ROSE GARDEN
Part IV: The Rose Garden; Ceremony
The White House Rose Garden lived up to its name that afternoon. Along the Colonnade, red and white striped 'Fourth of July' roses climbed nearly to the roof on the trellises set against each column. In front of these were large bushes of pink and apricot 'Day Breakers' and pinky yellow 'Honey Perfumes' filling in the bulk of the side garden's space. Along the edges, a rainbow of smaller varieties captured the eye with yellow, red, white and pink.
A low platform was situated at the end of the lawn, near the entrance to the Oval Office, and on it stood a podium adorned with the Presidential Seal. Several rows of chairs were set up on the grass facing the podium.
By 2.40, General Hammond was seated in the first row, along with General Stewart and Dr. Johnstone. Several Members of Congress and other dignitaries were gathering, and taking seats. Well-known faces could be seen—the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs among them.
SG1 was waiting in the Colonnade, outside the Oval Office. Carter's face lit up happily when she saw her father, General Jacob Carter, escorted out to sit beside General Hammond. And moments later, they all smiled as Catherine Langford and her husband Ernest Littlefield were also conducted to front row seats. The First Lady, Marty Hayes, emerged, greeted the family members, and sat beside Susanna.
The last person escorted to the front row was a tall, dark haired young woman also in Air Force dress blues, with captain's bars on her shoulders. She embraced Stewart and Susanna, and Marty Hayes, and then looked around eagerly as she demanded, "Well, where is he?" Susanna pointed to where O'Neill was already moving in her direction, and the captain practically leapt the platform to throw herself into his arms. They hugged warmly, then stood back to look into one another's faces. At that point the other members of SG1 were able to see the strong resemblance between the two.
"Another family member we never knew existed," Carter murmured.
"I believe O'Neill may be in for some interrogation," Teal'c commented.
"We'll get him later," Daniel promised.
Jack walked the captain back to the seats, and stood for a few moments speaking to the guests; he greeted the First Lady, hugged Catherine and shook Ernest's and Jacob's hands. An aide came up and tapped his shoulder and whispered to him, and O'Neill nodded, kissed his mom's cheek and that of the young captain, and followed the aide back to the colonnade.
SG1 was directed to four chairs set up on the platform facing the guests. Daniel looked at his watch. 2:58.
Promptly at 3:00 the door to the Oval Office opened, and President Hayes stepped out. Everyone rose as the President crossed the platform to the podium.
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Rose Garden. Please have a seat," Hayes invited comfortably, and waited until everybody had done so.
"I'm very happy to be here today," he began. "This is the kind of occasion I look forward to, and wish I could preside over more often. It is an honor and a pleasure today to introduce to you a team of true heroes. You know, sometimes it seems as if we don't think in terms of heroes much anymore. But they are still out there, doing the very best job they know how, in order to keep you and me and this country—indeed, this world—safe. The people I want you to meet today have risked their lives many times in this service. They have all been wounded and fought their way back against grievous odds. They have each shown great courage under fire, and more people than you can imagine owe them their lives. The nature of their work forbids me from giving details of their accomplishments, but let me assure you, just because an achievement does not make the headlines, that doesn't mean it is any less valiant." Hayes paused for an instant, and smiled. "Come to think of it, valiant isn't a word we use often nowadays, either, but it is the perfect word to describe these four people." He turned and gestured to SG1, who were standing before their chairs.
"First I want to present Dr. Daniel Jackson, a civilian scientist—archeologist and linguist—whose contributions to the cause of freedom are almost beyond imagining. Dr. Jackson, would you please come forward."
Daniel walked over to stand beside the President. An aide handed Hayes a small box, from which he drew a star-shaped medal attached to a blue ribbon.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest non-military honor that can be given to a person by our government. It is with great humility and gratitude that I offer this medal to you, Dr. Jackson, in recognition of your contributions and sacrifices."
The President placed the medal around Daniel's neck, and shook his hand warmly. Daniel thanked him and resumed his place amid applause.
After a moment Hayes continued. "Ladies and gentlement, I would now like to present Major Murray Teal'c, a brave soldier who comes from foreign parts, and who has joined with this team in the fight to be free. Major, if you would come forward."
Teal'c walked across the stage and stopped before the President, bowing respectfully. He, too, was presented the Medal of Freedom, which he received with another gracious bow.
The President turned back to the audience. "Now, ladies and gentlemen, I am in the enviable position of being able to present to two fine soldiers our Nation's highest military award, the United States Medal of Honor. Major Samantha Carter, would you please come forward." Sam's heart was pounding as she stepped up to the podium.
"Up until now, only one woman in our history has received the Medal of Honor," Hayes said, "and that was a civilian surgeon in the Union Army during the Civil War, Mary Edwards Walker. Today I am proud to be able to present the second Medal of Honor given to a woman, to Major Samantha Carter, scientist and soldier, for her outstanding courage in the face of overwhelming odds."
Sam had tears in her eyes as the President placed the Medal around her neck, and shook her hand.
The President waited until she had returned to stand with her team, and then he continued. "Our last honoree is a soldier of many years experience, a man who has fought on many battlefields and endured tremendous hardship. Colonel Jonathan O'Neill—Jack, would you please join me here at the podium."
When Jack did so, Hayes reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Jack is the leader of this extraordinary team." He grinned. "I recently learned that I actually knew him when he was a teenager. And believe me, Jack, you have come a long way!"
A light chuckle ran through the group. Susanna bit her lip and smiled.
"Why, thank you, Mr. President. It was kind of you to notice," Jack replied with a touch of snarkiness, and the chuckle grew to a laugh. Hayes' laugh was the loudest.
"That aside," Hayes went on, when it was quiet, "it is with true gratitude on behalf of the people of the United States, that I present you, Colonel Jonathan J. O'Neill, with this Medal of Honor, and offer you, as well as your team my personal thanks for all you have done for us." With that he set the Medal around Jack's neck and shook his hand. Hayes led the applause, and stepped to the side.
"Thank you, Mr. President," O'Neill spoke with sincerity this time. Stepping up to the podium, he turned to face the audience. "My team and I are honored to be here to receive these medals," he began. "It's very humbling to be singled out like this, especially for me. President Hayes introduced me as the leader of this team. But a leader is useless without good people behind him. And I have three of the best. They are the heart and mind and soul of the team. I'm just the dumb guy who doesn't know any better than to walk first into an unknown situation." That brought a chuckle. Jack glanced back at his team. "These people are the best back-up a soldier could ask for. And behind them are hundreds of thousands—millions—of heroic Americans, past and present, who have defended our freedom and way of life to the best of their ability. Not just servicemen and -women—but mothers and fathers, teachers, scientists, builders, doctors, businessmen, and too many more for me to name. They're all heroes. They encourage us and lift us up every day, and remind us of why we do what we do." Jack turned fully toward President Hayes. "So, if it's all right with you, Mr. President, I'd like to accept this medal on behalf of all of those important people who stand behind us, and support us and keep us going. Thank you." He stepped away from the podium as the audience applauded.
Hayes signaled for the rest of the team to join O'Neill at the front of the stage. When they had assembled, he turned to the audience. "Ladies and Gentlemen, please rise to congratulate our team of heroes."
The audience rose to their feet, those in the military came to attention with a smart salute, and the civilians, including Hayes, applauded enthusiastically.
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