Posted on 05/31/2004 7:02:29 AM PDT by kattracks
WASHINGTON (AP) — John Kerry paid a solemn early morning visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Monday, offering a quiet Memorial Day counterpoint to President Bush's tribute to the fallen across the Potomac River at Arlington National Cemetery.On a cool, misty morning, Kerry slowed walked along the black granite wedge, pausing to seek out a few names of significance to him.
Kerry visited the wall with the family of William Bronson of Gardner, Mass. Bronson died in 1976 from a seizure related to a head wound he suffered in 1968 during combat in Vietnam.
The Democratic presidential candidate worked with Bronson's family and the Navy to have Bronson's name added to the wall.
His name was recently inscribed on the memorial wall and will be officially enrolled during ceremonies later Monday.
"I'm very happy we could get this done," Kerry told Bronson's mother, Barbara, and other family members Monday. "He belongs here."
Kerry placed a wreath near Bronson's name and made the sign of the cross before pausing for a few moments of silence.
The wall is a touchstone of sorts for Kerry, who came home from Vietnam with three Purple Hearts and Silver and Bronze stars — and growing dismay at the way the war was unfolding. He soon became a leader of the anti-war movement.
A number of Kerry's close friends from decades past are among the dead whose names are etched on the memorial's polished black granite walls. It was here that Kerry brought his future wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, when he first began seeing her. They stopped to stroll along the memorial as he drove her home from a dinner party in 1994.
From Washington, Kerry was heading to Portsmouth, Va., where he was to join Virginia Gov. Mark Warner and Democratic Rep. Bobby Scott for the city's annual Memorial Day parade. Portsmouth is home of the naval shipyard.
Just last week, the Kerry campaign signaled new interest in Republican-leaning Virginia when it announced plans to begin running TV ads in the state.
Population shifts over the past few years have made Virginia more attractive to Democrats, campaign aides say. And the campaign hopes Kerry's war record will have particular appeal along the Virginia coast, with its heavy military presence.
What kind of soulless ghouls populate the partisan press?
I guess Nancy Benac is hoping to be Kerry's press secretary if he wins.
Is John Kerry a veteran?
I think it's just a rumor.
It was here that Kerry brought his future wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, when he first began seeing her. They stopped to stroll along the memorial as he drove her home from a dinner party in 1994.
Aaaaawwww. Isn't that sweet, how touching.
He probably told her, "I'm a Vietnam veteran myself."
Bleeeech!
Did he drive there in his SUV that has the license plates "Purpleheart3"? You know, those medals he deemed not worthy of his majesty and threw away. Oh that`s right, he only threw away the ones that weren`t his. So much for showing respect to your fellow vets. I suprised they even let this pompous self absorbed traitorous mutt near that wall.
solemn? i'd be more impressed if he went there without the press to pay real PERSONAL respects, instead of POLITICAL respects.
Can you say dishonest political stunt?
Now these lefties in the media like Millbank accuse the President of a political stunt when he land on aircraft carrier to do a victory speech(these jackasses lied by the way about the cirumstances).
Meanwhile John "The Bolshievick" Kerry after 30 years ago assembling a group of liars and frauds had them give scripted wild ass, un-detailed, and easily , very easily refutable "testimony" that was useful disinformation against the US, this idiot runs down to march on Memorial Day to make himsef look good and nothing, not a peep, from any lefty reporter are you going to hear condemning this crap. I guarantee that.
I don't need this piece of human debris's tribute.
Stay Safe Kattracks !
"It was here that Kerry brought his future wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, when he first began seeing her"
Presumably while he was still married to his first wife, Julia Thorne, if I remember her name correctly.
The one's who's names Kerry is actually looking for to get a Memorial day photo op.
I guess we'll just have to take Benac's and/or the senator's word on this.
Ooooh! He's a Roman Catholic, as well as a veteran!
EXACTLY!!!
This is so Clintonesque, phony photo-ops and hypocrisy.
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