Gold Star father Mike Anderson and his daughter Allie met with President Trump and the First Lady Melania in the White House early this month 13 years to the day when his son Michael was killed in a gun battle in Iraq in 2004.
The Andersons had first met with Trump and the First Lady in the White House Oval Office on June 5 of this year. This month’s meeting was yet another tribute to his being a Gold Star dad for the loss of his son. Anderson is a field representative for Congressman Jeff Denham.
It was a Thursday evening they will long remember, also getting to meet Chief of Staff General John Kelly for over 20 minutes behind closed doors in his West Wing office. 
“Mike Jr. continues to look down on us,” his father said.
“We arrived at approximately 3:30 at the White House entrance, took cellphone photos inside and met some really nice people,” Anderson noted. “Allie mentioned to the President that the next time she comes she would like to see the West Wing.”
President Trump responded, “You’ve never seen the West Wing?” Then he snapped his fingers, Anderson said, and gave a casual order, “These folks are friends of mine.  They’re special people, they’re a Gold Star family – take them to the Oval Office right now.”
With that Anderson interjected, “Right now Sir?”
The President nodded and repeated, “Right now.”
Anderson said they were escorted by Major Teddy Boyd, USAF, who did a remarkable job.
“And I think by the end of our tour he wondered who in the heck we really were. Very nice man,” Anderson said of Trump.
 “President Trump is such a genuine, caring man,” Anderson added. “We believe that he is doing an extraordinary job.  He has proven to us on two separate occasions that he has a special place in his heart for the Gold Star families of the fallen.  We’ll certainly come back if invited.”
Anderson is a familiar face around the Manteca community. For years he was a salesman for Manteca Pontiac Buick GMC that has since closed before joining Denham’s staff initially to assist district veterans.
A year after his son’s death, Anderson felt compelled to travel to Iraq to get a better feel for the sacrifice his son made for his country.

To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.