Witnessing history ...

Striking ...

It was all the trappings of an official state visit at the White House today. Thousands were in attendance just beyond the South Lawn. Color guards ... leaders of Congress sat next to bitter political rivals, smiling .... grasping Rosary Beads in their hands.

Hail to the chief echoed as our President entered the scene. Then a motorcade arrived just behind the podium, and as a US Airmen opened the door, the President of The United States grasped the hand of Pope Benedict XVI, and welcomed him to the United Sates of America.

They soon took the stage and what followed was quite moving ... The National Anthem of the Vatican City State played, followed by our National Anthem ... the Pope and the President standing side by side. And no sooner did the traditional 21 gun salute end, then suddenly US Army Symphony members dressed in colonial era uniforms marched onto the field and as they passed they turned their head left and paused, acknowledging both the Holy Father and their Commander-in-Chief. They paraded off the grounds ending in Yankee Doodle Dandy. Then, just before the next song was to be sang in honor of this visit, the crowd spontaneously burst into "Happy Birthday To You", which got the Pope off his feet, thanking the crowd for their out pouring of well wishes on this, his 81st birthday. (I urge you to view it on this site:
http://www.uspapalvisit.org/video_audio.htm The entire 55 minute ceremony is there, the Pontiff arrives roughly 15 minutes in. It also has text and video of each stop, the itinerary, etc.)

Now .... I should note that during the president's short speech, it was only once interrupted by cheers ... when he spoke of a world in need of the Holy Father's message that "all life is sacred" (and with leading Democrats in the front row no less).

Now this is not partisan, not at all ... I just want to pause for a moment and point out, on the occasion of our Holy visitor, the sacred choice Americans must make this year, on who will lead us; and what ideology, philosophy, and world out look will become that of the United States for the next four years. Within this same 48 hours of the President's physical embracement of the Pontiff ... of the majesty I described above ... of the advocacy of human life and worth I described above, James Earl Carter embraced the commander of HAMAS, and laid a wreath at the tomb of Arafat ... an advocate of death ... and his background music? Undoubtedly the sound of a HAMAS controlled Mosque sending out evening calls to prayer over the loud speakers.

And isn't that our choice as voters and citizens of the world's only remaining superpower? Aren't we tasked with choosing life and defending its worth in all forms? Whether it be abortion, the battlefield in Iraq, or the cultural slipping of America ... is it not the choice of each American whether he will stand for life or yield to death? I think so .... I believe so ... in fact I know so.

Let me leave you with this ... after the President and the heir to St. Peter's chair spoke, the United Sates Army Choir burst into a moving rendition of "The Battle Hymn of The Republic" ... and as they reached their crescendo, "Glory, Glory Hallelujah", little hand held flags - both Papal and our Stars and Stripes - were grasped in the fingers of the crowd and waived unapologetically as they sung along with the choir ... "His truth is marching on .... as he died to make men holy, let us fight to make them free ... his truth is marching onnn..."

Quite moving indeed.