Obama honors war dead at Arlington, attends church
Published: 1/18/09, 1:26 PM EDTBy BEN FELLER and MERRILL HARTSONWASHINGTON (AP) - Barack Obama laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns on Sunday, somberly pausing to honor America's war heroes in the midst of a mostly festive weekend prelude to taking on the presidency.
Just over 50 hours from becoming the 44th president of the United States, Obama walked with Vice President-elect Joe Biden to the tomb site at Arlington National Cemetery and eased a wreath onto a stand, then placed his hand over his heart as a bugler played taps.
Obama will take the oath of office on Tuesday at a time of heavy expectations and high anxiety, and the capital has taken on the look of a fortress city, in places, with streets, bridges and overpasses obstructed in the name of security. But on television, it was a normal Sunday as a parade of political leaders of all stripes appeared on television to speculate, wax poetic and sometimes question the plans of the incoming administration.
The temperature rose above freezing, lending a measure of relief from the frigid weather the Obamas and Bidens braved - along with countless throngs of admirers - during a 137-mile whistle-stop train ride from Philadelphia to Washington on Saturday.