Suzanne Curran of Shenandoah County (in blue) led the Pledge of Allegiance. She asked that the pledge be said in honor and memory of the American troops, intelligence forces, and all who helped in the war on terror that led to the death of terrorist Osama bin Laden. NBC 29's Ken Slack is handling the camera.
Waynesboro Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney David Ledbetter (left); Tom Sheets (background); Augusta County School Board chairman Nick Collins (right in blue), Carl Tate (right), and Emily Griffin (right in red).
George Allen, Del. Dickie Bell, Staunton Republican Committee chairman Alex Davis and the Pledge of Allegiance.
The private dining room was filled to capacity.
Alex's introduction of Gov. Allen.
The world learned of Osama bin Laden's death late Sunday night. Gov. Allen opened his remarks by remembering that day as his family moved into a new home in Northern Virginia. A little boy was riding his bike and saw toys and bikes and exclaimed, "There must be kids!" It was discovered shortly after that his dad was the pilot of American Airlines Flight 77 that flew into the Pentagon. He held up a copy of his photo from the funeral and read the poem on the back:
I Did Not Die
Do not stand at my grave and forever weep.
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and forever cry.
I am not there. I did not die.
I Did Not Die
Do not stand at my grave and forever weep.
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and forever cry.
I am not there. I did not die.
Gov. Allen went on to say that the poem was followed by two words: "Never forget."
He emphasized it was a good day for American freedom but that we need to remain vigilant because radical terrorists hate our freedoms. He then asked everyone in the room who was a military veteran or active to stand up, and they were applauded and thanked.
There were a number of laughs during lunch including the Governor and the waitress dancing around each other as she brought in the dessert tray with slices of Mrs. Rowe's famous pie. "This is called adapting to a situation," he joked to laughter from those in the room.
Holding the newspaper column, "How to lose jobs in one taxing step" by George Will.
Questions were asked about off-shore drilling, energy independence, overreaching federal government plans, that overbearing federal debt, China's ownership of more U.S. bonds than Americans. He joked about when he was involuntarily retired from the Senate in 2006, and stressed about needing to let people know what you stand for.
One woman asked, "Are you sure you shouldn't be running for President?" to applause in the room. An hour-and-a-half after arriving and after an hour of talking with and listening to those in the room, it was time to head to downtown Staunton for a tour of some of the local shops.
Sue Hughes, president of the Republican Women of Shenandoah County, presented a lapel pin to Gov. Allen at the conclusion of lunch.
- George Allen visits Staunton ... part 1
Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
2 May 2011
2 May 2011
