This week saw a lot of splash in the media about the 100th birthday of President Ronald Reagan and his Presidency. During those years I was a Public Policy Spokesperson for him in the then-14th Ohio Congressional District (Summit County). Because of this, I had been to the White House on two occasions. The last time there the President was leaving for his California ranch.
Standing at the back door of the White House we watched the U.S. Marine helicopter descend on the landing pod. A Marine in dress blue uniform came out of the helicopter door and stood there at attention. When the President and his wife emerged from the White House they both headed for helicopter. We had been warned that no cameras would be allowed. Sheesh, at that moment all the associates with me pulled out their cameras and snapped away. I, playing by the rules, had left mine in the car. The Marine saluted as the President approached and entered the helicopter.
President Reagan turned around and waved, just as I had seen him do on evening television news on many occasions. As the helicopter took off we all chatted a bit then prepared to leave. Just then an identical helicopter hovered into view and landed in the spot where the first one had taken off from. A different Marine in dress blue uniform (different to my eyes) emerged and stood by. Soon an entourage emerged from the White House carrying various pieces of luggage and headed to the helicopter. When this occurred a female behind me who did not recognize that it was a different marine, hence a different helicopter, said, in all seriousness, “Oh, they forgot their luggage.”
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