One of the things I like about President Bush is his undying respect and admiration for the American Soldier. I don’t agree with every move he’s made but I believe he is sincere. He obviously cares deeply for our military men and women and is genuine in his efforts to do right by them.

At least, that’s my impression.

One thing that impressed me just yesterday was hearing the President talk about his jog with Staff Sgt. Christian Bagge. He spoke of Sgt. Bagge with admiration and as though the priviledge was his rather than the other way around. The President seemed genuinely honored to be in the presence of someone with the courage and character of this young man.

Too often we hear politicians and other public personalities speak with arrogence and a sense of entitlement. It’s refreshing to me to hear the President’s more humble expressions and speech.

CatHouse Chat points us to a posts at Bearing Drift who has posted a video of the President jogging with Sgt. Bagge and highlights the President’s admiration for the troops.

I can’t improve on what CatHouse Chat says:

God bless our troops. May we, as citizens, ALL do our best to look for ways to help and encourage them, to heap our love and appreciation upon them, and to honor and respect them whenever possible.

May the Lord bring our troops home: victoriously, safely, and soon!

From Fox News

Bush Jogs With Wounded Soldier

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON — President Bush took a jog Tuesday with a soldier who lost part of both legs in Iraq, following through on a bedside promise even the president had doubts about at the time.

Despite a slight drizzle, Bush and Staff Sgt. Christian Bagge took a slow jog around a spongy track that circles the White House’s South Lawn. About halfway through their approximately half-mile run, Bush and Bagge paused briefly for reporters.

“He ran the president into the ground, I might add,”Bush said, as the two gripped hands in an emotional, lengthy shake.”But I’m proud of you. I’m proud of your strength, proud of your character.”

The president met the soldier on a New Year’s Day visit to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where Bagge had been recuperating from his injuries for months. Bagge, now 23 and a native of Eugene, Ore., was in a convoy hit by roadside bombs a year ago in the remote Iraq desert south of Kirkuk.

Bagge’s left leg was amputated just above the ankle, and his right leg ends just above the knee.

He told Bush during their January visit that he wanted to run with him. Bush was an avid runner who had mostly traded the activity for mountain biking in the last couple of years because of knee problems.

“I looked at him, like, you know, there’s an optimistic person,”Bush said.”It’s an amazing sight for me to be running with a guy who, last time I saw him, was in bed wondering whether or not _ I was wondering whether or not he’d ever get out of bed.”

But, the president added, in tribute to the hard work Bagge did to realize this goal,”There was no doubt in his mind that he would.”

“It’s a privilege,”commented Bagge, who had changed in the Oval Office into a special set of prosthetic legs that he uses to jog.

And then the pair took off for the remainder of their run.

Pretty cool :)

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