I find it insulting that this coward (Bush), who used his daddies power and influence to avoid what he sends these boys to do, should be allowed to speak over the fallen of our brave men and women!

I would have no problem with the copy and paste guru if he included a decent original thought or take with it. But, just in the spirit of Madisonman I will return to an original theme of this thread:

President Bush Attends Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Day Commemoration

Arlington National Cemetery

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Mr. Secretary, thank you for the kind introduction. Members of my Cabinet, members of the administration, Admiral Mullen, members of the United States Congress, Senator Warner and Congressman Skelton, members of the military, our veterans, honored guests, families of the fallen: Laura and I are honored to be with you on Memorial Day and thank you for coming.

A few moments ago, I placed a wreath upon the tomb of three brave American[s] who gave their lives in service to our nation. The names of these honored are known only to the Creator who delivered them home from the anguish of war -- but their valor is known to us all. It's the same valor that endured the stinging cold of Valley Forge. It is the same valor that planted the proud colors of a great nation on a mountaintop on Iwo Jima. It is the same valor that charged fearlessly through the assault of enemy fire from the mountains of Afghanistan to the deserts of Iraq. It is the valor that has defined the armed forces of the United States of America throughout our history.

Today, we gather to honor those who gave everything to preserve our way of life. The men and women we honor here served for liberty. They sacrificed for liberty. And in countless acts of courage, they died for liberty. From faraway lands, they were returned to cemeteries like this one, where broken hearts received their broken bodies -- they found peace beneath the white headstones in the land they fought to defend.

It is a solemn reminder of the cost of freedom that the number of headstones in a place such as this grows with every new Memorial Day. In a world where freedom is constantly under attack and in a world where our security is challenged, the joys of liberty are often purchased by the sacrifices of those who serve a cause greater than themselves. Today we mourn and remember all who have given their lives in the line of duty. Today we lift up our hearts especially those who've fallen in the past year.

We remember Army Specialist Ronald Tucker of Fountain, Colorado. As a young man, Ronnie was known for having an infectious smile and a prankster's sense of humor. And then he joined the United States Army, which brought out a more mature side in him. Ronnie transformed from a lighthearted teenager into a devoted soldier and a dutiful son who called his mother every day from his post in Iraq. In his final act of duty, less than a month ago, he worked with other members of his unit to build a soccer field for Iraqi children. As he drove back to his base, an enemy bomb robbed him of his life. And today our nation grieves for the loss of Ronnie Tucker.

We remember two Navy SEALS -- Nathan Hardy of Durham, New Hampshire, and Michael Koch of State College, Pennsylvania. Nate and Mike were partners in the field and they were close friends in the barracks. Through several missions together, they had developed the unique bond of brotherhood that comes from trusting another with your life. They even shared a battlefield tradition: They would often head into battle with American flags clutched to their chests underneath their uniform. Nate and Mike performed this ritual for the last time on February the 4th -- they both laid down their lives in Iraq after being ambushed by terrorists. These two friends spent their last few moments on earth together, doing what they loved most -- defending the United States of America. Today, Nathan Hardy and Mike Koch lay at rest next to each other right here on the grounds of Arlington.

The men and women of American armed forces perform extraordinary acts of heroism every single day. Like the nation they serve, they do not glory in the devastation of war. They also do not flinch from combat when liberty and justice are embattled. Ronald Tucker, Nathan Hardy and Mike Koch make clear, they do not waver -- even in the face of danger.

And so today, here in Washington and across our country, we pay tribute to all who have fallen -- a tribute never equal to the debt they are owed. We will forever honor their memories. We will forever search for their comrades, the POWs and MIAs. And we pledge -- we offer a solemn pledge to persevere and to provide the security for our citizens and secure the peace for which they fought.

The soil of Arlington and other sites is filled with liberty's defenders. It is nourished by their heroism. It is watered by the silent tears of the mothers and fathers, and husbands and wives, and sons and daughters they left behind. Today we pray for God's blessing on all who grieve and ask the Almighty to strengthen and comfort them today and everyday.

On this Memorial Day, I stand before you as the Commander-in-Chief and try to tell you how proud I am at the sacrifice and service of the men and women who wear our uniform. They're an awesome bunch of people and the United States is blessed to have such citizens. (Applause.)

I am humbled by those who have made the ultimate sacrifice that allow a free civilization to endure and flourish. It only remains for us, the heirs of their legacy, to have the courage and the character to follow their lead -- and to preserve America as the greatest nation on earth and the last best hope for mankind.


May God bless you and may God bless America. (Applause.)

"On this Memorial Day, as our nation honors its unbroken line of fallen heroes -- and I see many of them in the audience here today -- our sense of patriotism is particularly strong." - Obama, the 'great' orator

On this Memorial Day, he sees fallen heroes in the crowd? Oooookay.

No offense but fallen includes the wounded, right?

I cant say it enough!!!


I find it insulting that this coward (Bush), who used his daddies power and influence to avoid what he sends these boys to do, should be allowed to speak over the fallen of our brave men and women!

I agree, because of his personal agenda many thousands have died and are wounded.

No! Memorial Day honors those veterans who have passed. A prospective President should know the purpose of Memorial Day.

What a HORRIBLE Memorial Day speech.

what about the men who came home from vietnam and shot themselves like my namesake? what about the people who's families could not help them deal with the deppression, like my father, and it tears those families apart? do they get a special day?

So you truly believe that the death of these young men does not weigh heavy on the heart of our president......

YES! It is called Veteran's Day! Sheesh!

that doesn't cut it. "here's a holiday and some free stuff, now go sit down and be quiet" It destroyed my parents, it destroyed my childhood, and im sure there will be a ripple effect for my children as well. all for what. did we win? NO we didn't. we came home in disgrace. and first it was afghanastan then iraq, now iran, where are we finishing this? when does it end? when we have the whole world. how many billions will we spend bullying other countries into democracy. wow sounds to me like the salem witch trials to me.

We will never be done with this, because Bush didn't declare war on any specific nation or organization, instead he declared war on terrorism, we are fighting a war against a tactic.
Next we'll declare war against a Submarine manuever or a tank formation attack pattern.

You impress me all the time but dam you got it soooo right this time.

NO,
In his own words!
They are all volunteers!!!

I cant say it enough!!!


I find it insulting that this coward (Bush), who used his daddies power and influence to avoid what he sends these boys to do, should be allowed to speak over the fallen of our brave men and women!

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a common after effect of many events in people's lives and especially those who served in war. Back during Vietnam it was still in its very early stages of real diagnosis. However, it has been around since man has had a conscious without a doubt. World War II veterans really suffered from it as well as did all other Veteran's of all wars.

However, nowadays we have far greater Veteran affairs to help those who suffer from it. War isn't a picnic, and those who fight in it many times come back with scars that are long-lasting. Not all can carry such weight alone, some get help, and some don't, and some do not want help.

The rest of your post go off on points that are hard to follow as they are quite broken up, and you go off to talk about money spent and such, which I have no idea how that deals with Veteran's and Memorial Day espeically. The Salem Witch Trial reference doesn't exactly work best to incorporate it, but go for it.

We attacked Afghanistan because of 9/11 and the terrorists they harbored.

We attacked Iraq because all intelligence pointed to them having WMD and they had broken the UN Resolutions placed on them. In fear of the times we decided that we would not sit idly by as Clinton did with the real threat of radical Islamic terrorism that was growing and had hit us numerous times over.

It's not like we just picked up guns and did something for no real reason. There was reason, in Iraq we learned later the reason was based off very faulty intelligence and a saber rattling guy who actually was rattling only a plastic toy instead of a real sword.

here here, lol. like I said earlier, technically, and according to definition of the world our own goverment is terrorizing us

Come on Fanta, have you not seen the President cry when he talks about this? I have seen two Congressional Medal of Honor ceremonies where Bush could barely carry on because he is so choked up when he hands the medal to the parent's of the fallen hero. Oh, but he is just a great actor, the incredibly dumb President who can barely walk on two feet, can't speak, is a masterful actor.