From Deseret News archives:
Bush is coming to Utah Aug. 22
Terry Schow, director of the state's Division of Veterans Affairs, said Bush will fly into Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 22, to attend the annual Veterans of Foreign Wars convention at the Salt Palace Convention Center, which will run Aug. 20-25.
The visit will be Bush's second visit to the Beehive State since he was elected in 2000. Bush made his first stopover during the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics.
"It means something, obviously, to us here in Utah," Schow said. "He's the commander-in-chief, and the veterans obviously have a tendency to be supportive of the folks who run our country."
White House spokesman Allen Abney said he could not confirm Bush's schedule for the end of August, but Schow said he was informed of the pending visit late last week.
Jerry Newberry, spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said the national group had also not received official confirmation from the White House, but he expects the final word next week.
"It's usually last minute because of security reasons. He has a pretty good track record of attending our conventions," Newberry said. "Last year it was right at the last minute, and we really had to scramble."
Schow, however, said that convention leaders plan on the president's arrival and added that Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, will accompany Bush on his Utah visit. Both leaders will speak at the convention Aug. 22, he said.
Jim Nicholson, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, will also attend the annual convention and hold a "town hall meeting" where veterans can informally chat with the head of the national veterans' group. Schow said it was still uncertain if Bush would also be available at the town meeting.
"It's really a feather in our cap. In Utah we're not a big enough draw for folks like this to want to come here unless there's a special event," Schow said.
The VFW invites the president to each annual convention, which generally draw between 9,000 and 13,000 attendees. Bush has spoken at the past three conventions and once sent Vice President Dick Cheney in his stead because of a scheduling conflict.
Schow added that Bush's visit is particularly important this year as Utah soldiers are fighting overseas in Iraq. Utah veterans have traditionally been supportive of Bush, he said, and it is fitting to have him show support to Utah's troops abroad.
"I believe the veterans were a major factor in him getting elected," he said. "Veterans are a force to be reckoned with and sometimes people don't realize that."
During his 2002 visit, Bush met with members of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as with local dignitaries at the Capitol.
E-mail: estewart@desnews.com
