First Lady Michelle Obama Visits U.S. Army Garrison Vicenza

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Colleen Barry: Michelle Obama Meets US Troops In Italy; Recalls Charleston

Michelle Obama’s thoughts turned to those grieving for nine people killed in a U.S. church as she visited Friday with American soldiers and their families stationed in northern Italy. “We have seen too many tragedies like this,” Mrs. Obama said of the attack in a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina. “There is something particularly horrifying about something that happens so senseless in a house of worship.” She added: “I pray for a community that I know is in pain with the hope that tragedies like these will one day come to an end.” The U.S. first lady was visiting at the U.S. Army Garrison Vicenza, thanking hundreds of the troops and their families for their service.

U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday had expressed anger and sadness over the slayings at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. “As my husband said yesterday, simply saying our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and community of Charleston does not convey the heartache,” Mrs. Obama said. Her time with the troops and their families included reading a book to children, and visiting with about 30 expectant mothers to discuss the challenges faced by military families overseas. The families live in an area that includes housing units and an elementary and middle school. She spent a good half hour giving hugs and shaking hands. Her daughters Malia and Sasha helped her scoop out ice cream. About 500 people were attending a barbecue on the middle school’s athletic fields.

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First Lady on #Charlestonshooting: "I pray ... with the hope that tragedies like these will one day come to an end." amp.twimg.com/v/42e72c22-20c…

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ABC News (@ABC) June 19, 2015

#MichelleObama @MichelleObama speaking about #CharlestonShooting in #Vicenza http://t.co/LpN8FZh4A5

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CC-LovesOnikaQueen (@CCS_IAmAwesome) June 19, 2015

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President Speaks to the U.S. Conference of Mayors

5:15 EDT: President Obama Speaks at the Annual Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, San Francisco

The First Lady (Yesterday) In Italy

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Colleen Barry: Michelle Obama Lights Candles For US Shooting Victims In Milan’s Duomo Cathedral

Michelle Obama and her elder daughter visited Milan’s Duomo cathedral on Thursday, where an official traveling with her said they lit candles in memory of the victims of the shooting in South Carolina. The first lady and her daughter Malia were seen by photographers entering the Gothic-inspired cathedral on the unannounced stop. Mrs. Obama was dressed in black with dark glasses, while Malia wore a white blouse with black trousers. Mrs. Obama made no comment and issued no statement. Nine people, including the pastor, were killed overnight at a prayer meeting inside a historic black church in downtown Charleston.

Earlier Thursday, Mrs. Obama visited the Expo 2015 World’s Fair in Milan, which focuses on food and nutrition. She found kindred spirits in her campaign to promote healthy eating during visits to the U.S. and the Italian pavilions. Mrs. Obama was greeted by a video image of her husband, President Barack Obama, as she entered the U.S. pavilion, guided by U.S. student delegates to Expo from universities around the United States. She spent some time discussing the vertical garden covering the length of pavilion, which has rotating panels of herbs and vegetables that are engineered to maximize sunlight exposure. Mrs. Obama said the pavilion was “awe-inspiring.” “The most impactful part of it, obviously, is the vertical farm, the largest of its kind. And I couldn’t help but think about all the issues we face around hunger, around food deserts in our countries and places all over the world. And when you walk around this pavilion, you think the solutions are right in our grasp,” Mrs. Obama told some 60 student delegates during a question-and-answer session at the end of the tour.

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Italy’s First Lady Agnese Landini welcomes First Lady Michelle Obama to the 2015 Expo in Rho, near Milan, Italy. First Lady Michelle Obama is leading a presidential delegation to the world’s fair, organized around issues concerning food and nutrition, which dovetails with her “Let’s Move” initiative to fight childhood obesity

A Mass for the Dead

SHE HAS A NAME: A mother of three, pastor + high school track coach, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton was killed at AME. http://t.co/rvXe1y33Ry

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Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) June 18, 2015

SHE HAS A NAME: Susie Jackson, a longtime church member was killed at AME Church last night. http://t.co/oUL7n1DGBw

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Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) June 18, 2015

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For the dead, we say, “Amen”. And for the living.
There are too many dead, and the living are riven.

Every day, a new horror, a new loss of innocence,
And the night-dimmed tide swallows us.

There is no innocence; this is a fallen world,
And men of evil revel in destruction.

When is it enough? It’s never enough.
Violence has an army of reasons,

And peace seems to be an idea
Honored more in the breach than the observance.

This is not your heritage; it is evil.
This is not your freedom; it is slavery.

Do that which you would have done unto you;
Flee from that which is harmful to all.

The answer is there, to be teased out
Of life, hard life, the only life we have.

Remember the dead, for they speak from the earth,
Pleading, “Let us not be in vain.”

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SHE HAS A NAME; Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor, a mother of four daughters, singer in church choir was killed at AME. http://t.co/YoqNF1yiOD

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Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) June 18, 2015

HE HAS A NAME: Rev. Daniel Simmons, Sr., another pastor at the Emanuel AME church who was killed last night. http://t.co/n4sz9GBBxf

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Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) June 18, 2015

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HE HAS A NAME: Rev Clementa Pinckney, a State Senator + Pastor of Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. Killed last night http://t.co/hkDgCdlobc

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Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) June 18, 2015

SHE HAS A NAME: Ethel Lee Lance, worked at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston for 30 years. She was killed last night. http://t.co/7OHjsnhD8f

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Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) June 18, 2015

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SHE HAS A NAME: Myra Thompson, killed last night at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. She was teaching bible study. http://t.co/NlqoNfjPP2

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Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) June 19, 2015

HE HAS A NAME: Tywanza Sanders, a 2014 graduate of Allen University was killed last night at the Emanuel AME church. http://t.co/oQa1SQlbx8

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Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) June 18, 2015

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SHE HAS A NAME: Cynthia Hurd worked for Charleston County Public Library for 31 yrs. Killed last night at AME Church http://t.co/jgJY9acnRc

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Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) June 18, 2015

Lord have mercy All nine victims of Charleston shooting identified thegrio.com/2015/06/18/cha… http://t.co/gof7tf5Qts

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TheObamaCAT (@TheObamaCat) June 18, 2015