He didn't introduce himself. He didn't have to.....Veterans Day with President Obama

[kpete]

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


ARLINGTON, Va. - He didn't introduce himself. He didn't have to.

..............

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

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.

PLEASE READ IT ALL:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/11/12/2009-11-12_my_solemn_surprise_meeting_with_the_president_at_my_friends_resting_place.html?print=1&page=all

[liberal N proud]

1. Now I am all choked up

What a touching story!

Get your tissue ready for reading this.

[hobbit709]

2. You never saw Idiot Son George doing this.

[gratuitous]

8. Sure you did - in his own way

With a camera crew in tow, wearing a jacket with the presidential seal and his name embroidered on it, grinning that big goofy grin and serving a plastic turkey. Just a little stylistic difference, where the focus by one man is on the soldiers and the focus by the other man is on himself.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Impressive considering he writes for them.

[gblady]

4. tissues needed for sure....

thanks for sharing...
I so admire our President for how he is immersing himself in the real cost of war...
and I hope it will inform his decision on sending more to war.

[JohnnyLib2]

5. A very fine report.

Recommended for the humanity.

[white cloud]

6. RIP

Thanks for the read. And thanks to all the true heroes.

[MoJoWorkin]

7. Yep, this is what happens when you meet him person to person.

I first met, and got to have a conversation with, Senate candidate Obama, in a Southern Illinois farm field gathering in the fall of 2004. I was instantly disarmed by his intelligence, sincerity, warmth and generosity of spirit. I knew at that moment he would be President some day, and that he would be a good one.

I have not changed my opinion of him one bit since that day. He is the absolute right person for the job of cleaning up this total mess he inherited. We are lucky to have him give so much of himself for us.

[jaxx]

12. Yep, I felt the same way.

Met him the fall of 2004 in a park in west central IL. He was all you said and real. I walked away thinking someday that man will be president.

And so it was.

[Tarheel_Dem]

13. +10,000. And I am so jealous. (nt)

[MoJoWorkin]

14. I was extremely lucky to have had those moments in 2004---

I went to his town hall here is Springfield, MO, in July 2008, and his rally of 40,000 here again in Springfield, just a few days before the election-- so I have seen him three times. The last two were far from that personal meeting in 2004. Never again would I, or most people, get the opportunity I had then.
I was visiting my daughter, who lives in Edwardsville, IL, and we happened to see there was going to be a farm rally for candidate Obama, in Macoupin Co (one county to the north). I am so glad today that we decided to make the drive to see him.

[madokie]

19. Yes we are so lucky that we have him

[opihimoimoi]

9. The man is PRICELESS...he gives new meaning to LEADERSHIP

*sniff*

[barbtries]

10. i did read it all

whether rightly or wrongly i perceive President Obama as a man who is subject to being moved by his experience at the cemetery yesterday.

peace.

[MoJoWorkin]

11. Of course he was moved, but I doubt it changed him in the way you think...

as he already has within him the goodness to do what is right; because he tries to put himself in other people's shoes.

He REALLY CARES--I am convinced of that.

[arthritisR_US]

18. I concur. n/t

[robinlynne]

15. beautiful.

[wroberts189]

16. knr... but be prepared to cry. nt

[arthritisR_US]

17. your President is truly a class act and his lovely wife a true gem. n/t