No Section

Letter of the day: Obama's military bearing an example for GIs, civilians alike

November 6, 2009 at 4:21PM

President Obama, right, at Dover Air Force Base last week: His impeccable salute honored the fallen servicemen being brought back home.. (Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

I am an avid reader of the newspaper.

I saw the photo of the president and other GIs saluting in Dover to welcome the military men home.

I was deeply impressed by the president's salute, but I thought the GIs with him were extremely slovenly in their salute. I am a retired master sergeant with 22 years' service. I relearned the proper way to use the salute when I attended the NCO Academy. I'm still so gung-ho when I see military men and women use the salute I get a lump in my throat.

I am impressed with the president's military bearing even though he is a civilian with no previous military experience.

BILL BAUMGARTNER, FRIDLEY; RETIRED U.S. AIR FORCE MASTER SERGEANT