President Bush autographs a baseball hat for a member of the Rhode Island National Guard at the Air National Guard base at Quonset Point, yesterday afternoon. After the visit, the president flew to Maine on Air Force One.

The Providence Journal / Bill Murphy Bill Murphy

NORTH KINGSTOWN — Air Force One appeared out of clear skies over treetops at the Air National Guard base in Quonset Point promptly at 10:30 yesterday morning.

The blue-and-white Boeing 747 touched down seconds later. Moments after that President Bush, in a navy suit with a red tie, waved from the staircase to the 40 or so people waiting on the tarmac.

He exchanged pleasantries, handshakes and even a hug with an array of prominent Republicans, including Governor Carcieri and his wife, Sue, House Minority Leader Robert Watson, Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian and former Governor Lincoln Almond.

Avedisian said Mr. Bush asked him if he still enjoys being mayor.

“I told him most days, it’s a lot of fun, and he said it’s just like this job”; there are good days and bad days, Avedisian said.

Avedisian’s job was anything but fun early today. He’d been up most of the night because of a shooting in Warwick early yesterday morning that left one person dead and two wounded.

The president presented Tiverton retiree Sherrill Estes with a volunteer service award for the hours she has dedicated to East Bay Community Action Program and Meals on Wheels Rhode Island.

“Oh, I’m thrilled,” said Estes. “I was hoping I wouldn’t pass out or throw up.”

Mr. Bush boarded a waiting helicopter with the governor and his wife and headed to Newport, accompanied in the air by four other Marine Corps helicopters.

Less than five hours later, the helicopters reappeared on the skyline, returning the president to Quonset Point, where he was met by cheers from the more than 100 Army and Air National Guardsmen waiting in a corralled area at the air base. He made his way around the crowd’s perimeter, shaking hands, signing hats and making small talk.

“It was just thrilling,” said Wade Chmielinski, a communications officer with the 102nd Information Warfare Squadron. Mr. Bush signed a baseball for the son of one of Chmielinski’s friends.

“I was so nervous all I said was thank you, sir,” said Chmielinski, of North Smithfield.

WPRI-TV, Channel 12 reporter Jarrod Holbrook had his White House press pass snatched after he shouted “Mr. President!” twice as President Bush greeted Air and Army National Guardsmen gathered on the tarmac at the Air National Guard base in Quonset.

A member of the president’s entourage pointed at Holbrook after he first tried to get Mr. Bush’s attention. The man then ripped the pass from Holbrook’s belt after he shouted again to the president, who was about 10 feet away.

Holbrook said afterward that he just wanted to ask Mr. Bush how he enjoyed his visit to Rhode Island. Members of the media were not told they could not ask the president questions.

Air Force One took to the air at 3:30 p.m., heading north to Kennebunkport, Maine, a half-hour later than scheduled.

kmulvane@projo.com