to check his balls, then walk up to a podium and pull out this speech:
(somewhere in a midwest battleground state, small to medium town, July 4th celebration)

 I did not throw my service medals over the fence at the White House.  I threw a comrade's medals over the fence that couldn't be there to do it himself.  I did this knowing that person felt that same passion against the war in Vietnam as I.  To that warrior, now sitting next to me on this stage 30+ years later, I Say, I am truly sorry.  I did not throw my medals over that fence (dramatic pause, rub back right index finger under eye, clear throat) because I was an angry,ignorant young man in a very difficult time in our history.  (Steps away from podium, embraces the man, huge applause, return to podium)

 I was caught up in a movement that I believed in, yet I had so much pride in those pieces of metal I held in my hand, in those pieces of metal that also, to so many families represented all that was left of their brave sons that went to war, that went to do their duty and gave all they could give for thier comrades and country.

 To those families, I say I am sorry.  To America, I say I am sorry.

 History will not allow me the opportunity to return to those days and choose differently, nor should it.  I stand in front of you as a mature adult accepting responsibility for my actions on that day.  I cannot ask for your forgiveness, I can only ask you to accept that I made a regrettable mistake and for that I am truly sorry.

 
 These pieces of ribbon and metal (raising them by hand from the podium) are a part of me.  They represent Honor, Duty and Sacrifice, not only by those of my generation, but by those of many generations past, present and future.  It is our very freedom itself that these medals represent.  That freedom that allows us to debate when we disagree, when necessary to say no to those that govern us, and to make change when change is needed.  

 As a young man, I held these medals with pride, then guilt and humility and other feelings I could not fully understand.  Today, that feeling of pride has begun to return (he turns his hand to look for a moment at the medals).  Today, I am proud of these medals, I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve them.  God Bless our warriors around the world and at home, God Bless those that are no longer with us, God Bless America.

(he closes with a crisp salute, then stepping down from the stage and shaking hands with men and women in uniform while either God Bless American or The Star Spangled Banner" play over a fanatic audience)

-- Modified on 6/14/2004 10:56:04 PM