Cheney speaks at Mich. Air Force base

Vice president backs Bush's Iraq war policy, awards Purple Heart

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Tweet Harrison Township — After a long week of traveling throughout Michigan, the United States Air Force Band of Flight made its final stop at Selfridge Air National Guard Base on Monday. In a hangar, where aircraft is usually the main focus, the band played pieces like "Stars and Stripes Forever" and "God Bless America" in honor of Vice President Dick Cheney's visit.

Gearing up for Cheney's arrival wasn't hard for the band, director Lt. Col. Alan Sierichs said.

"We're ready all the time," he said. "This is what we do in the Air Force. If we weren't ready to go, there'd be something wrong."

Before Cheney arrived, the band kept members of all military branches and their families attentive, playing American marches and each branch's song. Military members stood at attention when their song was played, as they were trained to do at boot camp, Sierichs said.

Cheney walked across the stage, which held bleachers packed with military personnel in crisp white, green and blue uniforms. Others stood below the stage, accompanied by their families waving small American flags.

The vice president acknowledged the hard work of military members — especially civilians who dedicate their time to the National Guard — at the beginning of his remarks.

"When people do good work, I think it's important to look them in the eye and tell them," Cheney said.

He said action in Iraq has been successful, rendering applause from the crowd.

"Progress has not come easy, and we can expect further attacks from the enemies of freedom," Cheney said.

He said the capture of Saddam Hussein, the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and freeing the Iraqi people, have helped the U.S. take strides toward winning the war.

"This nation made a decision," Cheney said. "We will engage these enemies, face them far from home, so we do not have to face them on the streets of our own cities."

The vice president wove other national concerns into his speech as well, including national security issues.

Cheney said the terrorist surveillance program ties in with President Bush's remarks to Congress after Sept. 11— that the country would direct every resource at his command, including means of diplomacy, tools of intelligence, law enforcement and every necessary weapon of war.

"People inside the United States are communicating with al-Qaida," Cheney said. "They're talking to the enemy, and we need to know about it."

The terrorist surveillance program is highly classified, he said, and it was improperly revealed by the media.

The program requires the president's reauthorization every 45 days, which Cheney said has been done more than 30 times since Sept. 11.

A spokesman for the Democratic National Committee, or DNC, said on Monday that Cheney is bringing a "photo-ops and fundraisers" election strategy to Michigan.

"Vice President Cheney's empty photo-ops and secret special interest fundraisers won't create jobs or reduce the cost of health care for Michigan's working families," DNC spokesman Damien LaVera said in a statement.

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Jeffery Hankins said he loves rallies to support troops and thinks Cheney is, "a down to earth guy for someone who's in the position he's in."

"It's important that they get a chance to come out and meet the people they send to war, and we meet the people that send us to war," Hankins said.

When the roar of applause and cheering ceased at the end of his speech, Cheney presented a Purple Heart to Master Sgt. Henry Christle a special operations weather team forecaster and observer in the Air Force. Both of Christle's legs were severely wounded on March 23, 2004, in an enemy weapons cache explosion. The injury landed him in the hospital for four months, with 15 months of surgeries and rehabilitation.

Once the award was presented, Cheney proceeded into the crowd to shake hands with servicemen and women, and the conductor struck up the band again with "Stars and Stripes Forever," Sierichs' favorite piece to perform.

"Any time you get to see one of the national leaders, no matter what the circumstance is, it's always a thrill," Sierichs said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Kathleen Polesnak is the State News administration reporter and MSU ROTC member. You can reach her at polesna1@msu.edu.

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