The Saddest Salute
When President Obama took office in 2009, he inherited a war in Afghanistan. Sadly, with war comes casualty. The President learned this not long after he took office. Obama was photographed that year making an impromptu trip to Dover Air Force Base in order to pay his respect to the remains of 18 soldiers who were killed while fighting in Afghanistan.
The President donned a serious expression and saluted the coffins draped with the flag as they were escorted by their fellow soldiers. Throughout the eight years of his presidency, Obama worked to decrease the number of troops fighting overseas. Although he was unable to withdraw from war completely, this was certainly one of the issues that weighed heaviest on his shoulders.