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My Solemn Meeting on Veterans Day With President Obama at My Friend's Resting Place in Arlington
New York Daily News ^ | Thursday, November 12, 2009 | James Gordon Meek

Posted on 11/13/2009 10:44:50 AM PST by kristinn

He didn't introduce himself. He didn't have to.

President Obama simply stuck out his hand and asked for my name as he stepped toward me amid a bone-chilling drizzle in the Gardens of Stone.

This was Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery. I wasn't there as a reporter, but to visit some friends and family buried there when Obama made an unscheduled stop - a rare presidential walk among what Lincoln called America's "honored dead" - after laying a Veterans Day wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

What I got was an unexpected look into the eyes of a man who intertwined his roles as commander in chief and consoler in chief on a solemn day filled with remembrance and respect for sacrifices made - and sacrifices yet to be made.

I'm sure the cynics will assume this wasjust anotherObama photoop.

If they'd been standing in my boots looking him in the eye, they would have surely choked on their bile.

His presence in Section 60 convinced me that he now carries the heavy burden of command.

I had stopped at Arlington to see the resting place of Ken Taylor, Ed Lenard and Dave Sharrett. Ken and Ed survived their service, in World War II and Korea, and died as old men. Dave did not leave Iraq alive. He was 27.

SNIP

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.

"James Meek, sir," I replied, struggling to pull off my wool glove and pull my hood back from my head. "I'm here visiting a friend, Pfc. David H. Sharrett II, who was killed in Iraq last year."

SNIP

I then told him I'm a reporter for the Daily News - but was just there to visit friends.

"Well, James," he said, looking me in the eye, "just because you're a journalist doesn't mean you can't honor your friends here."

The First Lady smiled and squeezed my hand. I thanked her for coming to Section 60.

Her face opened up into a smile filled with warmth and comfort, a welcome antidote for the weather and sadness around her. She said there was no finer place to be on Veterans Day.

Ironically, I was ready to leave the cemetery an hour earlier, but it went into lockdown because of Obama's visit.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: arlingtoncemetery; davidhsharrett; davidsharrett; jamesgordonmeek; obama; sharrett; veteransday
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To: kristinn

With all due respect, this should have come with a vomit alert. Seriously, this is the kind of thing that literally knots my stomach.


41 posted on 11/13/2009 11:30:25 AM PST by RinaseaofDs
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To: kristinn

Hilter used to take warm and fuzzy propaganda pictures with the german children. Zero is just doing the same “I care about the people” propaganda, aided by his MSM followers.

EPIC WARM AND FUZZY MSM STORY FAIL


42 posted on 11/13/2009 11:32:47 AM PST by TheConservativeParty (First they ignore you,then they laugh at you,then they fight you,then you win.-Ghandi)
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To: Sacajaweau

This guy Weeks is a real slime bucket.
Probably was never even at the cemetary.


43 posted on 11/13/2009 11:33:08 AM PST by Frenchtown Dan
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To: kristinn
This was either staged, or completely fabricated by the author.

Call me a cynic.

44 posted on 11/13/2009 11:35:58 AM PST by wbill
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To: kristinn
My Solemn Meeting on Veterans Day With President Obama at My Friend's Resting Place in Arlington



The word "solemn" sure seems to be hovering around Obama a lot lately.
45 posted on 11/13/2009 11:37:51 AM PST by Since 2009-07-21
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To: Psalm 144

How do you honor the troops by refusing to put your hand over
your heart at times of honor for the nation they fought to protect
and defend?

Sadly, this reporter bought into the scam. Michelle said it best.
"For the first time in my life, I am proud of my country." Looks
like Barry hasn't quite gotten there yet.

I've looked at his hands. I don't need to look into his eyes.

46 posted on 11/13/2009 11:38:13 AM PST by DoughtyOne (Unseal the lock box containing every document pertaining to Obama's life, TODAY!)
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To: kristinn

“What I got was an unexpected look into the eyes of a” Kenyan Lizard creature. V


47 posted on 11/13/2009 11:43:32 AM PST by faucetman (Just the facts ma'am, just the facts)
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To: kristinn
His presence in Section 60 convinced me that he now carries the heavy burden of command.

No, this won't help me forget about the shout-out.

48 posted on 11/13/2009 11:50:18 AM PST by Lorica
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To: kristinn

http://www.facebook.com/meekwire

49 posted on 11/13/2009 12:13:51 PM PST by maggief
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To: maggief

Another (Getty) image of “visitor” (Meek) and 0 here, left column, four down.

http://www.daylife.com/search/photos/2/grid?q=obama+arlington


50 posted on 11/13/2009 12:24:56 PM PST by maggief
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To: kristinn

Wow what a happy coincidence that a friendly reporter just happened to be there to relate this visit by Obama. Amazing.


51 posted on 11/13/2009 12:28:36 PM PST by DouglasKC
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To: maggief

And his buds in the media took souvenir photos for him. What a coincidence...


52 posted on 11/13/2009 12:31:40 PM PST by kristinn (A conspiracy of silence speaks louder than words.)
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To: maggief

Thanks for finding the pics.


53 posted on 11/13/2009 12:32:38 PM PST by kristinn (A conspiracy of silence speaks louder than words.)
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To: kristinn
Just a happy accident eh? A reporter just waiting there to see a friend and he gets to look deep into nobama’s soul. What a load of glowbull warming!
54 posted on 11/13/2009 12:38:08 PM PST by Ditter
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To: kristinn

“Well, James,” he said, looking me in the eye, “just because you’re a journalist doesn’t mean you can’t honor your friends here.”

“Well, Thank you so F*&*^^ much for allowing me to honor
my friends. Like I really needed someone to tell me that”.
That’s what he should have said back to him...


55 posted on 11/13/2009 12:40:44 PM PST by savage woman
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To: kristinn

US President Barack Obama greets a visitor during a walk through Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. The US envoy to Afghanistan has warned against sending thousands more troops to the country as President Barack Obama weights strategy options in the eight-year conflict, reports said Thursday. (AFP/Tim Sloan)

56 posted on 11/13/2009 12:50:20 PM PST by maggief
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To: kristinn

I was only able to read through the first page of reply’s. All I can say is, that while people are entitled to their opinions, this make me very, very sad...


57 posted on 11/15/2009 10:45:46 AM PST by jmgreen
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To: kristinn

Update...

The Obama-adoring author Meek has been caught with porn.


58 posted on 02/01/2023 10:54:54 PM PST by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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