Vietnam-era mother denied White House tour

updated 9:58 p.m. ET June 27, 2007

WASHINGTON - All Allys Boyer wanted was a White House tour. The 83-year-old is going, but it will take an act of a congressman to get her there.

Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., said the White House initially told his aides they could schedule Boyer's tour — then later rescinded the offer because her son, Cpl. Larry Boyer, died in the Vietnam War, not in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The White House contends the tour for Boyer, of Ellwood City, Pa., was never confirmed.

Altmire said he sought the tour for Boyer because he understood such tours were available to the immediate family members of those killed in war.

As a member of Congress, Altmire is allowed to appear in person to put people in line, and he said he would do so on Thursday for Boyer and her two daughters.

"I can't articulate how angry I am about the whole thing," Altmire said.

Alex Conant, a White House spokesman, said an exception would be made for Boyer. He said there is no written policy prioritizing who gets White House tours, and "we try to accommodate as many visitors to the White House as possible."

'I was appalled'
Sandy Boyer, 58, of Zelienople, Pa., said her mother tried to get tour tickets more than a week ago after she learned her daughter Beverly Boyer, 51, was traveling to Washington from Arizona. It is the family's first joint visit to the nation's capital.

Allys Boyer called Altmire's office after she was told there is a four-month wait for White House tours.

Sandy Boyer said the misunderstanding made her feel discriminated against.

"I was appalled. ... It was almost like the men and women who fought in other wars were not being honored," she said.

Larry Boyer died in Vietnam in 1969 at age 22. He was a college student being scouted to play baseball when he volunteered to join the Marines.

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