Vietnam Wall closed to all Veterans on Memorial Day, page 1

This is my first thread and i hope i don't mess it up too badly. I utilized the search function using several different word/phrase combinations and didn't find anything on this topic - but a lot of people seem to do that and later learn there IS a thread already. If i've inadvertently committed the same error, then Mods please do what you need to.

I try to keep my mouth shut about our President. I'm 52 y/o and i've seen quite a few Presidents do quite a few things that i disagree with - but i'm not the President, so i try to consider that there might be a lot going on in the background that makes some situations appear differently than they really are. This situation is exactly what it is.

Several Presidents have spoken at or near the Wall on Memorial Day/Veteran's Day and they were never afraid of the Veterans who were there to honor those who had given all for their Country. I believe that most people who know anything at all about our VietNam Vets know that they gather by the thousands at the Wall on every Memorial Day - it's not only not a secret, there's usually a little news clip of it every year.

Not so this year. This year our President closed the Wall to our Veterans! They were made to stand and wait for HOURS until they gave up all hope of completing their annual honoring mission/ceremonies and left.

This is the best link i have for the subject as the MSM certainly isn't reporting a word on it: Obama Closes Wall to VietNam Vets

There is another link i found that blogs about the event: "Insensitive, Cruel to Veterans and Families"

But it made for some "terrific" photo ops! They don't look very happy, do they? I can only imagine what they were hearing from the Veterans who were being held back. I wonder how many spouses, children, grandchildren, friends, soldiers-in-arms and even parents traveled thousands of miles to touch the names of, and lay a wreath or flower for, their loved ones. Only to find out that our own President isn't comfortable in proximity to those who offered all nor the families and friends of those who gave all.

This information needs to be public and, since our MSM won't do it, it's up to us ATS members to do it.

Our warriors deserve better than this.

Shame on you, Mr. President! Shame on you for dishonoring our fallen and living heroes. Shame on you for not notifying those tens of thousands that they would be making a trip for nothing. A few news clips would've gotten the job done; a few notifications sent out to VFW and American Legion would have gotten the message across in time. I guess your photo op was more important.

Who were you talking to, anyway? Apparently to no one at all.

reply to post by SeesFar

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My son and I (and the Scout troop) spent Memorial Day at the American Cemetary in Luxemberg. We were allowed to camp out the night before and the night of the ceremonies.
The American Ambassador along with a 3 star were there with the usual dignitaries. The boys ran, played games, and we were all given access everywhere.

My father, a Vietnam veteran, would be saddened to hear about this.

Apparently, the Commander-un-Chief could give a damn about the people who serve.

S&F

Originally posted by mysterioustranger
I did EMT duty at the traveling Vietnam Wall last summer. It was 48 hrs around the clock over 4th of July.

No one showed up. Volunteers? About 20 all weekend.

Vistors? Under 10.

I was surprised and dismayed.

Even the local VFWs didnt show or the IRON HORSES motorcycle type clubs and all the other cycle rider-vets.

edit on 06-10-2010 by mysterioustranger because: (no reason given)

I'm sorry to hear that ~ very sorry and it does sound dismaying. However, it shows that the Moving Wall was in Armour, SD on 4th of July last year. Armour has a population of less than 700 people with a median age of 52 years. Ten people out of a population of less than 700 with a median age of 52 years .... we might need to take into account how many of them might have had family or friends involved in the conflict, etc. ... because as low as that is, it might have actually been a good representative turnout for a weekend over which many families plan their annual summer vacations.

Or did i look at the wrong calendar for last year's dates? I looked at this link: 2011 Moving Wall Schedule

Thank you to all who have replied. Please get this information out to everyone you know who has a vested interest in our heroes ~ past, present and future. And i may be very biased, but i believe every U.S. citizen has a very vested interest in our heroes. Whether or not we agree with the war or conflict they were involved in (and whether or not they had the good fortune NOT to have to bear arms against another during their enlistment), our heroes volunteer their lives when they enlist and then they honor their commitment whether or not they believe in the war/conflict. That is honor! Our gratitude is the very least we owe them.

And to all of you who have served: thank you, welcome home and/or come home safely!

reply to post by stanguilles7

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the vets shoulda booed him down when he gave his speech

Originally posted by HomerinNC
reply to post by stanguilles7

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the vets shoulda booed him down when he gave his speech

Yeah. I guess they werent as upset over this non-issue as a few bloggers were.

Ronald Reagan held a Veteran's Day speech at the Vietnam Memorial. (link)

GW Bush held a speech at the Memorial one year (2002) and held a speech at the Arlington Cemetery several years (2003, 2006, 2008), closing down both for each appearance.

Obama has done nothing different than his predecessors, holding a ceremony nearly identical in nature to those of Reagan and Bush.

It's been a tradition for several administrations now that a president lays a wreath at the memorial on Veteran's Day (which ALWAYS results in the public being shunned away).

So what exactly has got the crazies all worked up this time around? Obama doing the same thing as his predecessors or Obama not fitting in with your prejudiced views of how and what a president should look like?

reply to post by Blackmarketeer

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So they shut down the memorial for the entire day? You think elderly veterans can stand around all day while Obama can read the teleprompter for 15 minutes in front of his supporters (It was basically a YEAH VOTE FOR ME speech.)

Pathetic.

reply to post by Blackmarketeer

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If you had bothered reading, veterans were not allowed to the wall. It was closed to them.
That is what the fuss is about. How did you miss that? The title makes it clear, the post made it clear. Let me ask, do you have trouble reading?

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