Bush honors nation’s fallen at legion post in Texas

WACO, Texas – Marking his fifth Veterans Day since the invasion of Iraq, President Bush honored U.S. troops past and present at a tearful ceremony Sunday for four Texans who died there.

The White House had said Bush was going to also use his Veterans Day speech to scold Congress for not sending him a veterans spending bill. But the president finished without any reference to the bill or Congress.

“In their sorrow, these families need to know – and families all across our nation of the fallen – need to know that your loved ones served a cause that is good and just and noble,” Bush said. “And as their commander in chief, I make you this promise: Their sacrifice will not be in vain.”

Bush, who is scheduled to return to the White House today, was in Texas for the holiday, following his two-day meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at his ranch in Crawford.

He went to American Legion Post 121, which was honoring four Texas men who were among the more than 3,860 members of the U.S. military who have died in Iraq since 2003. They were Army Spc. Javier Antonio Villanueva of Bellmead, Army Spc. Jeffrey Paul Shaffer of Waco, Marine Lance Cpl. Johnny Ray Strong of Waco and Marine Gunnery Sgt. John David Fry of Lorena.

Post Commander Clayton Hueske admitted being nervous, but said he was proud to have Bush in attendance at the emotional event, which ended with the audience joining a soloist in singing “God Bless America.”

A bugler played taps. Post officials offered comforting words to the fallen troops’ families and presented them with honorary plaques and flags that have flown over the state capitol.

“These men and women saw the future of the terrorists’ intent for our country and they said with clear voices, ‘Not on my watch,’ ” Bush said of the troops.

Bush has spent four of the past six Veterans Days at Arlington National Cemetery. This year, Vice President Dick Cheney went to Arlington to pay tribute to Iraq veterans.

In a 10-minute speech, Cheney said soldiers from World War I to “the current fight against terrorism” have served their country valiantly and “kept us free at the land we call home.”

“Free to live as we see fit, free to work, worship, speak our minds, to choose our own leaders,” the vice president said. “May the rest of us never take them for granted.”

Hundreds of people braved the crisp November weather to witness Cheney’s tribute, and they cheered when he offered personal regards from Bush. Cheney placed a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknowns, pausing to straighten the ribbons on the front.

Elsewhere Sunday, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., joined state officials and several hundred people on a cold, sunny morning for a Veterans Day ceremony at the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery, and was repeatedly thanked for his service during the years he spent as a Vietnam prisoner of war.

The presidential hopeful in turn paid tribute to military members serving in Iraq and thanked those at home for supporting the troops regardless of how they may feel about the war.

“The war and Iraq has divided America, but none of us is divided in our appreciation and our love and affection for those men and women in the military who are serving the cause of freedom,” he said.

“Some of us here were in another war where America was divided in their support and that made our challenge of welcoming and bringing home all of veterans all the harder,” he said, a reference to Vietnam.

Another presidential contender, former Democratic Sen. John Edwards, of North Carolina, was scheduled to unveil a $400 million plan today to help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, including those recently returned from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Under Edwards’ plan, veterans could seek counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder outside the Veterans Health Administration system; the number of counselors would increase; and family members would be employed to identify cases of PTSD.

“I strongly believe we must restore the sacred contract we have with our veterans and their families, and that we must begin by reforming our system for treating PTSD. We also must act to remove the stigma from this disorder,” Edwards said in prepared remarks his campaign provided to the Associated Press. “Warriors should never be ashamed to deal with the personal consequences of war.”