Looks Like Obama Forgot Something Again...

[Nikita2Charles 32]

My solemn meeting on Veterans Day with President Obama at my friend's resting place in Arlington

BY James Gordon Meek

DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU

Thursday, November 12th 2009, 4:00 AM

Miller/NewsPresident Obama places a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Wednesday.

Sloan/GettyPresident Obama extends a hand to James Gordon Meek (left) of the Daily News Washington Bureau. FOR PICS FROM VETERANS DAY PARADE, CLICK IMAGE.

Gravestone of Pfc. David Sharrett at Arlington National Cemetery.

Pfc. David H. Sharrett II with his proud father, also named David, at Fort Benning, Ga. Related NewsArticlesObama pays tribute to America's soldiers on Veterans DayArmy being forced to confront friendly fire truth by fathers of slain G.I.sWatching soldier die hits too close to homeArmy lied about how my son died in IraqARLINGTON, Va. - He didn't introduce himself. He didn't have to.

President Obama simply stuck out his hand and asked for my name as he stepped toward me amid a bone-chilling drizzle in the Gardens of Stone.

This was Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery. I wasn't there as a reporter, but to visit some friends and family buried there when Obama made an unscheduled stop - a rare presidential walk among what Lincoln called America's "honored dead" - after laying a Veterans Day wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

What I got was an unexpected look into the eyes of a man who intertwined his roles as commander in chief and consoler in chief on a solemn day filled with remembrance and respect for sacrifices made - and sacrifices yet to be made.

I'm sure the cynics will assume this wasjust anotherObama photoop.

If they'd been standing in my boots looking him in the eye, they would have surely choked on their bile.

His presence in Section 60 convinced me that he now carries the heavy burden of command.

I had stopped at Arlington to see the resting place of Ken Taylor, Ed Lenard and Dave Sharrett. Ken and Ed survived their service, in World War II and Korea, and died as old men. Dave did not leave Iraq alive. He was 27.

Obama arrived just before noon at the serene Section 60, where many of the dead from Iraq and Afghanistan are buried together - and where many more heroes will undoubtedly be laid to rest before this President leaves office.

It's a section typically bustling with those visiting loved ones. Every time I go there, more and more graves have been dug into the earth.

The President and First Lady Michelle Obama emerged from their armored limousine hatless in the frigid downpour and took a slow stroll into the soggy rows of white marble headstones.

They stopped first at the grave of Medal of Honor recipient Ross McGinnis, an Army private who threw himself on a grenade in Iraq three years ago to save four buddies.

A sad-faced woman reached for Obama's hand and pointed him to a nearby plot.

The face of another woman - who had grimly sat in a folding chair for hours next to a headstone she'd arranged flowers around - suddenly broadened into a smile as she stood to embrace Obama and thank him for paying his respects.

She was so overcome with emotion that a soldier from the Army's Old Guard had to console her afterward.

The President patted backs of adozen other Gold Star relativesand troops visiting buddiesnow in the ground.

He gave hugs. He shook wet, chilly hands. He wanted to know something about each fallen warrior.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2...l#ixzz0WrD9q6PL

He began to slowly trudge back toward the motorcade - and to another White House huddle with his war council, which is advising him whether to send up to 40,000 additional troops into harm's way in Afghanistan.

And then Obama noticed a tall, bearded figure. He probably didn't see the mud-caked combat boots I trudged around Afghanistan in a few years ago.

"What's your name?" a somber President asked as he extended his hand.

"James Meek, sir," I replied, struggling to pull off my wool glove and pull my hood back from my head. "I'm here visiting a friend, Pfc. David H. Sharrett II, who was killed in Iraq last year."

He asked how I knew Dave. I explained that his father, also named David, was my high school English teacher in nearby McLean, Va. My classmates and I knew Dave as a little boy playing at our feet.

"He became a star football player and was one of the toughest soldiers in the 101st Airborne Division," I told Obama.

I didn't tell the commander in chief that Dave was killed by friendly fire. Or that the Army bungled notifying Dave's parents of a probe that concluded his lieutenant tragically mistook him for a terrorist in the dark and shot him. Or that his family had to fight for accountability - which two battlefield commanders promised but stateside generals derailed.

That wouldn't have been appropriate, Dave's deeply grateful father later agreed.

"Well, we appreciate his service very much," Obama told me.

I then told him I'm a reporter for the Daily News - but was just there to visit friends.

"Well, James," he said, looking me in the eye, "just because you're a journalist doesn't mean you can't honor your friends here."

The First Lady smiled and squeezed my hand. I thanked her for coming to Section 60.

Her face opened up into a smile filled with warmth and comfort, a welcome antidote for the weather and sadness around her. She said there was no finer place to be on Veterans Day.

Ironically, I was ready to leave the cemetery an hour earlier, but it went into lockdown because of Obama's visit.

"Sorry for any inconvenience," a terribly polite Secret Service agent whispered in my ear.

As the Obamas ended their pilgrimage through Arlington's hallowed ground, inconvenience was hardly what I felt standing there as the rain pelted my coat, staring at blades of grass around a headstone etched with a name and a date I will never forget.

jmeek@nydailynews.com

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2...1#ixzz0WrDMAFR6

Edited November 14, 2009 by Nikita2Charles

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

How can this be worth a 4 page thread?

People have too much time on their hands

[alienlovechild 75]

must be that damned brown skin, huh? Doesn't quite fit, eh? That's what I thought.

LMAO at the . ignorance. This is just entertaining, keep it up. I love to be reminded of how utterly ignorant and afraid much of the American population truly is. Not to mention racist. Just shows America's roots, in case you forgot how things got started around here. It's really a shame.

You're so right. America will never elect a black man president.

Talk about utterly ignorant.

[Joseph & Ana 0]

Like others have said this is a milisecond in time & we don't know the full context of what actually happened. However please bear in mind that the OP has served exactly 0 days in uniform & he has previously compared Obama to Osama Bin Laden. Not exactly the poster child for being objective on the matter. Meanwhile I have served 20 yrs, including Bosnia & Iraq, and have been decorated about 20 times in my career (including a bronze star & meritorious service medal).

I have made my disappointment with former President Bush very well known but at no time did I question his patriotism or loyalty to our nation. For all of you partisan hacks attacking President Obama on this issue shame on you.

Nowhereman (who served in Iraq and Bosnia) and everyone else.

I knew the context was wrong when posting it. It was parody. But its nice to see you all foaming at the mouth again. Yuk yuk yuk...

[nowhereman 1]

Like others have said this is a milisecond in time & we don't know the full context of what actually happened. However please bear in mind that the OP has served exactly 0 days in uniform & he has previously compared Obama to Osama Bin Laden. Not exactly the poster child for being objective on the matter. Meanwhile I have served 20 yrs, including Bosnia & Iraq, and have been decorated about 20 times in my career (including a bronze star & meritorious service medal).

I have made my disappointment with former President Bush very well known but at no time did I question his patriotism or loyalty to our nation. For all of you partisan hacks attacking President Obama on this issue shame on you.

Nowhereman (who served in Iraq and Bosnia) and everyone else.

I knew the context was wrong when posting it. It was parody. But its nice to see you all foaming at the mouth again. Yuk yuk yuk...

Looks exactly the same as your serious/ignorant posts, so not really that funny.

[Tsup2 0]

How do you explain this?

Edited November 15, 2009 by Tsup2

[Chica Yeyé 41]

How do you explain this?

It's called protocol, idiot.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

How do you explain this?

You're right, Obama should have given them the finger.

Edited November 15, 2009 by IR5FORMUMSIE

[Ban Hammer 13,337]

How do you explain this?

It's called protocol, idiot.

presidents do not bow before foreign dignitaries

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

How do you explain this?

It's called protocol, idiot.

presidents do not bow before foreign dignitaries

Bullsh*t! Being the President of The United States of America means representing the people of The United States of America. Are we to believe that Americans are rude, boorish azzholes? Noblesse Oblige doesn't only apply to the Corps.

[Ban Hammer 13,337]

How do you explain this?

It's called protocol, idiot.

presidents do not bow before foreign dignitaries

Bullsh*t! Being the President of The United States of America means representing the people of The United States of America. Are we to believe that Americans are rude, boorish azzholes? Noblesse Oblige doesn't only apply to the Corps.

you can bow then, i won't. and i don't expect my president to bow either. it's a sign of subservience.

"The bow was an extraordinary protocol violation. Such an act is a traditional obeisance befitting a king's subjects, not his peer. There is no precedent for U.S. presidents bowing to Saudi or any other royals. Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt shook hands with Saudi King Abdulaziz in February 1945. Granted, Mr. Roosevelt was wheelchair-bound, but former President Dwight D. Eisenhower shook hands when he first met King Saud in January 1957."

link

Edited November 15, 2009 by charles!

[Tsup2 0]

Typical liberal. Whenever you can't win an argument you start name calling. Presidents of the United States do not bow before any foreign dignitaries. They also don't personally lobby Olympic Committees and give shout outs before offering condolences to shooting victims.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Typical liberal. Whenever you can't win an argument you start name calling. Presidents of the United States do not bow before any foreign dignitaries. They also don't personally lobby Olympic Committees and give shout outs before offering condolences to shooting victims.

You'd rather he kiss him and hold his hand like they're lovers.

Edited November 15, 2009 by Galt's gallstones

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

How do you explain this?

It's called protocol, idiot.

presidents do not bow before foreign dignitaries

Bullsh*t! Being the President of The United States of America means representing the people of The United States of America. Are we to believe that Americans are rude, boorish azzholes? Noblesse Oblige doesn't only apply to the Corps.

you can bow then, i won't. and i don't expect my president to bow either. it's a sign of subservience.

"The bow was an extraordinary protocol violation. Such an act is a traditional obeisance befitting a king's subjects, not his peer. There is no precedent for U.S. presidents bowing to Saudi or any other royals. Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt shook hands with Saudi King Abdulaziz in February 1945. Granted, Mr. Roosevelt was wheelchair-bound, but former President Dwight D. Eisenhower shook hands when he first met King Saud in January 1957."

link

Obama is President, or are you in the birther movement too?

[one...two...tree 2,762]