Alright, President Obama is miffed that they have not “filled that damn hole” in the Gulf of Mexico, and because of that, he has to postpone his mini-vacation to Chicago for Memorial Day weekend.
Yes, its Memorial Day Weekend, and the President of the United States will NOT be present to lay a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery, the hallowed ground that pays homage to our greatest lost treasures– those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for OUR Freedom.
President Bill Clinton paid tribute to our fallen heroes on each of the eight Memorial Days of his Presidency. His successor, President George W. Bush, missed one of his eight Memorial Days. Oh, but the one he missed, in 2002, was to attend a Memorial Day commemoration– at Normandy. And it has been said that his father, George HW Bush, missed one of his 4 Memorial Days, but, given that he is a WWII veteran who was shot down in battle, I think he gets a pass.
Several years ago, my son and I had the honor to first spend a crisp Fall morning watching the cadets at the United States Naval Academy. Later in the day, we walked through the gates of Arlington National Cemetery. The honor guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier highlights the solemn sacrifice of our heroes.

Yes, President Obama will attend a ceremony at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, and the families of our heroes buried there will be appreciative of his presence. But it is at Arlington that the symbolism of this great nation comes full fold. The President, whose stature with our military as stressed thin as it is, should not be giving the appearance that his appearance on Memorial Day is secondary to his “mini-vacation”.

9 comments
Comments feed for this article
May 27, 2010 at 9:21 am
HistorianDude
So let me get this right…. Obama will be honoring our fallen on Memorial day, and your complaint is that he will be at the wrong cemetery?
Obama Derangement Syndrome makes you guys upset about some very weird things.
PS. Ron Reagan didn’t go to Arlington 4 out of 8 years
May 27, 2010 at 11:47 am
JAMES
My complaint is that his “honoring” is secondary to his vacation. Plain and simple. But, I guess we should be thankful he honors our fallen heroes or those who have served this country so honorably, such as IB or yourself, at all. I am sure it causes him great pain to honor the military.
May 27, 2010 at 1:07 pm
HistorianDude
Your complaint is that Obama is doing something. And you will always find something to complain about if Obama is doing something.
You have no idea what is ‘secondary” or what is “primary.” You know only that Obama is involved and so the derangement syndrome kicks in.
May 27, 2010 at 2:55 pm
HistorianDude
Since all the Birther thread are buried, I thought this might interest you:
Barack Obama qualifies to join the National Society for the Sons of the American Revolution.
http://wargs.com/political/obama.html
How about you James?
May 27, 2010 at 6:36 pm
JAMES
how but me what…. my family immigrated from England, Ireland, and Scotland in the late 1800′s and early 1900′s, depending on when their quota number came up so they could come to this great land to build a great life… you know, the real American Dream of my Great Grandfathers. I don’t need a ghost writer like Bill Ayers to pen a faux non-fiction memoir.
And I know that I descend from true patriots, for as I have written before, from Normandy to Korea, Cuba to Haiti, Vietnam to Kuwait, Khandahar to Baghdad, my family of patriots have served with honor and taken the enemy fire (one a bullet in Normandy, another shot down in Korea). Since Obama is allegedly related to Dick Cheney and Brad Pitt, I assume they are being recognized with the same great distinction.
May 28, 2010 at 9:26 am
HistorianDude
So… what I understand from this is that Obama has better and deeper “patriot” bona fides than you do. Isn’t that fabulous?
Let no irony go unsmelted!!!
Another question, James.
I’ll be at a veteran’s cemetery on Monday, visiting the grave of my father who was a WWII vet. I’m driving more than 300 miles to be there. Our President will be visiting the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery on that same day.
Where will you be, James? Having a cook out?
PS: There are no “cadets” at the Naval Academy. Just thought you should know.
May 29, 2010 at 9:59 am
JAMES
Allegedly having patriots in his lineage does not make him a patriot. His family ties to a patriot like Dick Cheney does not make him a patriot. And I find it amazing that someone like you who, by your comments in the past, I would say valiantly served this great nation, finds honor in the character of this President. Obama’s lineage is not deeper or better or any more bona fide as patriots than any other American who fights for the preservation of our Republic, in whatever form. Do you think his lineage is any better, deeper or bona fide patriotic than the patriot you will travel 300 miles to pay homage to on Monday? I don’t think so.
Our President will spend no more than 30 minutes at the Lincoln National Cemetery, and then be off to a cookout with his wife, children and other family.
From 25-94, those of my family who have served this great nation, taken bullets for our freedom, been shot from the sky for our freedom, are, by the grace of God, still here, with the exception of my father, and we’ll put a flag on his marker…………….. before our BBQ !!
That being said, drop the BS on Obama’s patriotic lineage. The memory of those pariots should not have to bear the burden of this Presidency being linked to them.
May 29, 2010 at 10:00 am
JAMES
And yes, I had already been corrected on “cadets” being midshipmen!
May 31, 2010 at 6:35 am
celtic bill
listen…..OBAMA is a socialist thug.going to a cemetary to honor TRUE AMERICAN PATRIOTS who made the ultimate scarifice,will ruin his day….just goes to show you how far a TRUE AMERICAN PATRIOT can mess with the enemy.and he is the enemy……i just want one thing from him….do not support the BOSTON CELTICS.everyone this guy supports,”LOSES”……3PM today…HONOR OUR WAR DEAD with silence or whatever way you choose………..he didn”t take that away yet……….GOD BLESS AMERICA