Bush Visits Desert Storm Victory Display
President Bush delighted tourists on the capital’s Mall Friday with a surprise stop to shake hands and view military equipment displayed for a Desert Storm celebration.
“This is good for America,” Bush said as he glanced at the helicopters, tanks and other equipment and then waded into the crowds. He stopped at an armored vehicle and kicked its treads.
Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf will lead about 8,800 Desert Storm troops down a 2 1/2-mile parade route beginning at 11:30 a.m. today, when the nation’s official Desert Storm homecoming celebration gets under way.
On the eve of today’s parade, thousands of others who served in the Persian Gulf or were here just to be part of the weekend’s celebration thronged the Mall, which stretches between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial.
They waited patiently in lines to clamber aboard tanks or into the bellies of transport helicopters. Children peered through the sights of weapons and slipped under big camouflage tents.
Crisply uniformed military personnel described the uses of the jets, helicopters, tanks and various other vehicles and machines of war.
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