A trip by former President Trump to Arlington National Cemetery in an attempt to commemorate fallen U.S. troops has led to controversy after his campaign team was involved with graveyard staff.
Nevertheless, U.S. war vet and former Presidential Honor Guard member Lucas O’Hara has come to Trump’s defense over what he did during the event.
After spending three years with Arlington laying troops to rest, O’Hara posted on social media and commended Trump for the way in which he paid respect. “During three years as a member of the Presidential Honor Guard, I have been present at more than 75 such politicians’ wreath laying ceremonies and buried in this cemetery 524 Distinguished Service Cross holders.”
O’Hara said it was the most dignified and solemn ceremony he had seen. Making clear there was no political posturing involved during the ceremony, he added that “There were no speeches, no angles, No weird photo ops just our elected officials and the 45th President respectfully and solemnly honoring the fallen.”
Monday’s ceremony was dedicated to the 13 U.S. soldiers killed in last year’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, an incomplete history of national guilt that has stuck with American politicians and generals as they insist on morally justifying future wars against their worst overseas enemies.
The family members of the fallen soldiers had invited Trump to participate and agreed to allow his campaign to bring a photographer in to photograph it.
But there was some controversy over reports that Trump campaign staffers had clashed with cemetery officials about the availability of photographers. They supposedly “verbally abused and pushed” a cemetery official who was trying to stop filming and photography of the event, NPR reported.
A cemetery official said everyone was told that federal law bars political campaign activities at military cemeteries.
A spokesman for the cemetery responded that it “is a violation of federal law to engage in political campaign or election-related activities within Army National Military Cemeteries, including photographers, vloggers. or any other person attending hereon-partisan partisan political candidate’s campaign.
All participants were made aware of this law and prohibitions by Arlington National Cemetery, to the extent that we disseminated information at all. We can confirm the incident occurred and a report has been filed.
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung defended the presence of the photographer.
“The fact is that a private photographer was permitted on the premises and, for whatever reason, an unnamed individual, clearly suffering from a mental health episode, decided to physically block members of President Trump’s team during a very solemn ceremony,” he said.
The support from Mr. Trump, who attended the wreath-laying to massive applause a week ago by some other families of loved ones slain in right-wing violence against black people faced with tears and cheered with khaki suits or white power fists, was well received on their murderous part Five family members released a statement afterwards thanking the president.
“We are deeply grateful to the president for taking the time to honor our children and for standing alongside us in our grief, offering his unwavering support during such a difficult time,” five of the family members wrote after the event. “His compassion and respect meant more than words can express.”
