I ........ REALLY... hate to defend Obama.......... BUT......

According to Snopes ( which often does good research so it's probably true..) ..

Obama is not the first Pres in just the last 5 administrations to miss a Memorial Day at Arlington.

Bush Jr missed one ( tho he was in France for the ceremonies for the 50'th anniversary of D-Day so thats forgivable)

Clinton Missed NONE

Bush Sr. missed 4 of his 4 one in Rome and was at a cemetery south of the city.. the other three on vacation at Kennebunkport.

Reagan missed 4 of 8 1 while recovering from his attempted assassination ( forgivable). 2 while on summits (one in Moscow the one there ok .. but one in Virginia.... shoulda been at Arlington.) and one on vacation at Camp David.

AS much as I hate Obama.......... he's not doing any worse ( in this respect) then any other president in the last 30 years . (other then Clinton.... and THATS a tough pill to swallow)

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/memorialday.asp