VIA: New York Times
President Obama headed to Texas on Tuesday morning to meet with victims of the rampage at Fort Hood, Tex., and the families of the 13 who were slain, address the grieving community at the sprawling military base and, ultimately, serve as consoler-in-chief to a nation still shaken and mystified by last Thursday’s mass shooting.
The president and his wife, Michelle, were to arrive in Killeen not long before noon Central time, visit privately first with the families of those killed in the attack, and immediately afterward gather with with some of the dozens of wounded and their family members.
The Obamas will then attend the memorial service, which a base spokesman said would be a traditional military ceremony. It will include prayers, speeches, a sermon, a “roll call” tribute to the 13 dead and then a rifle salute.
Several thousand people are expected to attend, and security around the base has been tightened since the shooting.
Mr. Obama will speak at 1:00 p.m. Central time.
Afterward, he and Mrs. Obama will meet with other survivors of the shooting before returning to Washington.
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