President Obama took a moment of his speech at Elmendorf Air Force Base on Thursday to recognize Marine Cpl. Gregory Fleury, a 2005 Service High School graduate killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan Oct. 26.
"Raised in Anchorage, he joined the Marines and served two tours in Iraq. He loved the Corps, he loved Alaska, so much so that he carried the state flag with him everywhere," Obama said. "It was with him last month when he was killed in those helicopter crashes in Afghanistan."
Before speaking to thousands of airmen, soldiers and civilians during a refueling stop at Elmendorf, Obama met privately for nearly 10 minutes in a small room with Fleury's family: his mother Donna Fleury, stepfather Christopher Flygare, and grandfather Albert Fleury.
"He said his condolences -- he was very warm to us, he appreciated Gregory's service to his country," Flygare said.
Fleury was buried only last week at Fort Richardson and his death is still fresh in their minds, Flygare said.
"I was kind of foggy," he said of the meeting with the president. "He hugged us and was very cordial and very supportive. He told us if there was anything he could do, he would do it, within his power."
Grandfather Albert, an Athabascan with roots in Copper Center and a board member of Ahtna Inc., the regional Native corporation, presented Obama with a pair of hand-beaded moosehide mittens made by a shareholder.
"He was very appreciative to get it," Albert Fleury said. "It was an exceptionally great honor that he would take time out of his busy schedule to give us condolences for the family for the loss of our son and grandson."
Albert Fleury voted for John McCain and Sarah Palin last November, but now said he wants America to back Obama.
Albert Fleury said the meeting was arranged by Maj. William Allen.
Allen's day job is commander in Alaska of about a dozen active duty troops and a reserve unit of about 50 Marines who live here and make up Delta Company of the Corps' Anti-Terrorism Battalion. But when a Marine from Alaska is killed on the battlefield, the tradition of the Marine family means that the survivors become Allen's personal responsibility.
On Saturday, a day after Fleury's funeral, Albert Fleury asked Allen if he could try to arrange a meeting with Obama when he stopped in Anchorage. Could a Marine major in a distant outpost accomplish that in less than a week?
"I just made some phone calls," Allen said in an interview. He called the White House military office, the Navy Secretary's office, and "most importantly," got help from Alaska's congregational delegation.
"It was a lot of helping hands, doing what Marines do best -- taking care of our fellow Marine," Allen said. "Sometimes that means not taking no for an answer."
Albert Fleury said Sen. Mark Begich pulled many strings quickly.
By Tuesday, Allen had his answer: Obama would meet the family, in private. The Fleurys then asked him to join them. Besides the four of them, there was only Obama, a White House photographer, and the Secret Service.
"It was emotional not only for the family, but for the president as well," Allen said. "It was a very private moment. They were very humbled."
Find Richard Mauer online at adn.com/contact/rmauer or call 257-4345.
By RICHARD MAUER
rmauer@adn.com