When the government was shutdown, so were all of the National Parks and national memorials.

But no government shutdown was going to stand in the way of some determined  World War II veterans.

On Tuesday, a group of veterans from Mississippi ignored the government shutdown and visited the World War II memorial on the Mall in Washington DC. Some Congressional Republicans and Democrats decided they would join the party and came along to show their support to the feisty veterans. Then on Wednesday, more veterans showed up and sang ‘Amazing Grace’ together at the memorial. Though still closed to the public, the veterans had now been officially granted access.

The veterans, many in their eighties fought for a country that, 70 years ago was facing adversity but was unified in purpose. A concept the politicians present at the memorial are not familiar with…