Congress honors Armed Forces
Congress honored the men and women of the Armed Forces on Thursday morning in the Capitol's Rotunda, a week before the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq.
About 100 lawmakers from both chambers attended the 40-minute ceremony, including Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine. She sat next to Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and two seats away from Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
The House and Senate Democratic and Republican leader delivered brief speeches, but they were overshadowed by Fiona Gabriela Torres, a student at Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, Va. She sang the national anthem to start the ceremony.
McCain, however, was the star of the ceremony, as his colleagues flocked to say hello or congratulate him. Afterward, he huddled and seemed to have a laugh with Sens. John Warner, R-Va., Sam Brownback, R-Kans., and Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn.
McCain received lots of "welcome backs" from the Senate door keepers and professional staffers. He has returned to vote on an amendment to impose a one-year moratorium on earmarks.
Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are expected to return to Capitol Hill today as well.
Posted at 10:22 AM
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