An incredible moment took place in the Oval Office Thursday, as President Trump met with four World War II veterans, keeping a promise he made to 95-year-old retired sergeant Allen Jones.
“Beautiful afternoon in the Oval Office today with a few great American HEROES!” Trump announced on social media, accompanied by a video of his encounter with Jones.
During a speech at the VFW Convention in Kansas City, Missouri last July, the President invited the veteran on stage where he noted that Jones had been a VFW member for most of his adult life and had four brothers serve with him in World War II.
Jones immediately hoped his children saw that “their dad got to stand beside the president of the United States,” then asked if he could bring his family to visit him at the White House for his 95th birthday the following April.
Trump did not hesitate – “Yes!” he said.
Pres calls 94 year old veteran Alan Jones to the stage, who asks if he can visit the Oval Office when he turns 95 next April. @POTUS agrees. Says he’ll be received “with honor.” pic.twitter.com/OMMuxZwQCl
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 24, 2018
The Meeting
President Trump heaped praise upon the World War II veterans in attendance, which included Floyd Wigfield, Sidney Walton and Paul Kriner, all of whom are over 100-years-old.
“I want to be like all of you someday,” Trump said. “You don’t look a day over 90.”
He added that the veterans in attendance – as all in the Greatest Generation who fought for America in World War II – are “great heroes, great warriors, highly respected,” from a time when “we knew how to win wars.”
“This is a special moment,” the President declared.
Love of Veterans
On the campaign trail, Trump spoke of his love for the military and promised that, if elected, he “would have a military so strong that we would never have to use it.”
Trump’s actions have also buoyed his words when it comes to our nation’s veterans.
Last month, he signed an Executive Order establishing a “National Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End Veteran Suicide.”
“Our mission is to mobilize every level of American society to save the lives of our great veterans and support our heroes in need,” announced Trump/
In January, he issued an executive order directing resources to help aid veterans returning to civilian life. The administration implemented breast cancer screening guidelines for female veterans. And Trump has initiated critical reforms to the VA while enforcing strict accountability standards.
“Our veterans are a national treasure, and I thank them all for their service, sacrifice, and patriotism,” the President said in a previous Veterans Day speech.
His promise to Allen Jones is evidence that he views them as a national treasure.
A New Promise
During the meeting, the President made yet another promise to 101-year-old Floyd Wigfield who spoke of his experience on Utah Beach in June of 1944.
“I was there half a month before I got wounded,” Wigfield recalled. “Night and day on the battlefield.”
He then asked the President if he could join him on a return flight on Air Force One following this June’s ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.
“We’ll work that out,” Trump said. “You’ll like Air Force One.”
One WWI veteran who will attend the 75th anniversary celebration at Normandy wants to fly back with Trump.
“We’ll work that out. You’ll like Air Force One,” Trump replies.
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) April 11, 2019
