Posted on 05/29/2006 4:54:55 PM PDT by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
ARLINGTON, Va. -- President Bush, delivering a Memorial Day message surrounded by the graves of thousands of military dead, said Monday that the United States must continue fighting the war on terror in the name of those have already given their life in the cause.
"The best way to pay respect is to value why a sacrifice was made," Bush said, quoting from a letter that Lt. Mark Dooley wrote to his parents before being killed last September in the Iraqi city of Ramadi.
Monday's observance at Arlington National Cemetery was not a funeral, so demonstrators were free to speak their minds at the site. Bush's motorcade passed several on the way in, including a small group that held signs saying, "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "God hates fags."
Approximately 10 people from the Washington, D.C., chapter of FreeRepublic.com, a self-styled grass roots conservative group, stood across the road with signs supporting U.S. troops. A large sign held by several people said, "God bless our troops, defenders of freedom, American heroes."
The FreeRepublic.com group was trying to counter demonstrations by the Kansas-based group, led by the Rev. Fred Phelps. He previously had organized protests against those who died of AIDS and gay murder victim Matthew Shepard.
In an interview when the House passed the bill that Bush signed Monday, Phelps accused Congress of "blatantly violating" his First Amendment rights. He said that if it became law, he would continue to demonstrate but would abide by the law's restrictions.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
MEMORIAL DAY : History and Photos,
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1640062/posts
MEMORIAL DAY THREADS on Free Republic
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=memorialday
I would like to place a post here that lists ALL the :
MANY people, and espcially POLITICIANS have been coming out this recent week in "SUPPORT" of Memorial Day--Buuuutttt...
---Have been Honoring ALL of our U.S. Military : those who have died and those still Courageously serving!! EVERY SINGLE DAY!! in Every Imaginative Way too!
" Straight-A's AFFIRMATIVE that FR should be mentioned!
Great Pics.... Now take a break...
Wonderful pictures!
Bump!
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