Sunday, 18 January 2009:

President-Elect Barack Obama laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns on Sunday, somberly pausing to honor America's war heroes in the midst of a mostly festive weekend prelude to taking on the Presidency.

Just over 50 hours from becoming the 44th president of the United States, Mr. Obama rode from his temporary residence at the Blair House to Arlington National Cemetery where he walked with Vice President-elect Joe Biden to the tomb site at Arlington National Cemetery, placed his hand over his heart as a bugler played taps and then joined Biden in easing the wreath onto a stand.  They were accompanied by Major General Richard Rowe, Commander of the United States Army Military District of Washington.  Mr. Obama made no comments during his visit.

Visitors to the hallowed burial grounds cheered Obama's limousine as it passed by under cloudy skies Sunday morning.

      
A presidential limousine with '44' on the license plate idles in wait for President elect Barack Obama at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009. (r) A U.S. Secret Service agent stands between two presidential limousines with '44' on their license plates as they idle, while waiting for President-elect Barack Obama at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery Sunday, January 18, 2009

President-elect Barack Obama gets into a presidential limousine with '44' on the license plate after he laid a wreath
at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, Sunday, January 18, 2009