President Obama signs letters to fallen troops' families with just his first name

[EraOfResponsibility]

In his first few weeks in office, sometime between celebratory bill signings and phone calls from foreign leaders, President Obama sat in the Oval Office for the most somber task of his presidency - penning letters to families of troops killed in combat.

"This was real, it was personal, it was so important to us," said Thya Merz, whose son Marine Lance Cpl. Julian Brennan was killed Jan. 24 in Afghanistan.

The letter was signed "Barack," Ms. Merz told The Washington Times.

"Not 'president,' just his first name, and it just felt like, OK, my son has been acknowledged," she said.

Mr. Obama personalizes each letter, asking staffers to gather details about the service member, such as their hometown and where they were stationed, a White House aide said. The letters are sent to parents and spouses, and sometimes children of the fallen troops.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/17/obama-pens-real-notes-to-fallen-troops-families/

[flvegan]

1. RWers will call him lazy.

You watch.

[sandnsea]

2. Unpatriotic, disrespectful to the uniform,

yeah I can hear it coming. Bless his heart for not giving a crap what they say.

[shraby]

3. Sure beats the auto-pen Rummy used.

[progressoid]

10. Or it's another of his political tricks

He's just trying to fool us. But real patriotic Americans™ know he's a sleeper terrorist.

:eyes:

[Diane R]

4. I'm speechless. Our family never received any letter of acknowledgment all those years ago...

He is just so amazing. That letter will be so meaningful to those families.

[Berry Cool]

5. You know what just using the first name does?

It's so simple, but this is what it does...it brings him down from his lofty post to a place where he's just another fellow human being, mourning with you.

It's an acknowledgment that in grief, there is no rank...if you are human, you ache for those who are bereft.

It is just the right thing to do.

[Clio the Leo]

6. Dont you love that.

Reminds me of Joe Biden saying shortly after the election, "Barack ... I mean the President Elect ..... look, I know he's going to be the next President, but I'm gonna keep calling him Barack!" (to which Barack ... standing behind him .... smiled at)

[jillan]

7. I love that he asks staffers for details about each service member.

That is so touching.

[struggle4progress]

8. Is a fresh breeze blowing? I hear he kisses homeless people too

[Ninga]

9. The small, gracious gestures of our Mr. President, help to set the table for the big stuff.

He is special in many ways, all ways, and in important ways.