Thanks again, Jim for your explanation of the *two* accounts from the Department of Defense of Will Swenson's actions.
Somehow your explanation got detached from this thread? With respect to the corresponding award in the UK, VC means "Victoria Cross" not Victorian Cross as I previously stated in error. Gene Mechtly ________________________________________ From: James [j...@metricmethods.com] Sent: Friday, October 18, 2013 12:54 PM To: mechtly, eugene a; U.S. Metric Association Subject: Re: [USMA:53337] RE: Ceremony in Meters > Both accounts probably originated somewhere in the Department of Defense. That is almost certainly the case, Gene. It's called "completed staff work" in the military world, and perhaps industry. That means that the parent organization provides the document to be presented accompanied by suggested "off the cuff" remarks for the presenter. Jim On 2013-10-18 11:58, mechtly, eugene a wrote: > > A complete video of the Award Ceremony of the Medal of Honor to Captain > Swenson is posted at WashingtonPost.com. > > In this video, President Obama describes actions by "Will Swenson" at a > distance of 50 meters, and actions by Will at a distance of 20 or 30 meters. > > The "official citation" for the Award states *no* distances, in meters or in > any other unit of distance. > > Why did Obama's account included statements of distances in meters, but the > official citation gave *no* distances? > > Both accounts probably originated somewhere in the Department of Defense. > > Eugene Mechtly > > ________________________________________ > From: Paul Trusten [trus...@mygrande.net] > Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2013 4:11 PM > Cc: U.S. Metric Association; mechtly, eugene a > Subject: Re: [USMA:53328] Ceremony in Meters > > I think the President may have been simply reading a text prepared for him by > the Defense Department, but I guess we can give him credit for not > back-converting. > > Paul Trusten, Registered Pharmacist > Vice President and Public Relations Director > U.S. Metric Association, Inc. > Midland, Texas, USA > +1(432)528-7724 > www.metric.org > trus...@grandecom.net > > >> On Oct 15, 2013, at 16:09, "mechtly, eugene a" <mech...@illinois.edu> wrote: >> >> Today, Captain William D. Swenson was awarded the Medal of Honor. >> >> In describing Will's heroic actions under fire, President Obama used the word >> "meters" several times, with *no conversions* to any units of distance >> outside the SI. >> >> Of course, as we all know, US military personnel already speak "meters" >> with fluency. >> >> Fortunately, President Obama displayed a willingness to accept the meter as >> the preferred unit of distance. >> >> Unfortunately, many commentators in the news media are not so inclined to >> speak the word meter. >> >> They remain misguided by the Associated Press Style Guide, studiously >> avoiding the word meter. >> >> Watch and listen to the Aware Ceremony, in meters, when it is rebroadcast. >> >> Eugene Mechtly >> >> > > > >
