to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy to deliver the commencement address.
So many things stand out about that day it’s hard to know where to start. But I want every Seafarer to know that President Bush definitely understands and appreciates the absolute necessity of maintaining a strong U.S. Merchant Marine. In particular he knows that America must have a strong U.S.-flag presence in the commercial sector, partly because such action helps guarantee the ongoing presence of a pool of well-trained, loyal, U.S. citizen seafarers.
His appearance at the academy, where he spent several hours, says a lot about the president’s view on our industry. As he said during his formal remarks, “America is a great maritime power, and our merchant marine has a vital role to play. In times of peace, the merchant marine helps ensure our economic security by keeping the oceans open to trade. In times of war, the merchant marine is the lifeline of our troops overseas, carrying critical supplies, equipment, and personnel.”
It’s tough to imagine a stronger endorsement than that one.
Behind the scenes on the airplane, President Bush was equally enthusiastic about our nation’s mariners. Simply put, he gets it. He knows we’re the nation’s fourth arm of defense, and that we remain ready to deliver the goods—anytime, anywhere. That is no small achievement when you think about how generally overlooked our industry sometimes seems. It is recognition and an approval at the highest level, and it obviously must not be taken for granted.
As mentioned, other strong supporters of the U.S. Merchant Marine also made the trip from Washington to Kings Point and back. They included Secretary Mineta, as articulate a spokesman as our industry has ever had, and recently retired White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, a huge figure in advancing both the original and the expanded U.S. Maritime Security Program.
For our industry, the entire day was a home run.
I also want to share with the membership how warm and welcoming President Bush was throughout the entire experience, both aboard Air Force One and at the school. He could not have been any more generous with his time or any more willing to listen when we had a chance to discuss the U.S. Merchant Marine. His friendliness toward me felt genuine, and I believe 100 percent that it also reflects his appreciation for the sacrifices made by SIU members and other mariners in defense of this great nation.
On a much lighter note, if you’re wondering about the perks of the presidency and what it’s like to travel with our commander-in-chief, let’s just say you never have to wait in line. The security and the overall flow from point to point were very impressive throughout the day, a true credit to all concerned. On the other hand, it’s not as easy as it looks to keep your balance when ducking underneath whirling helicopter blades, as I discovered when President Bush moved from Air Force One to Marine One, the presidential helicopter.
Brothers and sisters, on June 19 I couldn’t have been happier to answer the question, “How was your day?” It was a real thrill and a real honor, not just for me but for the whole Seafarers International Union.
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