USNAviator
05-31-10, 01:50 PM
Biden Pays Tribute at Arlington as Obama Memorial Day Event is Rained Out
Published May 31, 2010
| FOXNews.com
<!-- /user-interaction --> As President Obama was trapped in rain trying to pay his respects to America's war dead Monday at a ceremony in Illinois, Vice President Biden spoke at a sunny Arlington National Cemetery to offer words of respect to the fallen and a solemn tribute to troops now fighting to secure America from new enemies.
In Elwood, Ill., Obama's trip to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery was disrupted by a torrential downpour complete with lightning. The president stood under a large umbrella at the podium to ask guests at the event to return to their cars while the storm passed but the president's car ended up leaving the site midday as the rain continued to fall.
We don't want to endanger anyone, particularly children in the audience. So I'd ask everybody to very calmly, move back to your cars. I'm going to move back to mine. We will wait to make sure that the thunder has passed. A little bit of rain doesn't hurt anybody but we don't want anybody being struck by lightning. God bless you everybody," the president said as the audience cleared out.
He waited at an administration building for about a half hour, but the crowd, which included Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Roland Burris, dispersed after being notified the president left.
Back in Arlington, Vice President Biden first laid the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at the cemetery on the other side of the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., a tradition Obama participated in last year during his first year of his presidency.
Biden then assumed the air of a commander-in-chief, saying that the United States has the best fighting force ever assembled.
"This is the finest military the world has ever produced. Period," Biden said from the memorial amphitheater.
Thanks Joe, tough luck Barry. Maybe you should have stayed in town!!
Published May 31, 2010
| FOXNews.com
<!-- /user-interaction --> As President Obama was trapped in rain trying to pay his respects to America's war dead Monday at a ceremony in Illinois, Vice President Biden spoke at a sunny Arlington National Cemetery to offer words of respect to the fallen and a solemn tribute to troops now fighting to secure America from new enemies.
In Elwood, Ill., Obama's trip to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery was disrupted by a torrential downpour complete with lightning. The president stood under a large umbrella at the podium to ask guests at the event to return to their cars while the storm passed but the president's car ended up leaving the site midday as the rain continued to fall.
We don't want to endanger anyone, particularly children in the audience. So I'd ask everybody to very calmly, move back to your cars. I'm going to move back to mine. We will wait to make sure that the thunder has passed. A little bit of rain doesn't hurt anybody but we don't want anybody being struck by lightning. God bless you everybody," the president said as the audience cleared out.
He waited at an administration building for about a half hour, but the crowd, which included Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Roland Burris, dispersed after being notified the president left.
Back in Arlington, Vice President Biden first laid the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at the cemetery on the other side of the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., a tradition Obama participated in last year during his first year of his presidency.
Biden then assumed the air of a commander-in-chief, saying that the United States has the best fighting force ever assembled.
"This is the finest military the world has ever produced. Period," Biden said from the memorial amphitheater.
Thanks Joe, tough luck Barry. Maybe you should have stayed in town!!