President’s Day is a holiday that passes every year, but how does it really apply to our lives as American military children? To me, the president always seemed like some mythical figure who was more of a symbol than a real person. I remember when I was a little kid, I wrote a letter to the president at the time and was both shocked and ecstatic when I got a letter back. As I thought about my letter, I began to realize that we may have more in common with our country’s presidents than we think. When I got to looking into it, I found out that a few of our presidents were even military children themselves!
George W. Bush
George W. Bush was the 43rd president of the United States. His father, George H.W. Bush, was also a president and served in the military, which makes George W. Bush a military child! His father was a pilot in the Navy during WWII, flying many missions and even winning a few awards for his service. George W. Bush also had a brief career in the military before his presidency.
Inspired by his father, George W. Bush made a great impact on military members, veterans, and families during his terms as president. He started various initiatives and signed different laws, all created to better the lives of those who serve our country. For example, Bush signed a tax relief act for military families, published a book with proceeds going to service members and their loved ones, and created a program for veterans and their families to have access to mental health care.
John Adams
John Adams was the second president and also a military child due to his father’s service in a militia during the American Revolution. John Adams later went on to do many monumental things to help the country and its military. For example, he was a founding father who helped draft the Declaration of Independence. Under his presidency, Washington D.C. became the new U.S. capital, as it was previously in Philadelphia. John Adams also played a strong part in advocating for the development and strengthening of the United States Navy.
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter’s father served in the Army and National Guard during World War I. In his adult life, Jimmy Carter joined the Navy and worked with submarines. Once he retired from the military, he started advocating for the Civil Rights Movement, which eventually got him involved in politics. He first was a senator for the state of Georgia, then a governor, and then eventually won the election in 1976 to become the president of the United States. After his term as president, he went on to receive the Nobel Peace Prize due to his extensive efforts in making peace with other countries and participating in humanitarian work.
I personally find it really interesting to learn new things about former presidents of the United States. It is so fascinating to think about how as a military child, I have more things in common with them than I would have previously thought. It also goes to show that military children can go on to accomplish great things, inspiring each other to reach new heights.
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