It has been reported that President Barack Obama canceled a Memorial Day speech near Chicago Monday, instead shepherding the gathered crowd out of a dangerous thunderstorm.

Obama's only scheduled public event Monday was paying respects at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Ill., instead of Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

But Obama spoke to the crowd from under an umbrella when a violent downpour caused participants to seek shelter.

The president told the crowd, "Excuse me, everybody listen up. We are a little bit concerned about lightning. This may not be safe. I know that all of you are here to commemorate the fallen. ... What we'd like to do is if possible have people move back to their cars and if this passes in the next 15 to 20 minutes I'll stick around."

He hoped the ceremony could resume later, "but we don't want to endanger anyone, particularly the children, in the audience. A little bit of rain doesn't hurt anybody but we don't want anybody struck by lightning," Obama said.

The president later canceled his speech and instead spent time with fallen service members' families gathered in buses.

It was also reported that appearing a bit tired, Obama returned to Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington about 7:30 p. m. and finally delivered his remarks prepared for the earlier event to about 150-200 service members gathered at the base's "tactical fitness center." The more enthusiastic members of the small crowd cheered the president while more reserved service members in the back listened quietly.

After speaking for a few minutes, Obama shook some hands and posed for photos before heading out on the presidential helicopter, Marine One.

The troops were thanked by Obama for their service and expressed the nation's gratitude for their willingness to put their lives on the line. (With Inputs from Agencies)