Toby Stands Up for Homeless Veterans | The West Wing

[@Irish18989]

"I can only hope sir" Toby has many fine moments in the West Wing but that response may have been the best of them

[@doberski6855]

This clip does not show it, but also one of Mrs. Landingham's finest scenes as well. First berating Toby for his overstep for using the President's name to get things done, then politely asking to join him for the funeral and that little flinch during the 21 gun salute. Only scene of hers that is better is when she tells Charlie what happened to her sons! Such a brilliant and powerful series!

[@markcollins2666]

Out of all the veterans that have legitimate claims with the VA, and this is one, less than half ever apply for them. The ones that need them the most! And yet the VA is still constantly crying poor mouth, and attempting to cut costs. We all can only hope!

[@timweaver7826]

@@markcollins2666 Friend of mine fought in Korea. Died broke and ended up in an unmarked grave somewhere. Disgraceful.

[@markcollins2666]

@@timweaver7826, it's really a shame none of the survivors didn't know this. He was entitled to a burial in a National Cemetery, a flag, headstone, all free of charge. And all it takes is a phone call. And if there are still any survivors, it's still not too late for the flag and headstone. I urge anyone in this position to google VA burial benefits. Know what you're entitled to!!!

[@aph1976]

@@doberski6855 I liked that we got to learn more about Mrs. Landingham and i'm wondering when she died and Charlie learned of her death he remembered her sons and thought she's with them now in Heaven.

[@thegrahamdalorian185]

As a Marine Corps vet this episode consistently leaves me in a state of both pride and sadness. The funeral scene is beautiful, reminding us the reverence all our vets deserve, and sadness that we have failed to do so. No veteran should be homeless, not one. Also the part where Mrs. Landingham askes to go with Toby is stunning.

[@99beowulf99]

I always tear up at that, and when she tells Charlie how her sons died.

[@rogerreese7624]

The humanity of this show was amazing. And thank you for your service. I appreciate you.

[@alexb6234]

Yep she understands better than anyone that the initial action by Toby was wrong but the justification was 150% there. Especially given what happened to her own children you know that the man dying alone from his family ate at her something fierce.

[@RLplusabunchofdumbnumbers]

As a nation, we constantly fail our service members and veterans. We fail them while they are in service, risking their lives for suspect motives while paying them so little that 60% of them are eligible for SNAP (food stamps). Then we fail them when the leave service, denying them health care and benefits, leaving them homeless while doing things like leasing out VA land to private schools while veterans are forced to live in camps on the adjacent streets (if you're unfamiliar with what I'm talking about, look up the Brentwood School in Los Angeles).

[@stephenfgdl]

Agreed with you .... I will take it a step further.. Homlessness should not exist! Thank you for you're service!

[@ianboyle1026]

"I can only hope, Sir" has to be one of the greatest lines ever written for television. Establishes the absolute values underlying Toby's character, the show itself, everything. (That, and the awful reluctance he shows when he has to resort to saying that is a "powerful person".) Then having a real Marine honour guard doing the ceremony is the piece de resistance. An extraordinary scene. Deeply moving.

[@publicuser2534]

I had to replay this over and over again a few times. Beautiful 😢 -P/T Disabled Iraq Veteran

[@clyrus]

"I can only hope, sir." is hard as hell.

[@tmoore4075]

"Toby. I'd like to come along." Just love that part.

[@michaelhayden725]

A senior woman whose two sons died in Vietnam.

[@cdjhyoung]

Makes me cry every time I hear that her say that.

[@ryanmedina5090]

@@michaelhayden725 Marine Corpsmen too. This episode always makes me cry when she tells charlie about her boys. "I miss my boys" gets me every time.

[@awineguy4715]

"Toby if we start pulling strings like this you don't think every homeless veteran will come out of the wood work?" "I can only hope, sir" Man Sorkin wrote some great dialogue for this show

[@DTanza]

"When is this thing?" You know Bartlet wanted to know if there was the slightest chance he'd be able to come with him.

[@blackspider1405]

When this show nails it, my god it nails it. This scene was flawless.

[@chiptovar]

This was when I fell in love with The West Wing.

[@ScorpiusZA.]

For a country that prides itself on its military, its very sad (and contradictory) at how poorly it treats the veterans who fight in its wars.

[@RLplusabunchofdumbnumbers]

We have pride in the concept, not the reality.

[@reuben.x.herrera1930]

Tell that to Trump and his current party…please.

[@odisseusrh]

At that's the weird part about who's in charge. Active duty tends to love Republicans in charge because we tend to get more raise increases: Veterans tend to like Democrats in charge because they fight for more VA benefits

[@kellycochran6487]

Once they're done with us, we don' t matter.

[@jamesjackson8667]

@@RLplusabunchofdumbnumbers it gives civilians the chance to feel patriotic instead of being patriotic. Oh yeah, and barbeques.

[@jcpahman77]

I weep, sob, like ugly cry, every time Toby says "I can only hope so sir", and I don't stop until the last note of Little Drummer boy. I was on funeral detail when I was in the Army, and I have lost friends I served with; both of those things made sense, soldiers die in uniform, it's not a happy thought but it's a reality of service. I didn't start watching this show until after I was discharged and learned how grim and desperate it can be to be a veteran of this country's military. 22 veterans a DAY commit suicide and I had no idea until I was a veteran myself. We need more moments like this in shows like these.

[@georgemyers9125]

I'm a Vet( Army, 1st Cav) and this episode always grabs my heart, a lumps in my throat.

[@doctorivan]

"On behalf of a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service in its defense." I know they've changed the wording since, but those were the words I said when I was a staff sergeant.

[@jcpahman77]

@@doctorivan the most difficult job I had in the Army was on funeral detail. It was my job to play the (fake) bugle if the Army band wasn't available. Taps turns me into a weeping baby, to be holding the thing playing it and maintain composure was very hard.

[@steventagawa6959]

One can only imagine that when Bartlet was sitting in the Oval on Inauguration Day, deciding whether or not to pardon Toby, he remembered moments like this.

[@stephenshaw7593]

Toby was a better man than Bartlett

[@kellycochran6487]

@@stephenshaw7593 Toby was a curmudgeon who broke the law. He was my second favorite character, but he was a know it all curmudgeon who broke the law.

[@Francis-m2d]

@@kellycochran6487 The question is where is righteousness...

[@DmDrae]

@@kellycochran6487 laws are made by man. There are higher authorities to be considered at all times.

[@TheyCallMeBruce13]

@@kellycochran6487 Sometimes, the law is an ass. If Bartlett hadn't been willing to let astronauts die to protect some vague military advantage, Toby wouldn't have had to break the law. That one is 100% on Jed.

[@trentrice6977]

Just. Tears. Every single time.

[@TimBadger-w7d]

Me too.

[@ZATennisFan]

If this doesn't make you cry you don't have a soul...

[@johncampbell5742]

One or the finest moments on television.

[@bigrezznation]

This is one of my favorite scenes across any medium or genre. The writing is brilliant, the timing is perfect, and the acting is flawless. Jed goes into that room knowing 2 things. That he has to let Toby know he crossed a line and that it can't be done again. He also knows that Toby's actions represent a fundamental American belief: None of our veterans should be forgotten, and he's 100% right

[@thomascannan1033]

As a young Marine, I was selected to serve at Marine Barracks 8th & I., while I was very good at drill, my strengths led me to try out for the Boby Bearer Unit as opposed to the Silent Drill Team, after 4 months of service I was selected from amongst my peers. It is a long, hard and lowly life to make the team. Once there you are one of the last 6 Marines that give you the final salute and we are "The Last to Let you down". I had many special burials; from the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger to WWI and WW2 veterans to "Code Talkers", they were all unique and special. Seeing the 'Body Bearers" on the West Wing was special to me, The Finest Marines on the Finest Show, the show couldn't possibly find 6 individuals to make the cast, unless you experience it, you'll never replicate the dignity, care and compassion. Semper Fidelis

[@peteryazak866]

Thank you so much for your service!

[@michaelandria4855]

Thank you for your service.

[@nostradamus7648]

Honor is honorable, until it's not. When you poison Marines and their families for 34 years and then try to cover it up it does a great disservice to those that came before. Having suffered cancer and 2 miscarriages of my wife's children I'm still proud for serving as Corpsman for the 2nd Recon Marines, but no longer grateful. Now, they're slow paying us in the hope that we die off like the Agent Orange guys they did the same way to save a buck. "We Take Care of Our Own", my Azz.

[@kw7378a1]

Thank you for your service and bless you for giving so many the dignity they deserved.

[@newageintimidator]

Been all these years, that still gets me. I never served, but to all who served: Thank you. Once a soldier, always a soldier.

[@wyldfiregames]

As someone who was able to get military honors for my dad when he died, this episode hit super hard. We ask so much from our military and always brag about how good they are, but when it comes to taking care of them, we do a really bad job. We need to do better.

[@stephenmosgrove6559]

Absolutely

[@AlanSwann]

When Toby is trying to make George understand, and chokes out this: "I'm an in... I'm an influential person. I'm a very... [puts his hand to his forehead] very powerful person, and I, I would like to arrange it." This is the opposite of when Toby uses his position and power of rhetoric to win an argument with a colleague or political adversary. He hears himself using those words of self-importance, and chokes on them just a bit, but keeps going because he wants to get through to George and make the funeral happen. Masterful work by Richard Schiff, Aaron Sorkin, and director Alex Graves.

[@rudyjuarez4535]

Toby's finest hour and Richard Schiff's best acting ever.

[@Elthenar]

I loved the way Schiff played Toby. Toby always seemed so soft with his quiet voice and the downward, almost bashful looks he gave. He was very much an iron hand in a velvet glove though and that iron was always there.

[@TheBlackToedOne]

I've had the honor and privilege of attending several burials at Arlington. The vet's services are beautiful, but for the young guys who were KIA, those just hurt. Bad. To see a young man's time end so soon is bad enough but to see those he left behind literally brought me to tears every time. Interesting fact: every Friday evening a Marine squad would get the number of USMC burials scheduled for the coming week, then they would take all the flags to be used to the Iwo Jima Memorial right next to Arlington. They would run each flag up that pole, salute it, bring it down, fold it and then do the next until all flags had flown at the memorial. Those were the flags used to drape the caskets of the fallen for that week and then presented to the next of kin at the service.

[@aigtrader2984]

That is amazing. My father was a veteran funeral so we picked up his flag from the VA… I honestly don't remember how it got to Arlington... If I had to guess, Postal Service like my dad lol I'm not sure if he knew that after 35 years with the department of justice, and 20 years with the US military his final journey to Arlington would be courtesy of the United States Postal Service 🙂

[@glennmartin8664]

You just gave me goosebumps. As a Navy vet, I have nothing but respect for the courageous men and women who heed the call to join the Corps.

[@judycroteau482]

That is wonderful. Thank you for sharing.

[@Clydesirota]

These are the things between us and that bind us as Americans. Anyone who thinks they were losers and suckers is alien. USMC 1965 1969

[@ZATennisFan]

I did not know this but it doesn't surprise me in the slightest. I don't think there is a single military any where in the world that honours it's own history better than the USMC.

[@terryjenkins4727]

I so miss the WEST WING! It displayed the best and challenges of being the best being the heart of being an American

[@jamesjackson8667]

"I can only hope, sir." Me too Toby....me too.

[@thomas.becker]

Thanks to the editor of the video for letting the music play out at the end and not cutting to the usual theme. much appreciated.

[@Elthenar]

I didn't realize this but absolutely yes.

[@jerodast]

One of the most jarring things about a lot of West Wing episodes is fading out then abruptly getting that upbeat credits music (which was originally going to be the theme!). This episode one of the biggest risks of ruining the tone.

[@PhoenixT70]

I love the look on Bartlet’s face when he realizes how right Toby is.

[@katherineberger6329]

And that his ceremonial duties as President are preventing him from doing what he knows is right as a human being and honoring the death of a man who a long time ago fought for his honor and his country.

[@Martin-pb7ts]

This must be, by far, the best TV series that ever graced our screens. It was so powerful and so well written and so well executed.

[@ZATennisFan]

And this is one of its finest moments..m

[@davidturk6170]

I recently buried my brother, a Vietnam vet; at the new National cemetery off the Florida coast. Didn’t have a marine honor guard, but the two Air Force honor detail airmen did a hell of a job. Also appreciate the huge contingent of fellow DAV volunteers who paid their last respects.

[@Banthisyoutube-zs6sx]

We buried gramps in july sorry about your loss.

[@OldMtnGeezer]

If this doesn't bring a tear or two, better check yourself for a pulse.

[@ManuelGonzalez-fn2zf]

I'm a Marine Corps vet.....and it does.

[@Trevordg]

The music, the words, the scenery - this is one of my all time favourite scenes in the whole series.

[@commandosolo_193]

one of the greatest hours in TV, EVER!

[@TheStuport]

My Dad was a 30 year Officer and Pilot in the USAF. Ever since I saw this for the first time back in the day...ALL my Christmas's since have been extra special and filled with memories of how much my Dad "The Colonel" would have Saluted Toby and simply said...Thank You Sir. ❤🙏

[@safriedrich1631]

even though I had heard so much about this series.. I never followed it. So I'm seeing this for the 1st time... and now I'm a slobbering mess. God bless ALL our Veterans.

[@PreflashGordon]

My favorite sequence from the entire series, bar none. From "one can only hope" to the end I cry. Beautiful.

[@JohnnyHartley-x4c]

I just watched this again, and cried. Wow.

[@jordanwindham3804]

This episode always got me, but it hits even harder now that my dad - a Vietnam vet - is buried at Arlington. It's a wonderful testament to what the Arlington National Cemetery is all about.

[@jameswettstein]

Just as the Muslims have Mecca, we should have Arlington as a place all Americans should go to at least once in their lives. It's a life changing event. Especially the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknowns. People...... you need to go.

[@flthunderdigginwrob3162]

One of THE greatest scenes of one of TV's greatest shows.

[@stevenbrannen1568]

Every time, Every single time, I see this part of this episode it brings me to tears. At times weeping. Keeps me pushing for vets to be treated better. That is why I do Rolling to Remember in DC. Just one of the things I do. If I could go back to see myself the day I got to Basic Training I would tell myself one thing. That thing is, This is the first day of a good life but one that also brings sadness.

[@michaelsekula6859]

I watch this often. I served for 11 years but I didn't do anything special except my job. Very pound to have served my country. This is very special.

[@debradealy7898]

I tear up when Mrs Landingham says to Toby I'd to come. Thinking of her 2 boys who died in Vietnam.

[@sunseeker8457]

Respect... Something we have almost forgotten! (mostly the government)!

[@chris141]

This moment from this show has been stuck in my head for years

[@tomawen5916]

Makes me cry. Too many veterans are homeless. We need to do better. I need to do better. They defended our country.

[@wonder528]

I cried when I first saw episode and it hit home even harder when our flag was presented to me at my step-fathers funeral. He was a WWII veteran and passed five years after this aired. And my eyes are watering up again watching this.

[@tearuruoterangi7861]

From Australia,Lord,this can never be allowed to happen,they all deserve our many thanks and neverending respect...

[@nl5828]

“i can only hope sir” 😢😢😢👏👏👏👏👏

[@DonB.-Mulefivefive]

69 yr old nam vet tears keep bringing this to the front!!!

[@shawn3363]

I teared up during this because seeing the Arlington scenes brought me back to when I was out there with the Air Force Honor Guard and it reminded me of the times and experiences that I wouldn't trade for anything. This show gave it the full dignity that it deserved and I'd have to say this is one of the best "presidential"/political shows ever made.

[@Dryghtendanitsu]

Whoever edited this one, good on you for not ending it with your upbeat music outtro you normally do

[@johnpitzer5500]

Every veteran should be treated in the same fashion! They served our country, and our country should serve them!

[@Chevalier_knight]

" i can only hope so,sir" such a powerful li ne.

[@michaelwallden7261]

Toby shows class

[@Beth_Alice_Kaplan]

Dang, all these years later and this scene still makes me sniffly. 🥺

[@gregl4265]

Simply the best show to EVER air

[@roughrider6129]

I love Mrs. Landringham, you shouldn't have done it but seeing as you did I'd like to come along

[@DanielMurphy-je5vz]

The Part with Mrs. Landingham coming with Toby also is a great touch after she told Charlie about her boys whom died in duty

[@israelparper6080]

I am not a parent, I am not an American, I've never worn a uniform, but that scene where Mrs Landinham tell Charlie about her boys breaks me EVERY TIME. The acting in this episode is some of the best I've watched on TV.

[@mlaiuppa]

Just one of many powerful scenes from an outstanding show. All of them my favorites.

[@seamanjack2448]

No doubt the most touching, best written scene ever. I’ve seen dozens of times and cry every time.

[@HowardFord-p8r]

Everytime I see this I cry for the 58 000 plus killed in Vietnam and the many more Vietnam veterans who passed since the end of that war love all my brother in arms

[@Tarnatos14]

never cry for the dead, cry for the living.

[@fazbell]

A powerful segment. The West Wing was wonderful television.

[@urbypilot2136]

First time I saw this on TV, I cried. Watching it again still brings tears to my eyes. My grandfather was an NCO for the Philippine Air Force, signed during the Korean War. By some stroke of luck (or divine intervention), he ended up in the air force. But my uncle, while we were visiting his grave once, pointed out at the Korean War Memorial how one of those memorialized has a serial number that was right next to my grandfather's serial number.

[@Lord.Kiltridge]

I know a man who quietly turned out for ramp duty for every single Canadian KIA who was being sent home while he was over there, or arriving from Afghanistan while in Canada. His name is unpublished, although he can be seen in a few photographs. He serves his country and honours his fellow veterans with no complaints and expecting no reward. He is an exemplary human being. O7

[@LePetitVingtieme1]

I do not observe the holiday but it felt fitting to watch on this on Christmas Day, 2024. Seems very much in the spirit of good will to all mankind - especially Toby’s response to the president that he can only hope every homeless vet comes out of the woodwork. To a world where homeless people, vets or not, are housed and cared for and all have what they need.

[@susanyork5089]

The greatest episode of this Masterpiece of TV

[@Apostrofe]

This makes me sob every time I watch it

[@nailgunsniper]

So much about this scene. Bartlet was about to dig into someone until Toby filled him in. Toby saying he can only hope set a tone even a President could not argue.

[@sarahmccoy1941]

God bless the souls of those who have paid the ultimate price for the United States of America. Amen.

[@michaelmuldowney8]

The West Wings best episode by far. Emmy winning work from Richard Schiff in this episode. While Arlington normally prohibits filming on their grounds, the committee were so moved by the script and storyline that they along provided a real honor guard for the burial scene.

[@datni99any1]

This was one of the Greatest shows EVER, I am and will always be a fan forever.

[@pympton]

His flinch always gets me.

[@Leatherneck1775-USMC]

And I spent 2 years on the Honor Guard, such a solemn moment.

[@kapuoa]

Chokes me up a little every time (and I've re-watched it several times).

[@TeeKJay]

Of all the things that could have moved me to tears over the last two months, this was the one that did it. The video ended for me at the time (9:37) the Pentagon was hit on 9/11 23 years ago. Lost two shipmates in that catastrophic and senseless attack. RIP Robert E Dolan and Patrick Dunn.

[@flea10x6]

This episode “In Excelsior Deo” needs an Annual broadcast between 11/11 (Veteran/Armistice Day) and Thanksgiving Day.

[@WobblinGoblin1]

At the time TWW was broadcast, I watched it occasionally because I understood that it was a quality show in terms of production value, cast, and writing. I didn't care for the fact that it was definitely from the liberal point of view, however, so I didn't invest in watching it regularly. All these years later, with how far our country has slid into clown world, I watch these clips and yearn for the fictional country/White House that is depicted here. I now also see and acknowledge the good that is in the characters that I once dismissed. Bravo to the creators for this show and these characters.

[@tomawen5916]

Right there with you brother. My heart aches at this scene. Your words moved me.

[@seamanjack2448]

Kudos to you for growing as a person and sharing. Thanks.

[@wendyhardin5259]

My dad was a Proud Navy Korean War Veteran. My mom served in the Navy during the Korean War as a teletype operator. I also have spent time with homeless Veterans from Viet Nam and other conflicts. There are too many Homeless Veterans. There shouldn’t be any.

[@1966geordieboy]

You Americans have such a great pride in your country. Loved TWW in every episode, some were more beautiful than others and this was one of them ❤

[@MrJoshlanier]

This is the greatest show ever written.

[@RollTideLBC]

When we came back from the Gulf to thousands of folks I felt a bit ashamed, undeserving. We got the support of the populace that was the complete and exact opposite of those coming home from Vietnam. Felt shame because they went through a thousand times worse than we did both home and abroad. A Veteran from that era I spoke to about how I felt just smiled out his hand on my shoulder and said welcome home. He was explicitly sincere and said times change. We as a country and community need to lift our vets up and provide everything we possibly can in support and gratitude. Get the politicians to overwhelmingly pass legislation without amendments attached to truly thank our vets old and new.

[@GritimoTheOdd]

Im not sure how true the story is, but I have seen on other sites that when the director of the West Wing approached a senior figure/ director at Arlington Nation Cemetary to do this scene, the ANC director liked it so much and stated that it was entirely what the ANC stood for. They got a genuine burial ceremony with a full honor guard detail to make sure they got it right.

[@christophercaldwell6888]

Yup, it's true. They were honored to do it.

[@jerodast]

Yep, it's been well covered in a few interviews by show people. You can also recognize the 4th mourner in the scene as being played by John C. Metzler Jr, Superintendent of the Cemetery.

[@salvin-valkyries]

To have people like these to be our leaders... One can hope. Well aware of Toby's arc, and his actions later on, but there's no denying this one either. We can tell, just how proud Bartlet is of him. Brilliantly written and acted. They don't make shows like these anymore, and if there any, I've been woefully ignorant.

[@donaldfschiff1229]

The writing on this show continues to amaze me. All these years later, I find myself weeping. I never served. No one in my immediate family served. I am privileged to have a stable home and a loving family. And yet, I know this is who we are supposed to be. The way we treat our veterans is a crime. Jesus wept, and so do I.

[@MrJdubes]

The choreography here is brilliant. The matching up of the two scenes to one song is a perfect.

[@JohnnyHartley-x4c]

I just watched this again, I still choke up .

[@ZATennisFan]

I've heard that it was an actual Marine burial detail. When the Marines heard about this they refused to allow it to be done by actors.

[@alexandercain732]

Given how respected the show was by this point in the series, the fact that the federal government granted permission to film on the ACTUAL hallowed grounds of Arlington Cemetery, and that by using an actual marine guard service for the episode provided a continuing reverence and respect for the nation's fallen soldiers......I can believe that it was an actual Guard and not actors hired for the filming. It all definitely looked and "felt" real and legitimate in the episode.

[@dennischavez3485]

I don't doubt that however had he been a Army veteran the Army color guard would have done the same

[@jerodast]

@@dennischavez3485 Yeah this was not about any specific branch. They approached the superintendent of the cemetery for permission to film, and after looking at the script he arranged for it to be done by real servicemembers. I'm not sure whose decision it was to make him a Marine specifically, but of course they would have done it right no matter what.

[@jerodast]

@@alexandercain732 This was only episode 10 of course. Aaron Sorkin probably already had a strong hand in the industry, but I'm not sure if it was a nationally acknowledged hit when this was filmed. The fact is the script is powerful and exactly in line with the cemetery's mission to honor veterans, and that's what earned them permission to film the real honor guard.

[@tomlawson5655]

If this scene doesn't give you goose bumps, you have no soul.

[@Rangersly]

I've seen this episode many, many times. It stills makes me cry.

[@longwalker78]

One of my favorite segments in the West Wing.

[@scottmUTCS]

"We're still in NATO right?" How prescient. Love The character of Toby and especially this episode.

[@DrSarcasmable]

Adam Schiff (Toby Ziegler) can be seen crying in this scene. That's because they had to do a couple of shoots to get it right, and the Marine guards insisted on doing the ceremony from start to finish, every time.

[@JJWaffleton]

*Richard Schiff lol

[@seanburns4168]

My father was a Sargent in the Air Force; in 1988 my father was diagnosed with circocis of the liver. If there was no VA hospitasl then my dad would have died a homeless veteran. My dad had no where else to go except a VA hospital. They looked after him until his death a few months later.

[@sideshowrod1312]

One of many amazing West Wing moments. Always makes me cry.

[@robinsonfrancis1498]

An earlier version of this clip had existed in KZbin, I was drawn to it repeatedly by the carol sung, Little Drummer boy, which in my opinion is the best of version of it. There is never a Christmas time spent without me returning to the clip just to listen the carol. Thanks for this clearer version of it.

[@craigwheller]

an incredibly beautiful piece of television

[@MikeMurphy-g2i]

Homeless veterans are not just Homeless veterans. They placed their mortal bodies between the enemy and our freedom with their last full measure of devotion. They are heroes. They are our heroes, and nothing we can do for them will ever be enough. I pray they will always stand between the breach and us!!!!!!

[@malcolmpayne-hu2gd]

This was a great episode!

[@husamstarxin4626]

Toby at his absolute finest here. I also really appreciate how the show spend the time to highlight the trouble of the homeless and how despite all of their plight, at the end of the day they are simply good people who didn't get the same opportunity others did.

[@aigtrader2984]

In excelsis deo... One of the most absolutely astounding episodes of West Wing. How we treat our veterans, that any of them are homeless… As a nation each and every one of us should hang our heads in shame. When you are watching this, and you see all the headstones… These are the people Donald Trump called "losers and suckers". Then and only then will you begin to understand the anger held towards this man. On a sidenote, interesting thing about them attempting to give Toby the flag… He is sitting in the wrong seat. My father is buried at Arlington. During the ceremony, the end seat is reserved for the person receiving the flag. The attention to detail is astounding.

[@ArthurPaliden]

If I remember correctly the actual Arlington honour guard participated in this scene so it would be done right.

[@christophercaldwell6888]

They WANTED to.

[@Wriggs74]

No human should ever be left on the streets. Especially those who have defended other humans against those who are evil.

[@Tarnatos14]

against those who are declared evil. who are we to decide if they are indeed, in many cases the humans who defended against evil, where declared as evil themselfes aswell...

[@Tunda2]

🇺🇸 “I can only hope so sir”

[@brucetheloon]

It was this scene that forever associated The Little Drummer Boy with powerful sadness in my mind. Before this, it was just a song. Now it's linked with a 21 gun salute and the emotion just rolls over me when I hear it.

[@bethoconnor8236]

And drummers were among the youngest children ever to serve in our nation's military.