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White House apologizes

by Brian Walker
| September 30, 2010 9:00 PM

The White House on Wednesday apologized for the family of Medal of Honor recipient Vernon Baker not touring its building as planned on Saturday, the day after the World War II hero was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Baker's widow, Heidy, and grandson, Vernon Pawlik, 10, both of St. Maries, were denied entry because the boy was wearing shorts and a T-shirt, said Thomas Norris, also a Medal of Honor recipient from North Idaho who accompanied the family for the funeral.

"This is an unfortunate misunderstanding," White House Spokesman Adam Abrams wrote in an e-mail to The Press. "We would have loved to have hosted 10-year-old Vernon and his family at the White House and we have reached out to the Baker family and Lt. Norris to communicate our deep regret and invite them back to the White House.

"This family, as well as Lt. Norris, have given so much to our nation and they have our sincerest appreciation and our apologies for this misunderstanding."

The boy was wearing a T-shirt with Baker's photo, signature and the words, "Lt. Vernon J. Baker - Medal of Honor" in honor of his grandfather in case he saw President Barack Obama. He also took a book on Obama for the president to sign.

"The family was denied access even though it had clearance to tour the West Wing," Norris said. "They were told that Vern's grandson had inappropriate attire to tour the West Wing because it may offend the president, who wasn't even in town."

Heidy described the denial as heartbreaking and disappointing.

The White House declined to comment on the situation at the gate, other than to say there was a misunderstanding that warranted the apology.

West Wing tours require an invitation from a White House staffer and are separate from the normal public tour that's held on the East Wing. Tour participants on the West Wing typically don't wear casual attire.

However, Norris said he and the family were never notified about a dress code or suggested attire and, had they known there was one, the boy would have dressed accordingly.

"They turned away a family who came from Idaho that had just buried a loved one who is a Medal of Honor recipient and the family couldn't come in because a 10-year-old is wearing shorts and a T-shirt that happens to have an image of his grandpa," Norris said. "You'd think that something could be worked out, but that wasn't even attempted. It was an event that should have never occurred.

"It should have been handled much more diplomatically."

Norris said he understands that there needs to be guidelines in place to protect the White House and its staff, particularly after a couple who didn't have clearance entered the building and even shook Obama's hand, but those guidelines should apply to everyone.

"While we were waiting, a man in shorts who had a cooler was allowed in," Norris said.

Norris, a 20-year FBI agent and one of three surviving Navy SEALS to receive the Medal of Honor for actions during the Vietnam War, said he was also denied to go on the tour because he didn't have clearance after a three-day notification was given.

"I was told they didn't have time to get security clearance," he said. "I don't buy that either as I used to be in that business and I know how long a security check takes."

Vernon Baker, the last living African-American Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, died in July at 90 at his home south of St. Maries after a six-year battle with cancer.