President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama appeared at Arlington National Cemetery with military members, Gold Star families, veterans and other Americans who came to honor and remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
After presenting a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, the President spoke at the Memorial Day Service, attempting to provide comfort to those families who lost loved ones.
"This day is about you, and the fallen heroes that you loved. And it’s a day that has meaning for all Americans, including me. It’s one of my highest honors, it is my most solemn responsibility as President, to serve as Commander-in-Chief of one of the finest fighting forces the world has ever known. And it’s a responsibility that carries a special weight on this day; that carries a special weight each time I meet with our Gold Star families and I see the pride in their eyes, but also the tears of pain that will never fully go away; each time I sit down at my desk and sign a condolence letter to the family of the fallen."
The president, as he spoke about the grief the mourners have had to endure, told the families assembled he couldn't imagine losing his daughters, Sasha and Malia.
"To those of you who mourn the loss of a loved one today, my heart breaks and goes out to you. I love my daughters more than anything in the world, and I cannot imagine losing them. I can’t imagine losing a sister or brother or parent at war. The grief so many of you carry in your hearts is a grief I cannot fully know."
Vice President Joe Biden marched in a Memorial Day parade in Wilmington, Delaware where he spoke about veterans' sacrifices at a ceremony. The Vice President, along with wife Jill Biden and several local political leaders, walked the three-quarter mile route down Delaware Avenue to the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, which commemorates Delawareans killed in the Civil War.
Biden told a crowd of about 100 people that Wilmington's parade is his "favorite Memorial Day event in the United States."
It was the city's 144th annual parade.
"When I first started coming here, there were a lot of World War I veterans," Biden said. Biden said only about 1 percent of Americans is engaged in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which makes it easy for the other 99 percent to forget about the sacrifices made by service members.
He urged the audience members to acknowledge their service and the effect on their families.
"Let them know that you know the sacrifices they're making," Biden said.
"There's only one sacred obligation this nation has. That's to prepare and equip those we send, and care for them when they come back."
Dr. Biden has encouraged Americans to keep military families in their thoughts. She and the First Lady, through their Joining Forces initiative have created a web page where citizens can leave messages honoring U.S. troops.
"Our military families are true American heroes: they are parents who raise their kids alone while their spouse is deployed overseas, they are the grandparents who provide much needed support, and they are military kids who work hard in school while bravely awaiting their mom or dad's return from deployment. They serve our country bravely and without asking for recognition for their sacrifices", said Biden.
"That's why the First Lady and I started Joining Forces, a national initiative to recognize, honor and support our military families."
After presenting a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, the President spoke at the Memorial Day Service, attempting to provide comfort to those families who lost loved ones.
"This day is about you, and the fallen heroes that you loved. And it’s a day that has meaning for all Americans, including me. It’s one of my highest honors, it is my most solemn responsibility as President, to serve as Commander-in-Chief of one of the finest fighting forces the world has ever known. And it’s a responsibility that carries a special weight on this day; that carries a special weight each time I meet with our Gold Star families and I see the pride in their eyes, but also the tears of pain that will never fully go away; each time I sit down at my desk and sign a condolence letter to the family of the fallen."
The president, as he spoke about the grief the mourners have had to endure, told the families assembled he couldn't imagine losing his daughters, Sasha and Malia.
"To those of you who mourn the loss of a loved one today, my heart breaks and goes out to you. I love my daughters more than anything in the world, and I cannot imagine losing them. I can’t imagine losing a sister or brother or parent at war. The grief so many of you carry in your hearts is a grief I cannot fully know."
Vice President Joe Biden marched in a Memorial Day parade in Wilmington, Delaware where he spoke about veterans' sacrifices at a ceremony. The Vice President, along with wife Jill Biden and several local political leaders, walked the three-quarter mile route down Delaware Avenue to the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, which commemorates Delawareans killed in the Civil War.
Biden told a crowd of about 100 people that Wilmington's parade is his "favorite Memorial Day event in the United States."
It was the city's 144th annual parade.
"When I first started coming here, there were a lot of World War I veterans," Biden said. Biden said only about 1 percent of Americans is engaged in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which makes it easy for the other 99 percent to forget about the sacrifices made by service members.
He urged the audience members to acknowledge their service and the effect on their families.
"Let them know that you know the sacrifices they're making," Biden said.
"There's only one sacred obligation this nation has. That's to prepare and equip those we send, and care for them when they come back."
Dr. Biden has encouraged Americans to keep military families in their thoughts. She and the First Lady, through their Joining Forces initiative have created a web page where citizens can leave messages honoring U.S. troops.
"Our military families are true American heroes: they are parents who raise their kids alone while their spouse is deployed overseas, they are the grandparents who provide much needed support, and they are military kids who work hard in school while bravely awaiting their mom or dad's return from deployment. They serve our country bravely and without asking for recognition for their sacrifices", said Biden.
"That's why the First Lady and I started Joining Forces, a national initiative to recognize, honor and support our military families."
Comments
Post a Comment