WWII veterans push through #HarryReidsShutdown barricade to visit WWII memorial

Probably one of the most awesome stories you’ll read … EVER.  First heard about it on Leo Shane III’s Twitter feed. Here’s his full story – via Stars and Stripes:

WASHINGTON — Wheelchair-bound elderly veterans pushed aside barricades to tour the World War II Memorial Tuesday morning, in defiance of the government shutdown which closed all of the memorials in the nation’s capital.

The four bus loads of veterans — visiting from Mississippi as part of a once-in-a-lifetime Honor Flight tour — ignored National Park Police instructions not to enter the site as lawmakers and tourists cheered them on.

“We didn’t come this far not to get in,” one veteran proclaimed.

The scene was both emotional and comical at once. After it was clear they had lost control of the situation, Park Police officials stood aside, telling press that they had “asked for guidance on how to respond” to the breach of security.

As 80-something veterans slowly walked around the massive war memorial, Park Police stood quietly to the side, advising other tourists that the site was technically still closed. But they made no moves to stop the wishes of the war heroes.

Also cool is how some members of Congress helped our Greatest Generation with their plan to not let the barricades deter them:

As Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, distracted a Park Police representative, other lawmakers and their staff helped topple the metal fences. A bagpiper on hand for the event led the men past the crowd and into the heart of the memorial, attracting a large, applauding crowd.

Love it!!  This is just the kind of news we need after weeks of back and forth yelling and bickering over something easily resolvable if the Senate would simply stop playing politics. God bless our veterans!