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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”.
Arlington National Cemetery
The initial funeral arrangements for Sen. Ted Kennedy will have him lie in state at the JFK Presidential Library in Boston, MA. It is still unsure if he will by lie in state in the Capitol Building in Washington DC.
Then the Senator will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Having served in the US Army and then elected to the Senate, Kennedy qualifies for burial at Arlington.
It is not known yet exactly where in Arlington he will be buried, although the grave of Robert Kennedy is not far from that of President John Kennedy. The body of the eldest Kennedy brother, Joseph Kennedy Jr., who was killed in WWII, was never recovered.
Civilians and military personnel alike take time to volunteer at the holidays to honor our fallen heroes:
At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
