Obama pauses to honor war dead at Arlington

[unhappycamper]

President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., on Jan. 18.


Obama pauses to honor war dead at Arlington
By Ben Feller and Merrill Hartson - The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Jan 18, 2009 15:37:36 EST

WASHINGTON — Barack Obama laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns on Sunday, somberly pausing to honor America’s war heroes in the midst of a mostly festive weekend prelude to taking on the presidency.

Just over 50 hours from becoming the 44th president of the United States, Obama walked with Vice President-elect Joe Biden to the tomb site at Arlington National Cemetery and eased a wreath onto a stand, then placed his hand over his heart as a bugler played taps.

Obama will take the oath of office on Tuesday at a time of heavy expectations and high anxiety, and the capital has taken on the look of a fortress city, in places, with streets, bridges and overpasses obstructed in the name of security. But on television, it was a normal Sunday as a parade of political leaders of all stripes appeared on television to speculate, wax poetic and sometimes question the plans of the incoming administration.

The temperature rose above freezing, lending a measure of relief from the frigid weather the Obamas and Bidens braved — along with countless throngs of admirers — during a 137-mile whistle-stop train ride from Philadelphia to Washington on Saturday.

Obama’s Sunday started quietly as he took a limousine ride to the nation’s hallowed burial grounds for the war dead. Onlookers applauded as he passed by. Obama’s wife, Michelle, and Biden’s wife, Jill, stood nearby as the two men joined Gen. Richard Rowe, commander of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, for the brief ceremony.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/01/ap_obama_arlington_011809/%2e