A Fitting Tribute

Three thousand soldiers listened intently Tuesday as President Obama and his generals commemorated the lives of the 12 Fort Hood soldiers and one civilian who were shot to death last Thursday.

"These Americans did not die on a foreign field of battle. They were killed here, on American soil, in the heart of this great state, in the heart of this great American community," Obama said from a stage on the lawn outside the building where the soldiers were shot.

At the foot of the stage, the soldiers boots were laid out next to 13 combat helmets perched on M-16 assault rifles. Portraits of those killed sat at the foot of each memorial. Obama mentioned each slain soldier by name, who ranged in age from 19 to 62. Before the event, Obama and other officials visited wounded soldiers in hospitals and met the slain soldiers' families.

At the conclusion of "Taps" and the singing of "Amazing Grace" by an Army sergeant, Obama and his wife stopped at the tribute for each victim. The president placed a Commander's Coin on each one in honor of their service to the country. The coins, often used to boost morale or in recognition of service, are a military tradition.

Lawmakers including Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill. were among the thousands in attendance. Some of the soldiers wounded in last week's attack were also there, some in wheelchairs.

The ceremony ended with the traditional 21-gun salute from M-16 rifles. Then an Army official read out each name of those killed in a roll call.

Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who allegedly opened fire on soldiers preparing to deploy overseas, was shot by a base police officer and is recovering in an Army medical center.