Is Obama Wrong to Skip Arlington on Memorial Day?

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Supra Shoes of AL 8:28PM January 14, 2011

I would like to add another question. Why is Arlington the only National Cemetery that is important on Memorial Day? Others have lost loved ones and should have the oportunity that IL almost had. There is more than one National Cemetery in the United States!

LN of IL 2:56AM June 02, 2010

I understand that change is hard. My question is, my grandfather was in the Army Air Corp in WWII and his brother was in the same war and was MIA for a while. I also have family in the SD Nationl Cemetery. Didn't I deserve to see the President live on Memorial Day or is it just Arlington, VA that deserves it every year?

LN of IL 2:49AM June 02, 2010

There are many national security reasons for a president to be absent from his duty to our war dead that make this country what it is, however a vacation for the family flies in the face of all who served and gave life to our freedom. Can we expect a man who says we are not a Christian Nation to do his due diligence to duties that to all Americans hold sacred. SHAME on this man that holds the countries highest office. He needs to be replaced, I hope all vote their convictions to keep this a Christian nation that prays and honors are fallen sons and daughters that keep us free.

Don Santa Anna of TX 5:54AM June 01, 2010

My father is a military vet that gave 30 years active and 13 after the 30 years to our great country. He always told me to respect our leaders no matter if you voted for them or not. When we sat down for lunch today and he told me that Mr.Obmam did not visit Arlington cemetery I was very upset and told him that this was a slap in the face, to you and all the great men and women that have giving there lives for our FREEDOM. So to you Mr.Obama , I will do my best to make sure that you will never get my support. Yes you went to your favorite president, Abe Lincoln to pay respects but you need to know that the country you lead is losing a lot of respect in you. For a real leader in this country, maybe people should look at Colin Powell, its to bad he didn't run. I feel very blessed by the sacrifice these men and women gave to let me live in the BEST COUNTRY in the world. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

George L Bosse Jr of FL 8:10PM May 31, 2010

George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush all missed Memorial Day at Arlington while President for personal reasons at least once while President. I looked back through Google and couldn't find criticism of them but there is an abundance today for our current President. The important thing is that he has honored our troops, he's visited Arlington on days that are not of national observance, he's been there at Dover when the troops have come home after having paid the ultimate sacrifice and he will be honoring troops that are just as important as the ones at Arlington at the Lincoln National Cemetery in Chicago. As a Republican and as the sister of a veteran who died in Vietnam, I'm repulsed by the handling of this situation. Has the media no shame that they will attack this President for everything he does, despite a Republican president having done the same? Nobody else knows what our Presidents go through each night when they try to sleep thinking of our troops in harms way. There's a reason why they all age in office and it's not always the stress of the job. They have the weight of the world on their shoulders, they should have the support of their country at their back.

Kate of NC 6:19PM May 31, 2010

As a military wife for over forty years I have attended many events that celebrated one occassion after another petaining to our country. Many times The seats were hard, the sun burning down, rain pouring from the sky. but the event carried on and I was there because I was a loyal American Military wife whose husband had seen several years of combat duty. Now, if our president cannot go to the site of our national beavement, the man is not worth my time to type his name. Thank God for a next time. He will surely be voted out ...at least in my opinion for the families of the American dead hero's are mighty and we take offence to the likes of someone dishonoring our honored dead.

peggy shepherd of KY 2:32PM May 31, 2010

All Veterans are important all year long! Every person who has a family member, friend, or loved one at a Veteran's cemetary knows that the cemetary they visit, whether it is in Elwood, IL, Washington, DC or Anywhere, USA; that is the most important Veteran Cemetary becasue that is where they go to remember the fallen soldiers!
God bless them all for protecting our country and our freedom in all past and present wars!

Beth Laken of IL 12:34PM May 31, 2010

American or not... The last President to skip Arlington was George W. Bush in 2007. He was on vacation in Texas. President George H.W. Bush spent Memorial Day in 1992 in Kennebunkport, Maine. and in 1983 Ronald Reagan was at a G-7 Summit meeting in Williamsburg, Virginia.
How quick we forget and quick we are to judge.

Ken Montgomery of NY 12:19PM May 31, 2010

I too served this country for many years. I too gave up on my plans to attend to duties overseas. I too know what it feels like to fullfill obligations. I for one disagree with your statement. If the military taught me anything it was that the Commander in Chief position is a very hard position to have. I was taught to respect my president and his decisions as long as they were made for the good of the people. I am truly honored that our president instead of going to the National celebration, instead of putting on a show for the media, chose to go honor the soldiers at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. These soldiers are just as deserving and these soldiers rarely get a visit from Presidents of this country. If you ask me our presidents should make a greater effort to honor those who are "unknown" to the media.

Renee of MT 12:18PM May 31, 2010