The C-47 circled over New River Marine Corps Air Station in Jacksonville, North Carolina. It had been over a year since any aircraft had flown over the air station. Ten minutes later the aircraft rolled up to the terminal where Lieutenant General Patrick and his staff, to include Colonel Flat and the Seal Team Commander, Lieutenant Williams waited. Within minutes Brigadier General John Clayton and Colonel March popped out of the plane to greet the men, five later President Washington stepped out of the aircraft to the Marine Corps band playing hail-to-the-chief. It was a sobering moment for the men and woman of Camp Lejeune so many of them thought a moment like this would never come again. It meant so much too so many, it brought hope to all of them, it gave them hope that it was possible their families were alive and well. “Good afternoon, gentlemen.” President Washington said as he reached out to shake everyone’s …show more content…
“I hope you don’t mind riding in a Humvee back to Camp Lejeune.” President was all smiles, “It’s not a problem General, I don’t mind at all. General Clayton likes to keep me grounded so it’s not the first ride.” All eyes turned to General Clayton who smiled. The entire entourage headed for the vehicles and climbed into them and headed for General Patrick’s headquarters on the Camp. Once they arrived there, they would be given a power-point and slide presentation by General Clayton regarding the state of the Union. As it turned out, they didn’t head to the headquarters building, they went to the post’s movie theater, primarily because it would host a much larger audience. General Patrick apologized for the last minute change and asked the President and General Clayton if they minded. Of course the President being the true statesman he was, didn’t mind at all, General Clayton on the other hand wasn’t enthralled by the change, but as long as the President didn’t mind who was he to