Obama surfs, honors late mother as vacation ends

[babylonsister]

So this is what Obama was throwing into the water, for anyone who wondered...

Obama surfs, honors late mother as vacation ends

By AUDREY McAVOY
Associated Press Writer


HONOLULU (AP) -- Body surfing in Pacific waves and walking on the beach are activities any tourist - even Hawaii native Barack Obama - might enjoy for his last full day of vacation on the islands. There were solemn moments, too, as Obama ended a weeklong break from campaigning for president.

He ambled down a rocky slope on Oahu's southern coast, near the Halona Blowhole, to throw a white flower lei into the ocean where his mother's ashes were spread 13 years ago. Two high school friends and a Secret Service agent accompanied him Thursday as a small crowd of onlookers watched from a distant lookout point.

Waves crashed against the shore, sending a giant spray over the rock where Obama stood. He kissed the lei, then broke it so he could let several flowers fly into the water at a time in memory of his mother, Stanley Ann Dunham. A day earlier, the senator visited his grandfather's grave at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

more...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OBAMA_VACATION?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Muttocracy]

1. His mom and grandfather would have had so much fun this year. RIP. nt

[David Zephyr]

2. Very touching. I hope Cokie Roberts rots in a hell of guilt in seeing Barack honoring his mom.

President Obama.