Marine mom Pam Leman of Francesville meets President George W. Bush at White House

Veterans Day 2007

President visits
with Francesville Marine Mom

Pam Leman of Francesville, mother of Cpl. Nick Leman who is now serving his second tour of duty in Iraq, had a brief opportunity to meet President George W. Bush in September at a breakfast at the White House attended by family members of U.S. service men and women.

By Karen Clem Fritz

Pam Leman had never been to Washington, D.C. before, let alone ever imagined eating breakfast at the White House, or more especially meeting the President of the United States.

But she experienced all three events in September when she participated in a visit to the nation's capital, sponsored by Families United for Our Troops and Their Mission, a nonprofit grassroots organization headed by Merrilee Carlson. Pam was invited on the trip by another Marine mom whom she keeps in touch with.

Nick Leman with Iraqi police officer

Pam and husband Larry of Francesville are parents of Cpl. Nick Leman, 28, who is now serving his second tour of duty in Iraq with the US Marines.

Pam reports the president and Mrs. Bush spent a long time with the families, and were very touched by their visits with those they greeted, many of whom had lost loved ones in the war.

Pam waited a long while in line to meet the president and was unsure until the very moment before he turned to her whether she would actually have the opportunity to speak with him.

"Then he turned to me and said he understood Nick was in Iraq," she reports. "And then he thanked me and gave me a hug."

Over 500 military family members from across the US met in Washington DC on Sept. 16-19 for the Families United event.

At breakfast on the first morning speakers included Rep. Brian Baird (D-Washington), Megan Ortagus, a director at Freedom's Watch; West Point history professor Kimberly Kagan, and Deb Argel and Bob Derga whose sons were killed in Iraq.

Pam snapped this photo of the president of first lady speaking at the White House breakfast she attended.

Later the group toured the Pentagon and the Washington Monument. The family members met at Arlington National Cemetery for a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, followed by a dedication ceremony in the amphitheater. The group was joined by General Peter Pace, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and his wife Lynn. The families then visited "Section 60" of the Arlington Cemetery. Most of the soldiers of Iraq and Afghanistan who are buried at Arlington are in Section 60. The group next visited the 9/11 Memorial for those who died in the Pentagon. Following dinner, they participated in an evening tour of the city, including the Korean and Vietnam Memorials.

Breakfast the next morning was served at picnic tables on the lawn of the White House. President and Mrs. Bush appeared, and the President spoke for a few moments. The president and first lady were then joined by Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, and they all visited with the families for some time. Tours of the White House were also offered.

Later, the Families United group visited the Capitol and met with legislators from their own and other states. Finally they joined the Vets for Freedom for a press conference.

The group's final outing was a visit to the new Marine Museum at Quantico, Va.

Larry and Pam with son Nick.	Nick with Grandpa Sidney Leman. (Neither are wearing their medals, because grandpa couldn't find his in time for photo!)

Click here to read the November 2006 ExPRESS article about Nick Leman