Obama writes excuse for fifth-grader

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GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn., June 4 (UPI) -- A Minnesota fifth-grader who skipped school to meet President Barack Obama with his family received an excuse note signed by the commander-in-chief.

Tyler Sullivan, 11, said he had never before skipped school, but couldn't pass up an opportunity to meet the president Friday at the Honeywell facility in Golden Valley, Minn., where his father, Ryan, was introducing Obama before his speech, ABC News reported Monday.

The boy said Obama approached him and his family after the speech.

"First I said, 'Hi, Mr. President.' Then he says, 'Hi Tyler. You must be out of school then,'" Sullivan said.

He said Obama then obtained a pen and a card with the presidential letterhead and offered to write him an excuse note.

"Do you want me to write an excuse note? What's your teacher's name?" Tyler quoted Obama as saying. "And I say, 'Mr. Ackerman.' And he writes, 'Please excuse Tyler. He was with me. Barack Obama, the president.'"

Sullivan said he had the note framed and he hopes his teacher accepts the excuse.