Just over a year ago I took two THQ visitors to dinner at a high quality steak place at Tyson’s Corner. As we entered into the parking lot I noticed a black Suburban parked by the roadway entrance even though there was a dozen empty places before the doorway. As we entered the door four broad chested men were exiting. Turning to our two guests I mentioned that they were going to have a unique experience.
About twenty minutes into our meal three men and one lady entered wearing trench coats. One sat by a table best us, one went to a table across the room, one stood in the back of the room and one just stood by the door. A few minutes later another parade entered…a man, a woman and two young children along with two more dressed in trench coats. The two Secret Service men took up their positions a few feet from the table at which the family of four were seated. The five us at our table along with the other patrons were not bothered, but we were being watched for any sudden movements.
I thought of this event Monday when it took me 45 minutes to go the last .7 miles to DHQ. To say that the traffic crawled along would be mild statement. There was no accident. There was no construction taking three or four lanes down to one. Somewhere past our building were a street or two what were closed and traffic was being rerouted due to some high security official.
Whether it is having Secret Service watching you carefully while you enjoy a restaurant or a finding yourself suddenly in a traffic back-up, one takes it in stride. It is all part of living in Washington.
Reflective Wanderings - Reflections on various topics that arise out of my personal, life and professional experiences. There are also are some family related news, travels and pictures.
7 comments:
I remember well the night our family walked a couple of blocks to the subway station after a hockey game. There were several husky guys, perhaps a dozen or so, in trench coats on the sidewalk and several stretch limos on the street. It was obvious that some high-level people were in the vicinity. As you say, it's all part of living near a national capital.
so who was the family? It's not just the president who travels with an entourage like that?
In contrast, here the Prime Minister can go to his son's hockey game and blend in with the crowd and be just another hockey dad.
It was not the President nor VP. I cannot recall his name but I recognized him from an earlier visit to 1600 Pennsylvania.
I have had a couple of dealings with the US Secret Service and all have been pleasant. I find that they are extremely professional and are modern day macgiver's!
It is a neat feeling to answer the phone and here someone ask for you by name and say, "this is Agent Smith of the United States Secret Service, how are you doing today?"
you should just put on a trench coat and walk around with a bunch of friends. You might get better service:)
Jenn, I like that idea. Too bad that wouldn't work here...
People have observed that the Secret Service only recuits big broad strong men and women. They observe that the so secret service guys and ladies all seem to have very broad shoulders and chests. It is the jackets that make their shoulders and chests seem large. The jackets and suites are specially made to hide the 10 to 15 pounds of equipment they carry beneath.
Post a Comment