Memorial Day at Arlington

Today was Operation Rolling Thunder, a motorcycle parade from the Pentagon to the Mall in Washington in honor of the fallen, veterans and POWs/MIAs.

I visited Arlington National Cemetery to pay my respects to someone I didn't know, who gave his life for our country in Operation Iraqi Freedom [OIF] and is buried there, in Section 60. I could not initially find his grave, and stumbled across that of another patriotic American, whom I knew personally, who gave his life in OIF late in 2006. I left my flowers on his grave and returned with another bouquet for our other hero.

Section 60 is now receiving American heroes of OIF and Operation Enduring Freedom [OEF, Afghanistan] and several families spent some serious time there on this first Memorial Day since their loved ones' funerals. The beautiful spring day with a couple of clouds and a light breeze was quite peaceful and in fitting with the occasion. A wide variety of organizations from all over the nation are laying wreaths - every one honoring all veterans - at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

Tomorrow, our national civilian political leadership will lay their wreaths at the Tomb.

We hope they will recognize and value these sacrifices through credible and competent leadership of our nation in the months to come, including their duty, and that of their strongest supporters, to set a good example for the rest of us.

The American people deserve no less.