The Rundown, 11/11

It's Veterans Day, and all of official DC will be shut down for the federal holiday, as public officials honor those who've served America in the military. So, among the ceremonies and somber tributes...

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will host a Veterans Day breakfast at the White House, and the president will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery before delivering remarks there.


Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden will host a luncheon at the Naval Observatory for veterans and active duty servicemembers and their families, with Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki in tow.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Chaplain Adm. Barry Black will hold a reception honoring wounded soldiers at Reagan National Airport.

And amid all the sober honoring of those who serve America, Republican lawmakers will use the occasion to pressure the president to send more troops to Afghanistan: 10 Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee have signed onto a letter to the president, asking him to decide (quickly) to dedicate more troops to the Afghanistan effort, as requested by Gen. Stanley McChrystal.