By Renee Worthing
Staff Writer
President George W. Bush arrived in Sanford July 31 for a three-day visit with his parents, former President George H.W. Bush and Former First Lady Barbara Bush and other family members, at the Bush’s Walker’s Point summer home.
Air Force One landed at Sanford Regional Airport at 1:28 pm., about an hour after First Lady Laura Bush landed at the east ramp of the airport in a separate plane.
Sanford Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Rowe said some people at the Cockpit Café were confused when the plane carrying Laura Bush arrived and disembarked in front of the restaurant.
“They thought it was the president,” he said.
The Secret Service granted about 15 people admission to the staging area on the west ramp. Among the onlookers was Rowe’s wife, Cathy and daughter, Mackenzie, all Kennebunk residents.
Jeff Rowe has coordinated with the Secret Service for several years, synchronizing protection for the president and former president.
“I mentioned in passing that I would like to get my daughter in,” Jeff Rowe said, adding he did not pursue the issue. “An agent called me at home and said he had a couple of vacancies in the VIP area.”
Mackenzie Rowe, 13, said it was “really cool” to be so close to the president.
Because of  security issues, Mackenzie was not allowed to tell her friends about the impending close encounter with Bush.
“She went to a pool party and she couldn’t tell her friends,” Cathy Rowe said of her daughter. “It just about killed her.”
She said Mackenzie also had to cancel other plans with friends in order to attend Bush’s arrival, but was not allowed to tell them why.
“I am more excited than I thought I would be,” Cathy Rowe said. “I take for granted how special it is to live somewhere that the president flies into.”
After Air Force One taxied to a stop, a truck-mounted staircase was rolled to the door of the aircraft.
Bush stepped out of the plane, stood at the top of the staircase and offered a wave to the small crowd in the VIP area before being whisked into the large black SUV leading the presidential motorcade.
Sanford Regional Airport Manager Evan McDougal said the 10-mile airspace around the Sanford airport was a “no fly zone” during Bush’s visit.
A 10 to 30-mile radius of airspace around the airport was “very restricted.”
The visit may be the last time Bush flies into the area as a sitting president.
Bush’s second term will end in January following the election of a new president Nov. 6.