Occasionally, some small event may take place during a particular day in our life that doesn’t really seem significant at the time. But that event keeps on giving through the years. It may prompt a memory or add a new memory along the way. And sometimes those are good memories. One of those good memory events happened to me in 2009
In August 2009, I was traveling with two coworkers, Howard and John, in Ireland on a customer visit. On the day of our departure back to the United States we arrived at the airport in Shannon Ireland more than two hours prior to the departure of our flights. I suggested we go to the airport club lounge to pass the time. I thought I knew the location of the lounge, but it was not where I thought. As we went down a side corridor, there was a door marked presidential suite. I was feeling a little silly about not finding the club lounge so I grabbed the door knob and said, “let’s wait in here.” It was not locked. We entered the presidential suite and made ourselves at home. We began making phone calls to take care of some business.
Howard finished his calls first and picked up the guest book there in the room and began reading through it. When I finished my calls he said, “Dave, I don’t believe we’re supposed to be in here.” I said, “I know we’re not supposed to be in here but it’s very comfortable and it’s quiet so let’s enjoy it.” In the guestbook were names like George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush. Their written comments, expressed gratitude for hospitality. Several other well known government officials had signed the guest book along with military officials.
You may remember names like Dan Burton, Jill Biden, Hillary Clinton and recently, Anthony Blinken. At that time I was serving a term as a township trustee, an elected official, so I thought it would be a shame if I did not sign the book. So I am also in the book as Marlboro Township Trustee – Hartville, Ohio…just below Jill Biden.
Two pages caught my attention as I leafed through the guest book. In September 2008 Prime Minister Maliki, of Iraq, and President Karzai, of Pakistan were in that same room at the same time. Each one signed a separate page. There were some comments in Arabic and in English on each page. I guessed, from what I saw, that this room may be used as an “under the radar” meeting location where world leaders could have a quite conversation. That may sound a little spyish or something, but about two years later I was in the Presidential Suite again. I wanted to take some photos of those and other pages containing these impressive names, including mine. 😂 Well, those two pages had been removed from the guest book. That convinced me I was right. It doesn’t mean I was right. It only means I believed I was right.
In December 2009 my friend Al Tracy mentioned his daughter Lynne was in town as she was to receive an award. He explained she worked with the U.S. State Department. This award was to be presented to Lynne by then, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. He knew I was interested in international relationships because of my business travel to 22 countries. He invited me to join he and Lynne for lunch. This is an except from Lynne’s Wickipedia page about her award; On August 26, 2008, while stationed as principal officer in Peshawar, she was attacked by gunmen who sprayed her automobile with bullets, shooting out the front tires. Tracy, her bodyguard and driver all escaped. The Secretary’s Award for Heroism recognized her “quick thinking”, her return to work on the same day, and her continuation in her role despite the risks.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynne_M._Tracy
Of course we had quite a conversation about the experience that led to her award and many other things going on in the middle east and Asia at the time. Then I asked Lynne about the idea of Shannon airport being an under the radar meeting place. She knew it as a popular refueling stop for government and military travel. She “claimed” she was not aware of any meeting strategy. I still tease her that Shannon airport is strategically visited. I also pointed out to her that, at that time I would fly from Newark, NJ to Singapore on a non-stop 19 hr. flight without refueling in Shannon Ireland.
In January 2023 Lynne Tracy was appointed as U.S. Ambassador to Russia. So now, February 2025, my friend is in a bit of a hot seat. Please pray for discernment and wisdom for these several leaders and state officials who are dealing with very difficult situations.
Today is February, 14, 2025. (Happy Valentine’s Day) I read a news article last night about our Secretary of Treasury, Scott Bessent, stopping off at the Shannon Ireland airport during his travel from Ukraine to the United States. He stopped to sign the guest book and to “refuel”. Here is a link to the article:
This article reminded me again of the mystique of that room located in Shannon airport. It reminded me again of my friends, Howard, John, and Lynne, who are part of this memory. It is an event which occurred on August 7, 2009 and just keeps on giving. How can someone signing their name in a guest book (laying on the desk in the photo below) in a small airport in Ireland make the national news the next day? There is something special about that place. The same book, by the way, that my name is in. Whoda thunk it?
By the way, a few days after we left the presidential suite, on our different flights going to our next destinations, Howard asked me if I took that guest book with me upon departure. He mention he was watching the Antique Roadshow program. He imagined a person on the show some day holding an old guest book with a very unusual collection of names saying, “I found this in my grandpa’s attic. What do you think it’s worth?” If I had taken the book it would still have those two special pages in it. Oh well, I probably did the right thing by leaving it.
As long as I have my mind I will enjoy many great memories of family and friends. I am BLESSED!
One response
Interesting article.
I wonder how many people looked to see where Hartville Ohio is.