Obama’s salute to fallen soldiers truly patriotic

A patriotic person should respond with pride and sadness at seeing the president of the United States salute fallen soldiers arriving on a bleak tarmac at 4 o'clock in the morning. President Obama stood by the side of 18 grieving families, something George W. Bush never did.

Bush even forbade the press from covering those events. The casualties were to be invisible to the public, the sacrifice of war limited to the families and friends of the dead. It was a cold, political decision. He didn't want the public to see the consequences of his irresponsible and ill-planned conflict.

In my opinion, a president has the duty to publicly acknowledge the sacrifice of the soldiers he sends to war. At least once, he should stand and experience what the families go through.

John Andremar

West Branch