Goodbye Mr. President

Today, I watched with great sadness the funeral of President Gerald R. Ford. I listened to the eulogies, and the comments of the news anchor. I remember those things. His gentleness, his kindness, and genuine dedication to the people of our nation.

It was my first day on Fort Hood, Texas, I was a 25 yr old Vietnam veteran, fresh from an internship on Fort Sam Houston, Texas. August 11, 1974, I was confused and a little frightened at what was happening to my country. President Nixon resigned that day, and Gerald Ford was elevated to the presidency. I guess I was angry that this great nation and it's leaders seemed so disconnected. Yet as the days, weeks and months slowly passed, my comfort returned. President Ford was like a father. He loved us, I could tell. His honesty and integrity was beyond reproach. Nations and their leaders respected him. Seeing this great man on the floor at the Oval office with his dog Liberty brought warmness to my heart. A man who loved his dog, was a man that I could trust. I know how silly that sounds, but as I look back on my life, the greatest people I have known have shown themselves to be kind through their animals. You could trust a man who loved his dog.

He was like us, just a person, living his life and doing the best with what he had. He was not pretentious at all. His wife Betty was steadfast and strong. She faced her demons and President Ford never wavered. I felt the pain of the nation, yet understood that President Nixon did not destroy the presidency, it destroyed him. There was a sadness in my heart for him as well.

I feel like today's funeral is a turning point in my life, another chapter, after many. I feel like I have become a better person because of President Ford, even though I never knew him and he never knew me personally.

The nation is mourning the passing of a wonderful, decent man. How I wish I had known him.

Rocky