I am proud of my country today.  However, I am no more proud of my country today than I was yesterday and I will be no more proud tomorrow than I am today.

A while back I wrote some thoughts about the election.  I’ll reiterate my great and profound respect for the Office of the Presidency.  A respect that I give to President Obama, just like a gave to President Bush.  My respect for the Office goes hand in hand with my pride of our country.  I have respect and pride for both.

Today I was watching CNN a little bit, reading tweets, and Facebook status messages and so many people said “I am finally proud of my country”, “I’m proud of my country for the first time in 8 years”, or comments along those lines.  Is that really pride in your country?  It sounds to me like it’s pride in a person or a political party.  It sounds to me in four or eight years, however long we have President Obama, they will no longer be proud of their country.

Show respect for our President.  Instead of booing him or mocking him just minutes before he leaves office, have some class.  When was respect lost?  Why do people think it’s appropriate to do this?  President Bush has always acted with class.  The people who disagree with him can’t show even a little bit of respect.

It’s our great country that allows us to have the freedoms to disagree with our leaders.  Our country gives us the freedom of speech.  It gives you the ability to be classless and act with no respect.

So I encourage you to always be proud of our country and show respect to the person occupying the Office of the President.  Don’t hinge the pride you have for your country on a single person.  Always be proud of your country.

There is so much more I could say on this topic and my thoughts from today.  But I’ll leave that for a later time.

President Bush, you have served our country, and I am grateful for that.  You have kept us safe, and strengthened our security.  While I may not have agreed with every single proposal or thing you have done, you were a good President.

Mr. President you have served our country honorably for the last 8 years.  You’ve not always had an easy time, but no President does.  You always seem to be in good spirits, which impresses me.  Mrs. Bush has always been a First Class lady, and her time as First Lady has touched many lives.  Thank you, Mrs. Bush, for your service and your dedication to your country and husband.

It was an honor and privilege to work for you in D.C.  Getting the chance to work with the great group of people that served you was amazing.  Meeting you and Mrs. Bush were some of the highlights of my time, and I carry memories with me that I’ll never forget.  The chance to live history was something I’ll cherish forever.

My office, both at work and at home, are constant reminders of the great times I’ve had serving you and Mrs. Bush.  The pictures and letters are a constant reminder of your good nature, your humor, and your kindness.  To meet you was to truly see who you are, which no television cameras can convey.

As the sun sets on your Presidency I, like you, look forward to the future of our country.  I pray we will remain a “shining city on a hill whose beacon light guides freedom-loving people everywhere.”  I thank you again for your service, and may God bless you and Mrs. Bush.