Pool Reports of November 11, 2023

In-Town Pool Report #1 - Veterans Day Event Details

Good morning.

This is from the White House:

The President and the First Lady are hosting veterans and members of the military community at the White House to commemorate Veterans Day.

Attendees
Acting Secretary Julie Su, Department of Labor
Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Department of Transportation
Director Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence
Administrator Isabel Guzman, Small Business Administration
Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy
Deputy Secretary Tanya Bradsher, Department of Veterans Affairs
Military officials, veterans, and leaders of organizations serving veterans and the military

Speaking Program
The President

In Town Pool Report #2 - Rolling

President Biden's motorcade left the White House at 10:49 AM. Pool did not see him get in his vehicle.

POTUS is scheduled to visit Arlington National Ceremony for a wreath laying ceremony and remarks in honor of Veteran's Day. Those events will be carried on White House Live: https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/

From the White House:

Traveling with the President and the First Lady via motorcade en route to Arlington National Cemetery:

Steve Ricchetti, Assistant to the President & Counselor to the President
Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the First Lady
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
John Kirby, Deputy Assistant to the President & NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications
Terri Tanielian, Special Assistant to the President for Veterans Affairs
Jordan Montoya, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the First Lady
Vanessa Valdivia, Special Assistant to the President & Press Secretary for the First Lady
Sheila Casey, Special Assistant to the President & Executive Director, Joining Forces

In Town Pool Report #3 - Arlington

The president's motorcade arrived at Arlington National Cemetery at 10:54 AM. It is a beautiful clear sunny day.

In Town Pool Report #4 - Wreath Ceremony

President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris arrived at the wreath ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at 11:09 AM with a line of officers holding flags from the different military branches.

The First Lady and Second Gentleman came in ahead of them.

Biden and Harris put their hands on their hearts as a military band played the national anthem. Biden then placed a wreath on a white stand and paused for a moment and blessed himself.

A trumpeter then played Taps. Biden and Harris walked up the steps of the theater at 11:15 AM.

The steps of the theater were lined with people, many in military uniforms. On the other side by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were military officers, including members of the Air Force Honor Guard.

From the White House:

The President and the First Lady are participating in the Presidential Armed Forces Full Honor Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

Participants
The Vice President
The Second Gentleman
Secretary Denis McDonough, Department of Veterans Affairs
Major General Trevor Bredenkamp, Commanding General of the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region and the U.S. Military District of Washington
Major General Michele Bredenkamp, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command
Ms. Karen Durham-Aguilera, Executive Director of the Army National Military Cemeteries and the Office of Army Cemeteries
Mr. Duane Sarmiento, Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars

In Town Pool Report #5 - Remarks

President Biden entered the theater at 11:23 AM as the band played Hail to the Chief.

The outdoor theater was full of people, with the US Air Force band in the center. American flags are hung up around the sides amid the pillars. After POTUS entered a military color guard processed through the theater.

The president's remarks were carried on White House live. He began speaking at 11:59 AM and concluded at 12:14 PM.

A few lines. Please check against transcript.

Biden said he was there to "honor the generations of Americans who stood on the front lines of freedom."

He recalled his late son Beau and his service: "we miss him." He said Beau told him "Dad, it's my duty," when he decided to serve.

"We're the only nation in the world that is build on an idea… that we are all created equal." He said because of veterans "we've never walked away from it."

"As a nation we owe them. We owe you."

"To this day wherever the forces of darkness have sought to extinguish the light of liberty, American troops were there."

"Just as you have kept the ultimate faith to our country, we will keep the faith for you."

He spoke about his efforts to help veterans including the PACT Act. And said no Vet will be denied services for being LGBTQ+.

From the White House:

In attendance for the President's remarks at the National Veterans Day Observance at the Memorial Amphitheater:

The Vice President
The First Lady
The Second Gentleman
Acting Secretary Julie Su, Department of Labor
Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Department of Transportation
Secretary Denis McDonough, Department of Veterans Affairs
Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Department of Homeland Security
Director Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence
Administrator Isabel Guzman, Small Business Administration
Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks, Department of Defense
Military officials, veterans, leaders of organizations serving veterans and the military, and members of the Biden-Harris Administration

Run of Show
Chaplain Kimberly Willis, Executive Director of Veterans Affairs Chaplain Service, delivers the invocation
Duane Sarmiento, Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, recites the Pledge of Allegiance
Ms. Karen Durham-Aguilera, Executive Director of the Army National Military Cemeteries and the Office of Army Cemeteries, delivers remarks
Mr. Duane Sarmiento, Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, delivers remarks
Secretary Denis McDonough, Department of Veterans Affairs delivers remarks
The President

In Town Pool Report #6 - Rolling

The president's motorcade started rolling at 12:26 PM. We did not see him enter his vehicle.

In Town Pool Report #7 - Back at White House

The president's motorcade arrived back at the White House at 12:36 PM. Pool did not see POTUs exit his vehicle.

Crowds of people were lined up along the mall watching the motorcade.

In Town Pool Report #8 - Departure

President Biden exited the White House at 1:35 PM with the First Lady. They walked straight to Marine One and he did not stop to take questions.

At 1:40 PM Marine One was wheels up. Handing over to the out of town pool.

In Town Pool Report #9 - travelers

One more. From the White House:

Traveling with the President and the First Lady aboard Marine One en route to Delaware Air National Guard Base:

Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the First Lady

Curtis Ried, Deputy Assistant to the President & NSC Chief of Staff & Executive Secretary

Out of town pool #1 - DANG

Greetings from a lightly cloudy Delaware Air National Guard Base (DANG).

Marine One was wheels down at 2.28 pm. President Biden and the First Lady disembarked at 2.34pm and entered a black SUV. They were too far away for questions.

Motorcade is rolling.

From the WH: Greeting the President and the First Lady upon arrival at Delaware Air National Guard Base:

Brigadier General Karen Berry, Special Assistant to the Adjutant General, Delaware Air National Guard Base

Out of town pool #2 - POTUS house

The motorcade stopped at 2.49pm in a leafy lane near President Biden's house in Wilmington, Delaware. Pool did not lay eyes on POTUS or FLOTUS.

Pool held in the van until 3.04pm, but van moved off again to a local supermarket, without motorcade. On the way a small group of 10-20 protesters could be seen standing on a grass verge about a mile down the road from POTUS' house.

A white car with a Palestinian flag flying from the window drove past the protesters.

Out of town pool report #3 - Church

Motorcade moved without warning and arrived at St Joseph on the Brandywine Church at 5.01 pm in near darkness. Pool, from within the van, saw President Biden, wearing an open collared blue shirt and what looked like a dark blue blazer, exiting an SUV and fairly swiftly walking inside the pastel yellow church building. Pool now stationed outside the church grounds.

Out of town pool report #4 - leaving church

President Biden exited the church at 5.57pm, after numerous other members of the congregation had already left.

Pool then saw POTUS walk around the side of the building into the churchyard where the grave of his eldest son Beau is located. Pool could no longer see POTUS in the darkness and was then ushered back into the van.

Motorcade is now rolling.

Out of town pool report #5 - lid

Motorcade pulled up outside POTUS's house at 6.10 pm. Your pooler did not lay eyes on POTUS.

The White House called a lid at 6.13pm.