After a wreath-laying ceremony this morning at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery, President Obama gave a speech thanking veterans for their service.
“There is no tribute, no commemoration, no praise that can truly match the magnitude of your service and your sacrifice,” he said.
“We call this a holiday. For many veterans it’s another day of memories that drive them to live their lives each day as best as they possibly can,” he said. “For troops, it’s another day in harm’s way … for the wounded, it’s another day of slow and arduous recovery.”
Obama said the troops who’ve fought in Iraq and Afghanistan are as valued as those who fought in World War II and other wars.
“This generation already deserves a place alongside previous generations for the sacrifices they have made,” he said. (Read his full remarks here.)
He said Veterans Day is a reminder to fulfill the country’s obligations to those who have served.
“Although it is important and proper that we mark this day, it is far more important we spend all our days determined to keep the promises that we’ve made to all who answer this country’s call,” he said.
“If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that there have been times when we, as a nation, have betrayed the trust,” he continued, saying that Vietnam War veterans were often treated with “condemnation and neglect.”
That, he said, will never happen again.
To them, and to all veterans, he said, “It’s never too late to say thank you. We honor your service. We are forever grateful and, just as you have not forgotten your missing comrades, neither ever will we.”
“Our service men and women have been doing right by America for generations. And as long as I am commander in chief, America’s gonna do right by them,” he said.
And, he said, America fights for the goal of peace.
“That is why we fight. In hopes of the day when we no longer need to,” he said, and promised to “commit ourselves to the hard work of peace.”
Late update: After his remarks, Obama walked among the graves for a few minutes, greeting several visitors. He was accompanied by the first lady, Brig. Gen. Karl Horst and his wife, Nancy Horst.
Obama paused and knelt at the grave of Spc. Ross McGinnis, a Medal of Honor recipient. McGinnis was killed in Iraq in 2006 when he jumped on a grenade to save his comrades.
