President Obama Pays Tribute To The Fallen

President Barack Obama and Major General Bradley A. Becker, Commander of the Military District of Washington, listen to the US national anthem before placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns to honor Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery

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President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the Amphitheater after laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

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President Barack Obama lays a coin on a grave in Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery

President Obama Delivers Remarks At Arlington National Cemetery

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11AM EDT

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11:20AM EDT

memorial day

President Obama lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington National Cemetery, May 30

..with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen

First lady Michelle Obama greets Bob and Elizabeth Dole

President Obama place a challenge coin on the grave of a fallen soldier at Arlington National Cemetery

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This made me laugh – there’s not a single mention of the President of the United States’ address at Arlington on Halperin’s page, instead the lead story is about…… the Flip-Flopper releasing a statement on Memorial Day 🙄

Comical.

homage

U.S. President Barack Obama lights a prayer candle at the tomb of Archbishop Oscar Romero during his tour of the National Cathedral with Monsignor Jose Escobar in San Salvador, El Salvador, March 22

Earlier post here about Archbishop Romero

spelling it out

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama pose for a photo with local school children as they tour Humayun’s Tomb, in Delhi, India on November 7

sightseers

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama tour through Humayun’s Tomb in New Dehli on November 7

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new delhi, new friends

…meeting local children as they tour Humayun’s Tomb in New Dehli on November 7

oh noes: do republicans hate america too?!?

You know the way Teabaggers and assorted pea-brained right-wingers are slamming President Obama for choosing to take part in a Memorial Day event in Chicago and have Vice President Joe Biden lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery?

It’s a sign of disrespect to the military and it’s UNPRECEDENTED, they say!

Oh really?

Memorial Day, 1992: Vice President Dan Quayle, representing George H.W. Bush, laying a wreath before the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.

Boston Globe, May 26, 1992: Wrapping up his Memorial Day weekend trip, Bush played a final round of golf in chilly weather before delivering his remarks to the American Legion members in in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Memorial Day, 1983: President Reagan sent Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Thayer to Arlington to represent him.

Memorial Day, 2002: President George W. Bush commemorated Memorial Day at Normandy, not Arlington.

More here

Washington Post: “Ronald Reagan spoke at West Point one year, and went to his California ranch another year. George H.W. Bush, a war veteran, did not go (to Arlington on Memorial Day) at all.”

Ryan Gallucci, spokesman for AMVETS: “We don’t really see the big deal, so long as he’s taking time to honor our fallen war heroes throughout Memorial Day weekend. After all, it’s not groundbreaking for a sitting president to visit other national cemeteries or overseas … cemeteries over the holiday. Arlington is certainly not the only place our fallen heroes are buried, so why not pay your respects to veterans around the country?”