Fie upon those who complain....My father is buried in a National Cemetery.
Not one as vaunted and hallowed as Arlington perhaps. But on a windy hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean and San Diego bay, he sleeps. Not far away from a Medal of Honor winner, and among those who served at the same time as he did, some in Korea, some during Vietnam. Some, like my father, retired honorably and lived their lives out.
Some paid that coin with their lives.
Personally I find those upset that Obama isn't at Arlington (particularly since it was, by no means, a set tradition among the past few Presidents), to be slapping the face of those resting in other National Cemeteries. He marked the day at a National Cemetary in Illinois - what makes the dead there less hallowed, less deserving of being honored by a Presidential visit than those at Arlington.
Remember, Obama's grandfather is buried in Punchbowl (National Cemetery of the Pacific). It's not like he doesn't know who are buried in such - and the honour they deserve. Are the honoured dead less worthy for being buried in Abraham Lincoln, Riverside, Tahoma, Punchbowl, or Ft. Rosecrans??
Those who complain that Obama isn't honouring the dead at Arlington, seem to be telling us "yes, they are less worthy, less deserving. Only those at Arlington are worthy of being honoured by the President of the United States".
EVERYONE in each and evey one of those cemeteries, sailor or soldier or airman or marine, enlisted or NCO or general or admiral, those who served their terms, those who retired after long years of service, and those who died in the service of their country, is worthy and deserving of being honored by the President of the United States. Obama did that honour today at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.
Fie on those who call shame upon him for not doing it at Arlington, for they diminish the service of those who lie sleeping in every other National Cemetery.
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