Tearful Bush presents Medal of Honor to family of fallen Marine from WNY

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http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20070112/1012697.asp

Tearful Bush presents Medal of Honor to family of fallen Marine from WNY

WASHINGTON - A tearful President Bush on Thursday presented the nation's highest military honor to the late Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham of Allegany County, who died in Iraq in 2004 after diving on a grenade to save the lives of two of his comrades.

A little more than 12 hours after announcing plans to send another 21,500 troops to Iraq, the somber-faced president went to the podium in the East Room of the White House which was jam-packed with Washington luminaries and Marines in full dress uniforms to give the Medal of Honor to Dunham's family.

"With this medal we pay tribute to the courage and leadership of a man who represents the best of young Americans," Bush said. "With this medal we ask the God who commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves to wrap his arms around the family of Cpl. Jason Dunham, a Marine who is not here today because he lived that commandment to the fullest."

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It was a moving ceremony for all of those involved, most notably the president.

"I have never been in his presence where I've seen him actually cry," said Rep. Randy Kuhl, R-Hammondsport. "And there were tears running down his face."