A Normandy Veteran Meets The President

By Minnesotastan in Pictures, Weapons & War on Feb 3, 2010 at 10:39 pm

The context of the photo is explained at the White House’s Flickr photostream:

June 6, 2009
“After his speech in Normandy, a crush of people tried to get close to the President to shake his hand. I noticed this guy waiting patiently and then literally being pushed back into the crowd. I felt bad for him, and mentioned the incident to the President’s trip director, Marvin Nicholson. Marvin pulled the guy out of the crowd, found him a wheel chair, and brought him over to meet the President. He was a French veteran. The man’s face shows his emotion.”

Official White House photo by Pete Souza, via Reddit.

Tags: joy, Normandy, obama

Neat stuff from the NeatoShop:

Minnesotastan
Feb 3rd, 2010 at 10:41 pm
I’ve posted this item in the “Pictures” category rather than under “Politics,” because the important point isn’t the identity of the President, but the expression of utter joy on the face of the elderly Frenchman.
Chris Cyrek
Feb 3rd, 2010 at 10:57 pm
Elderly >veteran<.
Arielle
Feb 3rd, 2010 at 11:24 pm
tears
I haz them in my eyes
Aria
Feb 4th, 2010 at 1:16 am
This made me cry. Thank you.
Alex
Feb 4th, 2010 at 1:22 am
Great find, Minnesotastan!
Robolasse
Feb 4th, 2010 at 5:39 am
The “crush of people” should be ashamed of themselves.
topheavy
Feb 4th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Totally awesome.
sybann
Feb 4th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Piling on with tissues. *sniff*
Josh Hancock
Feb 4th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Poor guy doesn’t know the state of the nation…
Personally, I would have refused to shake his hand
heather
Feb 4th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Such a great story. The look on the man’s face made my day, and I’m sure it made Obama’s.
cola
Feb 4th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
Now I’m all misty.

I definitely encountered a number of people like this when I saw the president speak in Eugene. They started sobbing and lying to the people at the front of the line that they’d been there all day, but wandered away and lost their place. Having been there since 4am, I could honestly say they hadn’t been, but they were let ahead anyway, where they promptly shoved people out of the way as soon as the doors were open.

I could tolerate the tearful lies, but it was the shoving that angered me.

So happy to see someone who deserves it getting a chance like this.
cola
Feb 4th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
oh, and by people like this, I obviously meant the “crush of people.” Sorry, I wasn’t really thinking about my language there.
Murthy
Feb 4th, 2010 at 10:07 pm
the presence of some men just inspires
Jill
Feb 4th, 2010 at 10:50 pm
Very cool thanks
Lea
Feb 6th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
I love this picture.

Keep track of the comments with

Comment RSS

Lijit Search

The latest from NeatoBambino: