Melodrama, done badly.

Because C-Span lives at night, when the rest of the free channels have gone to infomercial, you might have happened to catch the graveside twilight services this weekend at Arlington. They seemed to be oblivious of the need to ... move it along, as the sun set minutes before the bugler was summoned for Taps. I bet Arlington has rules like that: get em in the grave by sunset.

It was a shame to see the unlit American flag after dark, as the cameras searched for a prop visible enough to highlight as the ceremonies waned on...

I swear, the little chubby faced blonde in need of a haircut -- grandson Teddy -- threw himself on grandpapa's coffin, crying -- nay, wailing at the end. Like he just couldn't bear... to let go. (This "child" was I'm going to guess 8 or 9 or so -- well above the wailing age, and it seemed there were no men or women within arms reach to pull the child away from making a further spectacle of himself.)

The cynic might say he was weeping for the lost camera time: apparently before the final Taps, and after the message conveyed from the Pope's spokeman, 4 of the grandchildren were going to say something about their family legacy and no doubt Grandpapa's passing through the eye of the needle for all his humility and sacrifice on behalf of the poor. Like Jesus, in case you didn't catch it.

Keep your eyes open for the closing minutes on C-Span, if you're up late one of these nights. See for yourself ...