Joplin tornado aftermath: Photos now available from President Obama's speech

The following photos are now available for use by all ACM newspapers and websites concerning President Obama's speech and visit to Joplin, Mo., to tour the devastation left behind from the May 22 tornado, the deadliest tornado in U.S. history in more than six decades.

Click on photo to enlarge and drag to desktop to save. Please credit Rick Rogers / ACM News Service

This small American flag was draped over the balcony of the Taylor Performing Arts Center at MSSU during a
Joplin Community Memorial Service to honor those lives lost in the May 22 tornado that killed 142 people
in Joplin, Mo. 

President Barack Obama offers a hug and a word to Father Justin Monaghan of St. Mary's Catholic Church. Monaghan
was caught in the church during the tornado but escaped harm in his home's bathtub.  

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon greets President Barack Obama to the podium to deliver his speech during a Joplin Community Memorial Service Sunday on the campus of Missouri Southern State University.

President Barack Obama told the capacity crowd of 2,000 residents at Sunday's Joplin Community Memorial Service
in the wake of the May 22 tornado that "amid the heartbreak and tragedy, no one is a stranger."

President Barack Obama assured the crowd of more than 2,000 at the
Joplin Community Memorial Service that the federal government "will be
there every step of the way" in the rebuilding process.

A crowd of more than 2,000 packed the Taylor Performing Arts Center on the campus of Missouri Southern State
University to attend a Joplin Community Memorial Service to honor the lives lost in the May 22 tornado.

President Barack Obama spoke at a Joplin Community Memorial Service minutes after seeing the destruction left
behind from the May 22 tornado that claimed 142 lives, injured hundreds more and damaged more than
8,000 structures in the heart of the city.

The residents seated in the balcony of the Taylor Performing Arts Center greeted the President with a standing ovation.

President Barack Obama and Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon speaks with residents at the end of the Joplin Community Memorial Service Sunday.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon told the crowd gathered for the memorial service that "the nation and world has witnessed
this week the spirit of Joplin, Mo."