The variety of forecasts, court rulings and clarifications came as hotels welcomed thousands of guests, and thousands were gathering at MCI Center for the kickoff event.
Thousands of men and women in military uniforms, many accompanied by spouses and children, attended the event. A half-dozen coach buses and chartered vans ferried Medal of Honor winners. VIPs in civilian clothes arrived in limousines.
Police closed streets around MCI Center to motor vehicles for the tribute, which lasted more than two hours. Those who attended were treated to a red, white and blue spectacle that wrapped President Bush in a warm mantle of support from the military.
Among them were 60 recuperating soldiers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center. "You watch the kids coming in here from Water Reed right now; they're missing arms and legs. That's what this is all about," said Kurt Beckenhauer, museum program assistant with the Coast Guard, who watched as security guards ran metal detector wands over decorated war veterans. "There are Medal of Honor winners here who are 80 years old. It doesn't matter what side of the aisle you're on. They're defending the country."
In between were uplifting videos dedicated to past military victories and current missions, interspersed with the theme from the movie "Top Gun" and tributes to each branch of the military. There were tearful salutes by family members who have lost loved ones at war, and former president George H.W. Bush and others read letters to home written by veterans across the ages.
Attendees said they were privileged just to be present.
"We came out from Colorado a day early just to attend this, to honor the troops. We really appreciate their sacrifice," said Robert Dieter, 54, a law professor from Boulder. "It's important for people to be mindful of that, especially when service people are in harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Air Force Capt. Benito Barron said he came so that his wife, Heidi, could hear a message of appreciation. "Being a service member affects your family, so this is a way for my wife to hear the commander in chief and others say thank you, rather than have her hear it from me," Barron said. "We're very grateful for the event as a whole; it's a wonderful gesture."
Staff writers Maureen Fan, Debbi Wilgoren, Carol D. Leonnig and Nicole Fuller and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
