For the first time since 1992, the American president is delegating the wreath-laying service at Arlington Cemetery on Memorial Day; Mr. Obama is jetting to Chicago aboard Air Force One to enjoy the three-day weekend with his family, leaving the honor of placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to Vice President Joe Biden.
In 2002, President George W. Bush attended a solemn ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer; 9387 American soldiers are buried in this cemetery near Sainte-Mere-Eglise, the first town in France to be liberated by American troops during the World War II D-Day Invasion, June 6, 1944. Many remember watching the televised ceremonies and President Bush's moving tribute these fallen heroes.
Fortunately, the men and women who serve in uniform can take comfort knowing that the current president’s priorities are in order: he will return to the White House on June 2nd, just in time to present Sir Paul McCartney with the Gershwin Prize, a lifetime achievement award for contributions to pop music.
This marks the first time since 1992 that a U.S. President has delegated honoring those who died in service to our nation. During his 1992 presidential campaign, former President George H.W. Bush, a decorated military war hero, observed the holiday in Maine while his vice president, Dan Quayle (who served in the Illinois National Guard), attended to the ceremony in his stead.
The mainstream media remains Mr. Obama’s friend and marketing division by defending his decision to skip the wreath-laying on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier next Monday:
“So what the hell do these conservatives want out of Obama? And does it matter if Obama throws some leaves on a tomb?” David Corn, www.politicsdaily.com
Let’s take a moment to assess Mr. Obama and his relationship with the military and his concern for the security of our country:
Mr. Obama has not served in the military.
Mr. Obama finds the phrase “war on terror” distasteful, preferring “overseas contingency operation.” Terrorism is now “man-caused disasters.”
Mr. Obama doesn’t condone using terms like “radical Islam,” nor does he approve of the term “enemy combatant.” The Obama administration prefers: "individuals who provide substantial support to al-Qaida forces in other parts of the world may properly be deemed part of al-Qaida itself ...”
Mr. Obama’s Attorney General, Eric Holder, wants to give “individuals who provide substantial support to al-Qaida …” civilian trials in New York City (the scene of the most heinous attack on American soil, September 11, 2001) instead of military tribunals despite strong objections from the American people, including many of the families of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
Recently, three Navy Seals were charged with abusing Ahmed Hashim Abed who claimed that Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew McCabe punched him in the stomach. Also charged, Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas and Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Keefe with dereliction of duty based on allegations that they failed to safeguard the prisoner.
According to USNavySeals.com, an unofficial blog; “In addition to being accused of masterminding the killing of four Blackwater contractors and dragging their charred bodies in the streets before hanging them [from] a bridge over the Euphrates, [Abed] is also said to have committed a series of killings – beheadings included – as an Al Qaeda operative in western Anbar province. He is also said to be responsible for recruitment, weapons trafficking, ambushes and attacks using improvised explosive devices…”
Three American heroes were arrested, charged and tried because a terrorist claimed that one punched him in the stomach; all three Navy Seals were found not guilty.
On November 5, 2009, another “man-caused disaster” occurred at Fort Hood; Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan murdered 13 people and wounded 29 others in the first act of terrorism on American soil since September 11, 2001.
Mr. Obama was slow to issue a statement regarding the attack, eventually noting the attack during a brief press conference before moving on to promote his health care agenda.
Mr. Obama called the attack a “tragedy,” not terrorism.
The administration and military failed to note or act on information about Major Hasan, a Muslim born in Virginia to Jordanian immigrants.
Since the attack on Ft. Hood, we’ve learned the FBI and Major Hasan’s superiors were aware of Major Hasan’s extremist views at least six months prior to the attack. Major Hasan was monitored by intelligence services because he exchanged e-mails, asking for guidance regarding violence, with radical Imam Anwar al-Awlaki.
U.S. Major Hasan’s business cards identified him as a “Soldier of Islam.”
Hasan was “on the radar” of his associates, superiors and officials, yet they failed to act due to concerns about “…hearings and potential legal conflict.” Fox News
When one takes all of the above into consideration, it is obvious that the current administration is reluctant to identify radical Islamic terrorists and their hostile agenda for America, yet comfortable showing a lack of respect and support for those who serve in uniform.
After a year and a half of apologizing to the world for his perceptions of America’s transgressions and bowing to foreign kings, Mr. Obama continues to show his true colors … and they are not Red, White and Blue.
This Memorial Day, The Bold Pursuit honors the men and women who serve in uniform and pays tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, our freedom and democracy. Below is The Sentinels Creed of the Tomb Guards at Arlington National Cemetery:
The Sentinels Creed
My dedication to this sacred duty
is total and whole-hearted.
In the responsibility bestowed on me
never will I falter.
And with dignity and perseverance
my standard will remain perfection.
Through the years of diligence and praise
and the discomfort of the elements,
I will walk my tour in humble reverence
to the best of my ability.
It is he who commands the respect I protect,
his bravery that made us so proud.
Surrounded by well meaning crowds by day,
alone in the thoughtful peace of night,
this soldier will in honored glory rest
under my eternal vigilance.
After reading The Sentinels Creed, it’s easy to understand why so many Americans are displeased with Mr. Obama’s decision to take a personal vacation instead of paying tribute to those who served our nation.
TombGuard.Org:
“The Sentinel's Creed are the 99 words we live by. The words bring vast emotions to the surface when spoken by a Sentinel. We tend to stand a little taller, back a little straighter and our head just a little higher. These words capture the true meaning of why we are Tomb Guards. When ever a Tomb Guard salutes a commissioned officer, they always say in a loud voice:
"Line Six, Sir!"
© The Bold Pursuit, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Mr Obama thinks he is above the law so to speak
ReplyDeletehe is better than other presidents and is entitled to skip this. There is duty; he could have vacationed another weekend and taken his daughters out of school. What a shame.
A kind reader reminded us that President George W. Bush honored the soldiers who died during the D-Day invasion of Normandy in 1944. Over 9000 soldiers are buried at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, near Sainte-Mere-Eglise, the first town in France to be liberated by American troops. The speech was televised world-wide and covered by international news media. President Bush's absence from Arlington on Memorial Day in 2002 is hardly a slight; he acknowledged the actions of American troops who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.
ReplyDeleteThe oath I took says I have to obey the orders of the President and officers appointed above me according to the laws and constitution. Makes me want to puke as this is one of the most trying times in my career.
ReplyDeleteBrava, Clio. Your blog is an extremely powerful, well crafted tour de force, obviously written by a dedicated patriot. Your selection of The Sentinel's Creed as part of your conclusion is brilliant.
ReplyDeleteExcellent article Clio. Thank you so much! I do want to note some additional facts regarding George H.W. Bush missing the laying of the wreath once during his terms as president:
ReplyDeleteSo....In response to the fan defending the President and stating that President Reagan and George H.W. Bush have allowed others to lay the wreath at Arlington Cemetery to honor troops. LET US LOOK AT THE REAL FACTS… ALL OF THEM.
1. 1983: The AP reported that President Reagan attended a "summit meeting in Williamsburg, Va., with leaders of the industrialized democracies.” Deputy Secretary of Defense W. Paul Thayer laid a wreath at Arlington Cemetery during the Memorial Day ceremony in 1983, according to a May 31, 1983, Washington Post article (accessed via Nexis).
REAGAN WAS PRESIDENT FOR 8 YEARS AND ONLY MISSED ONCE FOR A DARN BETTER REASON THAN GOING ON PERSONAL VACATION AND HE DID NOT DO IT IN HIS FIRST TERM.
Ronald Reagan term of office — January 20, 1981 - January 20, 1989
2. 1992: George H.W. Bush allowed VP Quayle to lay the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, according to a May 26, 1992, Boston Globe article (accessed via the Nexis database). The Globe reported that President George H.W. Bush attended a wreath-laying ceremony and made brief remarks at an American Legion hall in Kennebunkport, Maine, where he also played a round of golf.
GEORGE H.W. BUSH WAS PRESIDENT FOR FOUR YEARS AND ONLY MISSED ONCE. HE DID NOT DO THIS DURING HIS FIRST TERM EITHER.
George H.W. Bush term of office – 1989-1993.
THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL STATEMENT. JUST FACT.
Susan Larson Buckley
Tonight, I'm posting a Comments and Blog Submissions Policy.
ReplyDeleteYesterday and today, a certain Anonymous individual tried to post what I considered rude or hostile remarks. The third post was an attempt to reach/attack the author of one of the comments posted above. I want to be very clear about two things: 1. I support our First Amendment rights and 2. This is my blog, it is a conservative blog and I WILL reject any comment that is unfit for The Bold Pursuit. I see no contradiction in my position regarding free speech and deleting hostile comments. Readers are free to post comments that question or are critical of TBP's content, provided the remarks are respectful and are in accordance with our Comments policy. The Bold Pursuit is a conservative blog and the content presented reflects our fundamental beliefs. Trolls and anti-conservative readers may find they are more comfortable in other political commentary venues.
Quick update re. Anonymous poster (see comment above): I shall refer to him/her as "Springfield.” After making 21 visits within a couple of days and spending 12 hrs, 32 mins. and 47 seconds on my blog, Springfield must be quite anxious to receive a publication/validation of his remarks. Springfield sent another comment this morning with a plea to publish his comments. I will respond, however, once a comment is rejected, Blogger deletes it. I was able to retrieve two alerts which contained Springfield’s comments from my Trash folder. I will re-post as a blog with my notes. I won’t make a habit of this type of interaction with posters in the future.
ReplyDeleteBTW, the poster who wanted to engage another poster in a snarky confrontation, I will refer to in the future as “Sacramento.” (Apologies to Springfield for the misunderstanding.)
A special ‘thank you’ to StatCounter for their wonderful web analytics! I learn so much…
"I see no contradiction in my position regarding free speech and deleting hostile comments."
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your blog Cleo, and I agree with you 100% concerning your willingness do delete inappropriate comments. All ideas can be expressed while using common courtesy.
Great blog!
Thanks, David