WEBVTT 00:04.019 --> 00:06.075 The President of the United States , 00:06.075 --> 00:08.130 the Honorable Donald J . Trump , has 00:08.130 --> 00:10.680 arrived and is greeted by today's host , 00:11.060 --> 00:13.282 the Honorable Pete Heckseth , Secretary 00:13.282 --> 00:16.670 of War . Accompanied by Vice President 00:16.670 --> 00:19.989 JD Vance , General Kane , Chairman of 00:19.989 --> 00:22.156 the Joint Chiefs of Staff , Ms . Karen 00:22.156 --> 00:24.510 Durham Aguilera , Executive Director , 00:24.829 --> 00:27.190 Office of Army Cemeteries and Army 00:27.190 --> 00:29.430 National Military Cemeteries , and 00:29.430 --> 00:31.469 Major General Antoinette R . Gant , 00:31.870 --> 00:34.037 Commanding General of Joint Task Force 00:34.037 --> 00:36.270 National Capital Region and the United 00:36.270 --> 00:38.310 States Army Military District of 00:38.310 --> 00:39.310 Washington . 02:55.130 --> 02:58.190 Ceremonial ceremonial I 02:59.279 --> 03:03.210 pee . Oh , that . 06:57.459 --> 07:01.170 Honor guard . I can 07:01.709 --> 07:03.290 shun . Oh 07:06.559 --> 07:07.559 Oh 07:15.390 --> 07:16.446 To , please stop . 09:00.169 --> 09:01.169 I've got to stay 09:39.250 --> 09:42.090 Armed Forces and the United States Army 09:42.090 --> 09:43.750 bands are formed and . 09:48.859 --> 09:51.190 Ladies and gentlemen , please stand for 09:51.219 --> 09:53.770 the playing of the national anthem . We 09:53.979 --> 09:56.619 play taps , and while the president 09:56.619 --> 09:58.341 observes a moment of silence . 10:12.109 --> 10:13.109 It 10:25.039 --> 10:25.539 Bree . 11:54.099 --> 11:57.700 Oh no Pa ! 12:22.119 --> 12:23.119 Freeze , freeze . 14:54.489 --> 14:56.669 Order . Right shoulder . 15:13.440 --> 15:14.440 Let 16:42.080 --> 16:45.909 will begin momentarily . Please hold 16:45.909 --> 16:48.131 in place until you are directed to move 16:48.131 --> 16:49.131 to your seats . 18:16.290 --> 18:19.859 I see the glory of 18:20.449 --> 18:23.420 the coming of the glory . 18:24.670 --> 18:25.670 It is 18:29.109 --> 18:32.900 the the grapes . He 18:33.449 --> 18:37.099 had the fateful light of 18:37.989 --> 18:40.849 his story . 19:21.810 --> 19:22.560 Not , not 19:31.359 --> 19:32.359 No . 19:37.660 --> 19:38.660 I 20:04.939 --> 20:05.939 Um 20:09.199 --> 20:10.199 I 21:01.239 --> 21:02.239 I 21:20.369 --> 21:20.780 you 21:29.859 --> 21:32.250 I I know . 21:41.510 --> 21:42.510 man 29:17.619 --> 29:18.619 The 29:29.750 --> 29:31.972 Ladies and gentlemen , the President of 29:31.972 --> 29:34.349 the United States , accompanied by the 29:34.349 --> 29:36.989 Vice President , the Secretary of War , 29:37.229 --> 29:39.451 and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 29:39.451 --> 29:39.949 Staff . 30:10.479 --> 30:12.359 Ladies and gentlemen , Chaplain 30:12.359 --> 30:14.420 Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Trimble , 30:14.719 --> 30:17.160 Deputy Command Chaplain , Joint Task 30:17.160 --> 30:19.599 Force National Capital Region , and the 30:19.599 --> 30:22.500 US Army Military District of Washington . 30:28.250 --> 30:29.250 Yes . 30:33.359 --> 30:36.359 In your faith tradition . Would you bow 30:36.359 --> 30:39.810 with me in a word of prayer ? Almighty 30:39.810 --> 30:43.319 God , Creator , sustainer , 30:43.729 --> 30:46.969 and redeemer of all mankind . On this 30:46.969 --> 30:49.280 day of remembrance , we gather as one 30:49.280 --> 30:52.489 people here in America's cemetery , 30:53.030 --> 30:55.489 humbled by the cost of freedom and 30:55.489 --> 30:57.729 united in gratitude for those who have 30:57.729 --> 31:00.530 given their lives in the last full 31:00.530 --> 31:03.579 measure of devotion . We remember the 31:03.579 --> 31:05.690 soldiers who stood in the breach when 31:05.690 --> 31:08.260 liberty was threatened , the sailors 31:08.260 --> 31:11.000 who braved the seas in defense of our 31:11.000 --> 31:13.260 peace , the airmen who soared into 31:13.260 --> 31:16.540 danger so others might live , and the 31:16.540 --> 31:19.199 guardians of our homeland who did not 31:19.199 --> 31:22.819 return . To their family's embrace . 31:23.800 --> 31:25.959 From the fields of Gettysburg to the 31:25.959 --> 31:28.839 beaches of Normandy , from the hills of 31:28.839 --> 31:31.520 Korea to the jungles of Vietnam , from 31:31.520 --> 31:33.920 the sands of the Middle East to the 31:33.920 --> 31:36.800 skies above distant lands , their 31:36.800 --> 31:39.239 courage has been the shield of our 31:39.239 --> 31:42.829 nation . Lord , grant us wisdom . To 31:42.829 --> 31:44.773 honor their memory , not only with 31:44.773 --> 31:46.989 words , but with lives worthy of their 31:46.989 --> 31:50.270 sacrifice . May we cherish the freedoms 31:50.270 --> 31:52.510 they have preserved , defend the 31:52.510 --> 31:55.069 justice they have sought , and extend 31:55.069 --> 31:58.150 compassion they carried in their hearts . 31:59.459 --> 32:01.780 Comfort the families who still feel the 32:01.780 --> 32:04.140 ache of absence . May they know their 32:04.140 --> 32:06.180 loved ones are not forgotten , that 32:06.180 --> 32:08.660 their names are spoken with reverence , 32:09.140 --> 32:11.859 and their legacy lives on in the soul 32:11.859 --> 32:14.890 of our nation . As we stand among the 32:14.890 --> 32:18.119 markers of the fallen , may we be 32:18.119 --> 32:21.500 reminded that liberty is never free . 32:21.959 --> 32:24.560 It is fought and paid for in courage , 32:24.630 --> 32:27.560 in service , and in love . God , we 32:27.560 --> 32:30.479 pray for peace , that one day swords 32:30.479 --> 32:33.239 may be beaten into plows shears , and 32:33.239 --> 32:35.640 no mother need weep for a child lost to 32:35.640 --> 32:39.239 war . Until that day , give us strength 32:39.239 --> 32:41.500 to be faithful stewards of the freedom 32:41.750 --> 32:44.760 entrusted to us . In your holy name , 32:44.829 --> 32:48.579 we remember , we honor , and we render 32:48.579 --> 32:50.670 Thanksgiving . Amen . 32:54.520 --> 32:56.869 Please remain standing and join the 32:56.869 --> 32:59.380 United States Army band Pershing Zone 32:59.380 --> 33:02.319 in the playing of our national anthem . 34:26.239 --> 34:28.489 Ladies and gentlemen , General Kaine . 34:34.449 --> 34:36.727 Well , good afternoon , Mr . President , 34:36.770 --> 34:39.560 Mr . Vice President , Secretary Hegseth , 34:39.689 --> 34:41.745 members of the President's cabinet , 34:41.889 --> 34:44.409 distinguished guests , veterans , my 34:44.409 --> 34:46.199 fellow Joint Chiefs , my fellow 34:46.199 --> 34:48.649 Americans , and most importantly , our 34:48.649 --> 34:51.600 Gold Star families . Welcome to 34:51.600 --> 34:54.290 Arlington National Cemetery and thank 34:54.290 --> 34:57.250 you for being here on this special day . 34:57.909 --> 35:01.070 Memorial Day is a day of remembrance , 35:01.439 --> 35:03.719 a day of mourning , and a day of 35:03.719 --> 35:06.939 celebrating the great American spirit , 35:07.280 --> 35:10.949 and most of all , gratitude . Gratitude 35:10.949 --> 35:12.838 for the men and women who stepped 35:12.838 --> 35:14.949 forward without hesitation when their 35:14.949 --> 35:18.760 nation called and said simply , send 35:18.760 --> 35:22.360 me . Today as we gather on this sacred 35:22.360 --> 35:25.889 ground surrounded by rows and rows of 35:25.889 --> 35:28.199 beautiful white headstones , we're 35:28.199 --> 35:30.739 reminded as Americans that each 35:31.080 --> 35:34.020 marker represents a life cut short , 35:34.639 --> 35:37.939 an individual story of American courage , 35:38.199 --> 35:42.100 tenacity , and grit . This summer , our 35:42.100 --> 35:45.479 nation will mark its 250th anniversary , 35:46.020 --> 35:49.620 and 2.5 centuries have passed since a 35:49.620 --> 35:51.780 group of patriots declared themselves 35:51.780 --> 35:55.320 an independent nation . But words alone 35:55.699 --> 35:58.260 were not enough to deliver on this 35:58.260 --> 36:01.419 declaration . Gaining independence as a 36:01.419 --> 36:04.340 nation required action , and a young 36:04.340 --> 36:06.899 group of soldiers , sailors , and 36:06.899 --> 36:09.770 marines went out into the battlefields 36:09.770 --> 36:12.320 to fight and secure our independence 36:12.590 --> 36:15.540 and set the course for our great nation 36:15.540 --> 36:18.570 that we know today . Many of them lie 36:18.570 --> 36:21.510 here on this hallowed ground . For 36:21.510 --> 36:24.790 250 years , the men and women of 36:24.790 --> 36:27.379 America's armed forces have always been 36:27.379 --> 36:30.189 willing to sacrifice for something 36:30.189 --> 36:32.949 greater than themselves . The patriots 36:32.949 --> 36:34.671 buried here connect the frozen 36:34.671 --> 36:37.830 encampments of Valley Forge to the cold 36:37.830 --> 36:40.510 forests of Europe , the sands of the 36:40.510 --> 36:44.189 Pacific to the mountains of Korea , and 36:44.189 --> 36:47.389 the jungles of Vietnam to the deserts 36:47.389 --> 36:49.919 of the Middle East . Across the 36:49.919 --> 36:52.141 centuries , the character , courage and 36:52.141 --> 36:54.560 commitment of the American warfighter 36:54.760 --> 36:58.340 has never wavered , and it never will . 36:59.050 --> 37:01.969 It's that same war fighting spirit we 37:01.969 --> 37:04.530 recently saw in Operation Epic Fury , 37:04.969 --> 37:08.010 and we remember and honor those who 37:08.010 --> 37:10.729 made the ultimate sacrifice , adding 37:10.729 --> 37:13.530 their names to the story of American 37:13.530 --> 37:16.590 heroism . To the Gold Star families 37:16.590 --> 37:19.250 here today and those watching across 37:19.250 --> 37:21.629 this great nation , we know that for 37:21.629 --> 37:24.689 you , Memorial Day is not a single date 37:24.689 --> 37:27.830 on a calendar , it's literally every 37:27.830 --> 37:30.520 single day . You bear a burden that 37:30.520 --> 37:33.520 most of us cannot comprehend , but you 37:33.520 --> 37:36.439 do so with a grace and resilience that 37:36.439 --> 37:39.879 inspires an entire nation . We cannot 37:39.879 --> 37:42.320 replace what you've lost , but we can 37:42.320 --> 37:46.020 promise you this your loved ones' names 37:46.239 --> 37:49.639 will never be forgotten . Their names 37:49.639 --> 37:51.669 are etched into the stones in this 37:51.669 --> 37:54.659 great cemetery , but more importantly , 37:54.879 --> 37:57.080 woven into the fabric of the story of 37:57.080 --> 38:00.219 our nation . May we always strive to be 38:00.219 --> 38:02.610 worthy of their sacrifice , and may we 38:02.610 --> 38:05.889 honor them by continuing to fiercely 38:05.889 --> 38:09.030 defend the nation they died to protect . 38:09.689 --> 38:12.330 We will never forget our fallen and 38:12.330 --> 38:15.600 their families , and may we always keep 38:15.600 --> 38:18.090 in mind our members of the deployed 38:18.090 --> 38:20.409 joint force right now and their 38:20.409 --> 38:23.850 families . It is now my distinct honor 38:23.850 --> 38:25.850 and privilege to introduce the 38:25.850 --> 38:28.830 Secretary of War and a combat veteran 38:28.830 --> 38:31.209 himself . Ladies and gentlemen , the 38:31.209 --> 38:33.790 Honorable Pete Hegseth , Mr . Secretary . 38:45.889 --> 38:48.120 Well , Mr . President , Mr . Vice 38:48.120 --> 38:52.050 President , Chairman , thank you . Gold 38:52.050 --> 38:54.419 Star families . Ladies and gentlemen , 38:54.659 --> 38:57.159 thank you for joining us to remember 38:57.659 --> 38:59.770 our fallen warriors . From the sacred 38:59.770 --> 39:03.419 names of bygone eras to the 13 39:03.419 --> 39:06.889 souls of epic fury . On this sacred 39:06.889 --> 39:09.000 occasion for our nation , we take the 39:09.000 --> 39:12.080 day for memories of our very best . 39:12.719 --> 39:14.719 They now lie in silent rows here at 39:14.719 --> 39:17.340 Arlington in more than 170 national 39:17.600 --> 39:19.959 cemeteries throughout our nation and 39:19.959 --> 39:23.260 across 17 countries around the world . 39:24.040 --> 39:26.262 They answered the call when it mattered 39:26.262 --> 39:29.000 the most . And they gave the last full 39:29.000 --> 39:31.959 measure of devotion so that this great 39:31.959 --> 39:35.290 republic of ours might endure . This 39:35.290 --> 39:38.370 day began as decoration day when widows 39:38.370 --> 39:40.481 and orphans and other mourners placed 39:40.570 --> 39:42.770 flowers and ribbons on some 20,000 39:42.770 --> 39:46.000 graves . They were soldiers once . 39:46.719 --> 39:48.719 And as they marched off to battle , 39:48.719 --> 39:51.899 they sang the lines of the hymn . In 39:51.899 --> 39:54.219 the beauty of the lilies , Christ was 39:54.219 --> 39:57.100 born across the sea with a glory in his 39:57.100 --> 40:00.239 bosom which transfigures you and me , 40:00.459 --> 40:04.020 as he died to make men holy . Let us 40:04.020 --> 40:07.939 die to make men free , while God is 40:07.939 --> 40:11.469 marching on . The mourners of that 40:11.469 --> 40:14.030 first decoration day knew what we know 40:14.030 --> 40:16.659 on this Memorial Day . That these 40:16.659 --> 40:19.139 graves are more than names and dates 40:19.139 --> 40:22.090 with a dash in between . Each grave 40:22.090 --> 40:25.540 marker is a story . The young American 40:25.540 --> 40:27.707 on the battlefield away from home , he 40:27.707 --> 40:30.300 stayed in combat with loved ones by 40:30.300 --> 40:32.356 stayed in contact with loved ones by 40:32.356 --> 40:35.239 writing letters . In World War II they 40:35.239 --> 40:38.590 called it Victory mail . GI's wrote of 40:38.590 --> 40:40.868 coming home and watching sunsets again , 40:40.868 --> 40:42.979 of having a cigarette and a beer with 40:42.979 --> 40:45.201 their buddies , going to football games 40:45.201 --> 40:47.340 and on dates , loving their wives , 40:47.679 --> 40:50.120 seeing their children grow tall and 40:50.120 --> 40:53.639 great . Different wars , still the same 40:53.639 --> 40:57.370 letters today . Those we remember today 40:57.370 --> 40:59.830 will never get those sunsets . They'll 40:59.830 --> 41:02.530 never get those dates . They'll never 41:02.530 --> 41:04.729 get to raise their children . Instead 41:04.729 --> 41:06.340 they were delivered from the 41:06.340 --> 41:08.530 battlefields into the arms of a loving 41:08.530 --> 41:11.899 lord and savior . Their families and 41:11.899 --> 41:14.121 their buddies greeting them home with a 41:14.121 --> 41:17.040 folded triangle of stars . And the 41:17.040 --> 41:20.949 piercing sound of a soul bugle playing 41:20.949 --> 41:24.840 taps . Picnics , barbecues , and time 41:24.840 --> 41:26.639 at the beach , those things are 41:26.639 --> 41:28.528 wonderful aspects of Memorial Day 41:28.528 --> 41:30.695 weekend . And we should enjoy them for 41:30.695 --> 41:32.750 the fallen . They would want it that 41:32.750 --> 41:35.270 way . But this solemn day we must 41:35.270 --> 41:37.629 remember that our republic was forged 41:37.629 --> 41:41.080 and purchased with blood . American 41:41.300 --> 41:43.850 blood . So take pause today and 41:43.850 --> 41:45.739 consider the transformation these 41:45.739 --> 41:47.906 warriors went through for our nation . 41:47.906 --> 41:49.889 Share it with your kids and your 41:49.889 --> 41:53.540 grandkids , we must . Ordinary 41:53.540 --> 41:56.909 men When called can become our 41:56.909 --> 42:00.550 heroes . They fought not because they 42:00.550 --> 42:03.010 hate what's in front of them . But 42:03.010 --> 42:05.177 because they love what's behind them . 42:06.030 --> 42:08.590 And so may the ones we remember today 42:08.590 --> 42:11.909 live on in every flag that flies . May 42:11.909 --> 42:14.131 they live on in every voice of a school 42:14.131 --> 42:16.465 child who says the pledge of Allegiance . 42:16.629 --> 42:18.407 May they live in our prayers to 42:18.407 --> 42:21.879 almighty God . Today with this humble 42:21.879 --> 42:24.979 ceremony , we owe at least this . 42:25.820 --> 42:28.060 That with every salute , with every 42:28.060 --> 42:30.570 ceremony , with every parade , with 42:30.570 --> 42:33.560 every prayer , every day and every year , 42:33.780 --> 42:37.209 we remember . That by our 42:37.209 --> 42:40.030 remembrance we guard the eternal flame 42:40.409 --> 42:43.270 that they lit with the price of their 42:43.270 --> 42:46.689 youth . They were Americans from small 42:46.689 --> 42:48.911 towns and big cities , and in the words 42:48.911 --> 42:50.745 of the apostle Paul , they stood 42:50.745 --> 42:52.633 against the darkness of the world 42:52.633 --> 42:54.133 wearing the breastplate of 42:54.133 --> 42:57.189 righteousness . They've now gone on to 42:57.189 --> 42:59.189 their reward , but we remember them 42:59.189 --> 43:02.479 here on this hallowed ground . To them , 43:03.229 --> 43:06.600 To those I say your watch is finished . 43:07.429 --> 43:10.199 But the legacy of what you left is 43:10.199 --> 43:13.280 eternal . You raced to the breach so 43:13.280 --> 43:15.389 that we could walk in freedom and 43:15.389 --> 43:18.780 prosperity . May we live lives 43:19.030 --> 43:22.520 worthy of their sacrifice , and boldly 43:22.520 --> 43:24.631 carry forth their fight for freedom , 43:24.631 --> 43:26.798 picking up the sword of the spirit and 43:26.798 --> 43:30.429 charging forward daily . May 43:30.439 --> 43:33.770 Almighty God bless our warriors . And 43:33.770 --> 43:35.959 may Almighty God bless our fallen and 43:35.959 --> 43:39.350 those they love . Always 43:39.729 --> 43:41.919 remember , and amen . Thank you . 43:53.629 --> 43:56.800 Ladies . Please welcome special guest 43:56.800 --> 43:59.399 Craig Morgan and the United States Army 43:59.399 --> 44:01.949 band performing soldier . 44:13.810 --> 44:14.810 Ready ? 44:37.290 --> 44:38.449 To what ? 44:57.209 --> 45:00.729 Well Get you through it nice and slow 45:01.080 --> 45:03.300 while the world's spinning out of 45:03.439 --> 45:04.439 control . 45:08.100 --> 45:12.050 It's great . The 45:12.050 --> 45:14.489 driver was the use and that's why it's 45:14.489 --> 45:15.989 called a moment of truth . 45:21.800 --> 45:25.010 if you don't You I'll be . 45:30.310 --> 45:31.919 I know you don't do . 45:34.159 --> 45:37.100 and I still When you 45:38.590 --> 45:42.439 Told you Be your soldier . 45:49.449 --> 45:52.300 Always on the longest job . Oh they 45:52.300 --> 45:53.300 build the . 45:56.469 --> 46:00.350 it . I 46:02.510 --> 46:05.229 Hiding everywhere . Trying to be as 46:05.229 --> 46:07.389 still as a stone . So . 46:21.469 --> 46:24.479 you don't . I 46:26.979 --> 46:30.300 And you You do when you get . 46:31.469 --> 46:32.469 Be your soul . 46:45.649 --> 46:46.689 And I'll get it . 46:51.989 --> 46:52.679 If you 47:08.969 --> 47:09.979 You're so 47:35.459 --> 47:36.459 No , no 47:52.739 --> 47:55.110 Ladies and gentlemen , Vice President 47:55.110 --> 47:56.250 JD Vance . 48:11.649 --> 48:14.840 Hey Thank you all , and Mr . President . 48:15.949 --> 48:19.330 Mr . Secretary , Mr . Chairman , All of 48:19.330 --> 48:21.552 our honored guests , but especially our 48:21.552 --> 48:24.159 Gold Star families . I want to say just 48:24.179 --> 48:26.379 a few things today because I , I 48:26.379 --> 48:28.546 believe that the most important lesson 48:28.546 --> 48:30.889 of Memorial Day is perhaps that all of 48:30.889 --> 48:33.459 us owe a debt . That we owe a debt to 48:33.459 --> 48:35.570 the people who went overseas and gave 48:35.570 --> 48:37.515 their lives that the United States 48:37.515 --> 48:39.860 might be prosperous and peaceful and 48:39.860 --> 48:42.300 free , that we owe a debt to the people 48:42.300 --> 48:45.340 who put on a uniform , knowing they 48:45.340 --> 48:47.820 might never come back . And indeed 48:47.820 --> 48:50.260 today we pay tribute to those who never 48:50.260 --> 48:52.469 came back . I think like a lot of 48:52.469 --> 48:54.691 veterans and we're joined by so many of 48:54.691 --> 48:58.030 you , sometimes Memorial Day is the 48:58.030 --> 49:00.389 most somber and the most sacred of the 49:00.389 --> 49:03.229 days on the American calendar . People 49:03.229 --> 49:05.285 will come up to our veterans and say 49:05.285 --> 49:07.396 things like Happy Memorial Day or may 49:07.396 --> 49:10.020 you have a blessed Memorial Day . And 49:10.020 --> 49:12.020 those of us who served know acutely 49:12.020 --> 49:14.659 that today is not for all veterans as 49:14.659 --> 49:16.770 much as we love all of our veterans . 49:17.060 --> 49:19.227 Today is for those veterans who put on 49:19.227 --> 49:21.500 the uniform , who went overseas and who 49:21.500 --> 49:24.649 never came home . When I think about 49:24.649 --> 49:26.969 the debt that we owe them , I think 49:26.969 --> 49:29.080 about all the things that they gave , 49:29.080 --> 49:31.191 which can't be measured in dollars or 49:31.191 --> 49:34.050 in the things of this world , but are 49:34.050 --> 49:37.090 measured in things like weddings that 49:37.090 --> 49:39.629 they never got to attend , children 49:39.840 --> 49:42.209 that they never saw grow up , daughters 49:42.209 --> 49:44.431 and sons that they never got to hug and 49:44.431 --> 49:46.889 kiss again , loved ones , husbands and 49:46.889 --> 49:50.070 wives , they traded . Every 49:50.330 --> 49:52.370 moment , from the moment where they 49:52.370 --> 49:54.570 gave their lives to the moment where 49:54.570 --> 49:56.403 they would ultimately meet their 49:56.403 --> 49:58.626 natural end , every single one of those 49:58.626 --> 50:00.919 moments they gave up that the United 50:00.919 --> 50:04.250 States might remain the freest and best 50:04.250 --> 50:07.080 country in the entire world . What an 50:07.080 --> 50:09.629 amazing thing . What an amazing gift . 50:18.669 --> 50:20.780 On this Memorial Day , I just ask two 50:20.780 --> 50:23.100 things of all of our fellow Americans . 50:23.189 --> 50:26.229 The first is that we be the very best 50:26.229 --> 50:29.320 version of ourselves in honor of those 50:29.320 --> 50:31.939 who gave everything that this nation 50:32.149 --> 50:33.149 might be worthy . 50:40.370 --> 50:42.592 To all the husbands and fathers that we 50:42.592 --> 50:45.260 be the best husbands and dads that we 50:45.260 --> 50:47.620 can , to all the mothers and wives that 50:47.620 --> 50:50.050 they be the best moms and wives that 50:50.050 --> 50:52.219 they can , to the sons and daughters 50:52.219 --> 50:54.479 that they be the very best version of 50:54.479 --> 50:56.368 themselves . And that second , We 50:56.368 --> 50:58.620 always remember that every moment that 50:58.620 --> 51:00.953 we're able to enjoy with our loved ones , 51:00.953 --> 51:03.120 everything that gives our life and our 51:03.120 --> 51:05.580 nation meaning and purpose , was given 51:05.580 --> 51:08.419 to us , often by total strangers who 51:08.419 --> 51:10.530 laid down their lives that this might 51:10.530 --> 51:12.820 be the best nation in the history of 51:12.820 --> 51:14.899 the world . And finally , 51:22.370 --> 51:24.703 And finally , to our Gold Star families , 51:24.889 --> 51:26.778 I hope you know that I will never 51:26.778 --> 51:30.489 forget . I'll never forget your loved 51:30.489 --> 51:32.929 ones , that the good life that I have 51:32.929 --> 51:34.429 and that my family have is 51:34.429 --> 51:36.629 fundamentally because you paid a debt 51:36.850 --> 51:39.449 that I can never repay . I'll never 51:39.449 --> 51:42.250 forget their smiling faces . I'll never 51:42.250 --> 51:44.139 forget their skill and bravery in 51:44.139 --> 51:46.361 battle . I'll never forget that all the 51:46.361 --> 51:48.472 moments that I'm able to have with my 51:48.472 --> 51:50.639 family , they're not able to have with 51:50.639 --> 51:52.806 theirs . And most of all , I know from 51:52.806 --> 51:54.917 every American across every political 51:54.917 --> 51:57.290 persuasion . That we love you , we're 51:57.290 --> 51:59.560 grateful to you , we're proud of you , 51:59.850 --> 52:02.610 and we commit to make the United States 52:02.610 --> 52:05.850 of America the very best version of 52:05.850 --> 52:09.149 itself , and that is how we honor those 52:09.149 --> 52:11.316 who gave their lives to this country . 52:12.189 --> 52:12.949 And without 52:19.050 --> 52:21.379 And without further ado , it is my 52:21.379 --> 52:24.340 great honor to introduce the 45th and 52:24.340 --> 52:27.540 47th commander in chief of these United 52:27.540 --> 52:29.651 States , President Donald J . Trump . 52:29.651 --> 52:30.651 Mr . President , 52:50.199 --> 52:52.477 Well , thank you very much , everybody . 52:52.709 --> 52:54.987 What a beautiful day , as it turns out . 52:55.179 --> 52:57.459 It's just perfect . We'd rather have 52:57.459 --> 53:00.020 this in the heat . It's just beautiful . 53:00.300 --> 53:02.489 It's always beautiful being here . My 53:02.489 --> 53:06.239 5th time . And uh it 53:06.239 --> 53:10.239 never changes . Vice President Vance , 53:10.709 --> 53:13.959 Secretary Hegseth , Chairman Cain , 53:14.199 --> 53:17.159 members of the cabinet . Members of the 53:17.159 --> 53:19.270 United States armed forces , veterans 53:19.270 --> 53:23.239 and fellow citizens . Today here 53:23.239 --> 53:25.350 at Arlington , a very special place . 53:26.669 --> 53:30.439 That he burial grounds , battlefields 53:30.439 --> 53:33.280 across the country . And around the 53:33.280 --> 53:36.739 world we unite . In solemn 53:37.070 --> 53:41.020 observance with reverend hearts , 53:41.110 --> 53:43.110 we honor those who fell so that our 53:43.110 --> 53:46.489 republic might stand . Those who died 53:46.489 --> 53:48.600 so that our nation could live , those 53:48.600 --> 53:51.989 who gave up their sacred light on earth . 53:52.820 --> 53:55.540 So that the sublime light of American 53:55.540 --> 53:59.439 freedom would shine forever and ever , 54:00.540 --> 54:04.100 this Memorial Day , we salute them , 54:04.459 --> 54:07.370 we exalt them , and we thank them for 54:07.370 --> 54:10.419 all that we have and for all that they 54:10.419 --> 54:13.969 gave . They gave everything . God bless 54:13.969 --> 54:16.290 our fallen heroes . We're joined today 54:16.290 --> 54:19.850 by some of those they left behind our 54:19.850 --> 54:22.149 incredible Gold Star families , 54:22.969 --> 54:26.010 incredible people . To every person 54:26.010 --> 54:29.169 here and across America who holds tight 54:29.169 --> 54:31.530 to the memory of a warrior taken from 54:31.530 --> 54:34.010 them , we will never ever forget the 54:34.010 --> 54:37.429 ones you loved . Gold Star family 54:37.429 --> 54:40.850 members , please stand , receive our 54:40.850 --> 54:42.570 thanks , please , thank you . 54:58.120 --> 54:59.120 Thank you . 55:05.850 --> 55:09.169 Thank you very much , my honor . Less 55:09.169 --> 55:12.090 than 6 weeks from now , our nation will 55:12.090 --> 55:16.050 reach a historic milestone 250 years of 55:16.050 --> 55:18.629 majestic American independence , 55:18.709 --> 55:19.709 something . 55:26.600 --> 55:29.340 But it's only right that first we 55:29.340 --> 55:31.562 remember the immense sacrifice that has 55:31.562 --> 55:34.560 been brought to us and this 55:34.560 --> 55:37.919 momentous anniversary year . That's 55:37.919 --> 55:39.975 what it is , it's a momentous year . 55:41.340 --> 55:43.750 Before we hail the founding , we honor 55:43.750 --> 55:45.949 the fallen . Before we celebrate the 55:45.949 --> 55:49.179 triumph , we pay the tribute . Before 55:49.179 --> 55:51.179 we crown the victory , we count the 55:51.179 --> 55:54.330 cost . Today we are reminded that there 55:54.709 --> 55:56.709 could be no 4th of July without 55:56.709 --> 55:58.653 America's armed forces , and there 55:58.653 --> 56:00.709 could be no Independence Day without 56:00.830 --> 56:04.610 Memorial Day . We owe our liberty , our 56:04.610 --> 56:07.250 self-government , the glories of our 56:07.250 --> 56:10.050 history , and our very nation itself to 56:10.050 --> 56:12.510 the generations who paid for it with 56:13.270 --> 56:15.800 everything . They had the ultimate 56:15.800 --> 56:19.439 sacrifice . The first Americans to give 56:19.439 --> 56:22.219 their lives in battle fell on April . 56:23.100 --> 56:26.959 1775 when 8 patriots were cut down 56:27.500 --> 56:30.780 by redcoats . Those 56:30.780 --> 56:34.330 guns , they were shot on Lexington 56:34.330 --> 56:38.229 Green . They had answered the call 56:38.229 --> 56:41.070 to muster against a force 5 times their 56:41.070 --> 56:43.310 strength . They said at the time , the 56:43.310 --> 56:45.989 greatest in the world in defense of 56:45.989 --> 56:48.090 their cherished rights and their 56:48.189 --> 56:51.120 cherished liberty . As the British 56:51.120 --> 56:52.842 approached the Massachusetts , 56:53.139 --> 56:55.979 militiamen summoned destiny itself , 56:56.129 --> 56:58.560 saying , if they mean to have a war , 56:59.219 --> 57:01.020 let it begin right here . 57:08.850 --> 57:11.610 Caleb Harrington was 23 years old when 57:11.610 --> 57:13.850 he accompanied his father to the green 57:13.850 --> 57:17.149 that day . Torn apart from each other 57:17.149 --> 57:20.719 in the chaos of combat . That American 57:20.719 --> 57:23.320 son died trying to fight his way back 57:23.320 --> 57:25.431 to his father . He wanted to get back 57:25.431 --> 57:28.790 to Dad . Caleb's cousin Jonathan was 57:28.790 --> 57:31.469 struck down at age 31 , shot within the 57:31.469 --> 57:33.989 sight of his home and his young wife 57:33.989 --> 57:36.850 and child who awaited his return . 57:37.959 --> 57:41.600 Jonathan crawled bleeding back to them 57:41.600 --> 57:45.489 to die on his own doorstep . For 57:45.489 --> 57:48.989 a final . Terrible but beautiful 57:48.989 --> 57:52.050 farewell . His widow and orphan 57:52.709 --> 57:54.820 were perhaps the very first Gold Star 57:54.820 --> 57:57.429 family in a long unbroken chain that 57:57.429 --> 58:00.709 reaches up through the ages to us right 58:00.709 --> 58:03.760 here today . When our founding fathers 58:03.760 --> 58:06.239 put the ideas of the Declaration of 58:06.239 --> 58:08.760 Independence to paper in Philadelphia , 58:09.280 --> 58:12.520 they signed and sealed an oath that had 58:12.520 --> 58:14.353 already been written in blood by 58:14.353 --> 58:16.800 patriots at Lexington , Concord , and 58:16.800 --> 58:20.280 Bunker Hill . The sacrifice birth , the 58:20.280 --> 58:22.679 most incredible and exceptional nation 58:23.120 --> 58:26.560 in all of history . And our nation is 58:26.560 --> 58:29.659 doing better today than it's ever done 58:30.120 --> 58:30.659 before . 58:34.540 --> 58:35.540 Right . 58:40.419 --> 58:42.830 That's right . The cause of 58:42.830 --> 58:45.360 independence exploded from that part of 58:45.360 --> 58:48.340 the American soul . That will not be 58:48.340 --> 58:50.899 tamed , that will never be conquered , 58:51.719 --> 58:53.780 that will rather face death than to 58:53.780 --> 58:57.120 live as slaves to the arbitrary will of 58:57.580 --> 59:01.479 another . This is the unyielding spirit 59:01.479 --> 59:03.850 that has always set Americans apart and 59:03.850 --> 59:06.280 driven generations of American warriors 59:06.280 --> 59:09.120 into battle , their chests beating with 59:09.120 --> 59:13.040 a cry that says , we will 59:13.040 --> 59:16.139 govern ourselves . We will 59:17.040 --> 59:19.639 control our destiny . We will bow to no 59:19.639 --> 59:22.719 one but the righteous God who made us 59:22.719 --> 59:25.320 and who gave us our rights and blessed 59:25.320 --> 59:28.139 this land of free and the bravest of 59:28.139 --> 59:31.649 the brave . 10 days into the legendary 59:31.649 --> 59:34.370 Battle of the Bulge in World War II , 59:34.530 --> 59:37.760 Lieutenant Colonel Keith Ware . Led 11 59:37.760 --> 59:41.659 men in a tank against entrenched German 59:41.659 --> 59:44.959 positions , the toughest positions 59:44.959 --> 59:47.520 anywhere in the world . Half the patrol , 59:47.800 --> 59:49.744 including Ware himself , were soon 59:49.744 --> 59:53.459 wounded , yet still he killed 5 enemy 59:53.459 --> 59:56.520 riflemen , demolished 3 German machine 59:56.520 --> 59:58.879 gun nests , forced a 4th to surrender , 59:59.239 --> 01:00:02.239 and captured the hill . For his heroism , 01:00:02.320 --> 01:00:04.989 he received the Congressional Medal of 01:00:04.989 --> 01:00:08.209 Honor . Unlike most drafted soldiers , 01:00:08.330 --> 01:00:10.552 Ware stayed in the Army and rose to the 01:00:10.552 --> 01:00:12.810 rank of general , a highly respected 01:00:12.810 --> 01:00:15.570 general . In Vietnam as commander of 01:00:15.570 --> 01:00:18.570 the First Infantry , the Big red one 01:00:18.570 --> 01:00:19.570 they called it . 01:00:22.560 --> 01:00:26.449 That's very nice . He led from the 01:00:26.449 --> 01:00:30.260 front and in 1968 , that's where he 01:00:30.260 --> 01:00:33.219 was shot down surveying enemy positions 01:00:33.219 --> 01:00:36.060 for the famous assault on Hill 01:00:36.060 --> 01:00:39.780 222 , known as the 01:00:39.780 --> 01:00:41.947 fighting general , he's buried here in 01:00:41.947 --> 01:00:44.530 Arlington and with us is his grandson 01:00:44.530 --> 01:00:48.179 and namesake , Staff Sergeant Keith 01:00:48.179 --> 01:00:51.889 Ware at Air Force . Veteran Keith , 01:00:51.939 --> 01:00:54.409 where are you , Keith ? Where are you , 01:00:54.419 --> 01:00:55.586 Keith ? Hi , Keith . 01:01:04.520 --> 01:01:06.520 Thank you very much . Great honor . 01:01:07.689 --> 01:01:09.745 We're also honored to be joined by a 01:01:09.745 --> 01:01:12.570 man who , like General Ware , is a 01:01:12.570 --> 01:01:15.649 veteran of the largest battle in US 01:01:15.649 --> 01:01:18.229 Army history , the Battle of the Bulge . 01:01:19.179 --> 01:01:22.590 At 15 , Harry Miller lied about his age 01:01:22.590 --> 01:01:25.370 to enlist and was soon fighting to stop 01:01:25.370 --> 01:01:27.870 the SS Panzer divisions as part of the 01:01:27.870 --> 01:01:31.850 famed 740th Tank Battalion , 01:01:32.110 --> 01:01:34.750 the Daredevils they were called , of 01:01:34.750 --> 01:01:36.909 which he is among the last surviving 01:01:36.909 --> 01:01:40.649 members at 97 years old . Within 01:01:40.649 --> 01:01:42.649 6 months after the battle , Harry's 01:01:42.649 --> 01:01:44.750 unit lost 42 comrades . He's 01:01:45.409 --> 01:01:47.298 remembering them today . Sergeant 01:01:47.298 --> 01:01:50.370 Miller , it is a true honor to have you 01:01:50.370 --> 01:01:51.926 with us , Sergeant Miller . 01:02:25.340 --> 01:02:28.850 And it looks great Thank you . Many of 01:02:28.850 --> 01:02:31.360 the greatest men of that generation 01:02:31.689 --> 01:02:33.889 followed a long and epic path from 01:02:33.889 --> 01:02:37.080 World War II to Korea and to Vietnam . 01:02:37.689 --> 01:02:40.389 Major Charles Kelly was the father of 01:02:40.850 --> 01:02:43.370 aggressive dust-off helicopter flying 01:02:43.370 --> 01:02:45.530 that made Army medical evacuation 01:02:45.530 --> 01:02:49.050 pilots among the most fearless . In 01:02:49.050 --> 01:02:50.939 Vietnam , the greatest helicopter 01:02:50.939 --> 01:02:53.050 pilots , they say , that ever lived . 01:02:53.270 --> 01:02:55.381 Like Sergeant Miller Charles enlisted 01:02:55.381 --> 01:02:59.310 to serve in World War II at age 15 . He 01:02:59.310 --> 01:03:01.909 was wounded at the Battle of Aiken . 01:03:02.649 --> 01:03:05.760 And went on to fight in Korea , but 01:03:05.760 --> 01:03:08.530 flying helicopter ambulances in Vietnam 01:03:08.530 --> 01:03:11.370 is what etched his name into history 01:03:11.370 --> 01:03:13.426 since I have been here , he wrote in 01:03:13.426 --> 01:03:16.330 1964 . We have evacuated 01:03:16.330 --> 01:03:20.120 1800 casualties , and in the last three 01:03:20.120 --> 01:03:23.610 months we've flown 242 hours at night . 01:03:24.350 --> 01:03:26.572 No other unit can match this , and they 01:03:26.572 --> 01:03:28.919 flew the most dangerous routes probably 01:03:28.919 --> 01:03:31.560 in the history of warfare . Two weeks 01:03:31.560 --> 01:03:33.959 later , under brutal enemy fire , Kelly 01:03:33.959 --> 01:03:36.379 refused to withdraw until he had loaded 01:03:37.239 --> 01:03:40.040 the wounded aboard . As he prepared for 01:03:40.040 --> 01:03:42.151 takeoff , an enemy bullet pierced his 01:03:42.151 --> 01:03:45.310 heart . Yet Charles Kelly's heroic life 01:03:45.310 --> 01:03:47.909 saving style lived on . His comrades 01:03:47.909 --> 01:03:51.229 and command passed on to Captain 01:03:51.229 --> 01:03:53.719 Patrick Henry Brady , and 4 years later , 01:03:53.820 --> 01:03:57.750 Brady piloted 3 damaged helicopters in 01:03:57.750 --> 01:04:00.429 turn to evacuate an incredible 51 01:04:00.429 --> 01:04:03.590 wounded warriors under intense fire , 01:04:03.790 --> 01:04:06.012 fire like no one has seen up until that 01:04:06.012 --> 01:04:09.780 point . For this he received also the 01:04:09.780 --> 01:04:13.139 Congressional Medal of Honor . General 01:04:13.139 --> 01:04:16.459 Brady is with us at 89 years old as we 01:04:16.459 --> 01:04:19.669 salute his fallen mentor , Charles 01:04:19.669 --> 01:04:21.891 Kelly . Thank you very much . Thank you 01:04:21.891 --> 01:04:22.891 for being here . 01:04:42.290 --> 01:04:45.250 Thank you very much . Sergeant First 01:04:45.250 --> 01:04:47.860 Class Matthew McClintock enlisted in 01:04:47.860 --> 01:04:51.300 the Army in 2006 and became a very 01:04:51.300 --> 01:04:54.739 special Green Beret . In 2016 , he 01:04:54.739 --> 01:04:56.959 found himself in an hours-long 01:04:57.500 --> 01:05:00.739 firefight with Afghan terrorists . 01:05:01.370 --> 01:05:03.481 When a comrade was severely wounded , 01:05:03.729 --> 01:05:06.250 Matthew wanted to find a landing zone 01:05:06.250 --> 01:05:09.520 for a medevac rescue , very dangerous , 01:05:09.729 --> 01:05:12.870 horrible , horrible way to be flying . 01:05:13.449 --> 01:05:15.610 He was reminded of the dangers , but 01:05:15.610 --> 01:05:17.832 Matthew replied , We have to save him . 01:05:17.929 --> 01:05:20.879 We have to do it . Running out in the 01:05:20.879 --> 01:05:23.080 face of mortars and rocket propelled 01:05:23.080 --> 01:05:26.159 grenades , he went to work but was soon 01:05:26.159 --> 01:05:28.560 gravely wounded . He was hit from every 01:05:28.560 --> 01:05:31.959 possible angle . Matthew fell that day , 01:05:32.040 --> 01:05:34.040 but the soldier he gave his life to 01:05:34.040 --> 01:05:37.280 save survived and thrived , and Matthew 01:05:37.280 --> 01:05:40.770 was awarded the Silver Star . We're 01:05:40.770 --> 01:05:42.689 deeply honored to be joined by 01:05:42.689 --> 01:05:44.856 Matthew's mother , Joyce , his widow , 01:05:44.856 --> 01:05:47.439 Allie , and his precious young son 01:05:47.439 --> 01:05:50.830 Declan . Here to remember Matthew and 01:05:50.830 --> 01:05:54.629 his grave in Section 60 , 10 years 01:05:54.629 --> 01:05:57.110 later . So Joyce and Allie and Declan , 01:05:57.149 --> 01:06:00.050 we salute Sergeant Matthew McClintock 01:06:00.310 --> 01:06:03.229 as an American hero . Please . Thank 01:06:03.229 --> 01:06:04.229 you . 01:06:24.370 --> 01:06:26.592 These are tremendous people . These are 01:06:26.592 --> 01:06:29.679 brave , brave people . In two wars 01:06:29.679 --> 01:06:32.879 recently we've lost a total of 13 01:06:32.879 --> 01:06:35.810 service members in Venezuela . which 01:06:35.810 --> 01:06:38.590 was a complete and total victory where 01:06:38.770 --> 01:06:40.770 we're working very closely with the 01:06:40.770 --> 01:06:44.219 Venezuelan government right now . We 01:06:44.219 --> 01:06:46.979 took that over in one day and we lost 01:06:46.979 --> 01:06:50.020 no one . In Operation Epic Fury , we 01:06:50.020 --> 01:06:52.429 lost 13 wonderful souls , wonderful 01:06:52.429 --> 01:06:54.979 special people . These incredible men 01:06:54.979 --> 01:06:57.340 and women gave their lives to ensure 01:06:57.340 --> 01:06:59.540 that the world's number one state 01:06:59.540 --> 01:07:01.739 sponsor of terror will never have a 01:07:01.739 --> 01:07:03.906 nuclear weapon . Oh , and they won't . 01:07:03.979 --> 01:07:06.201 They will never have a nuclear weapon . 01:07:06.201 --> 01:07:08.201 I'm sure , I'm sure you know that . 01:07:13.370 --> 01:07:16.370 One of them was Major Ariana Savino 01:07:16.370 --> 01:07:20.209 Lindsay and We're joined by our great 01:07:20.209 --> 01:07:23.850 family , Omara , Darren , Zevin , 01:07:24.489 --> 01:07:28.270 and Wick . Stand up , please , please . 01:07:30.020 --> 01:07:32.659 There he is , there he is . Thank you 01:07:32.659 --> 01:07:33.659 very much . 01:07:36.560 --> 01:07:37.560 Thank you , Vic . 01:07:53.780 --> 01:07:55.979 Thank you very much to all of you , 01:07:56.060 --> 01:07:58.310 Ariana's selfless gift will not be in 01:07:58.310 --> 01:08:02.080 vain . Our debt to you is everlasting , 01:08:02.389 --> 01:08:04.820 and it's always going to end in victory . 01:08:04.969 --> 01:08:07.419 We're having victories all over the 01:08:07.419 --> 01:08:09.739 place , more than we've had in many , 01:08:09.820 --> 01:08:13.399 many decades . Scripture tells us 01:08:13.739 --> 01:08:16.819 precious is the sight of the Lord is 01:08:16.819 --> 01:08:19.319 the death of his faithful servants . 01:08:19.950 --> 01:08:23.459 400,000 souls rest on these grounds , 01:08:23.540 --> 01:08:26.600 these beautiful grounds . In the sacred 01:08:26.600 --> 01:08:29.560 soil which is first consecrated in the 01:08:29.560 --> 01:08:31.879 hours of America's greatest division to 01:08:31.879 --> 01:08:35.500 be eternal symbol of national unity , 01:08:35.890 --> 01:08:38.450 it cannot be by chance alone that the 01:08:38.450 --> 01:08:40.617 very first service member laid to rest 01:08:40.617 --> 01:08:43.879 here in this place of supreme sacrifice 01:08:43.879 --> 01:08:46.569 was a Union soldier by the name of 01:08:46.569 --> 01:08:48.959 Private Chris Mann . 01:08:50.209 --> 01:08:53.259 Private William Henry Christman 01:08:53.939 --> 01:08:57.779 of Pennsylvania , who died at 19 years 01:08:57.779 --> 01:09:01.648 old . He was A great young 01:09:01.648 --> 01:09:04.068 man , they say . Beside him are more 01:09:04.068 --> 01:09:06.539 than 18,000 other young men named 01:09:06.539 --> 01:09:09.668 William , over 20,000 named John , over 01:09:09.668 --> 01:09:13.409 13,000 named James . 01:09:14.548 --> 01:09:18.088 Joined over time by Isaac , Elijah , 01:09:18.369 --> 01:09:21.329 Earls , Hanks , Helens , Wands . 01:09:23.209 --> 01:09:27.160 Margaret's Marius . Donald's . 01:09:28.958 --> 01:09:32.910 Not too many . And others whose names 01:09:32.910 --> 01:09:35.350 tell the true story of American 01:09:35.350 --> 01:09:37.990 greatness and greatness it is here 01:09:37.990 --> 01:09:40.470 beneath arching trees and white stones 01:09:40.470 --> 01:09:43.870 so beautiful , these many are made one 01:09:43.870 --> 01:09:46.870 again , united forever as brothers and 01:09:46.870 --> 01:09:49.700 sisters in arms and children of our 01:09:49.700 --> 01:09:52.628 fathers in heaven . From coast to coast , 01:09:52.749 --> 01:09:55.269 from proud cities to humble towns , and 01:09:55.269 --> 01:09:57.949 from heartland fields , from every race 01:09:57.949 --> 01:10:00.488 and religion , they came because they 01:10:00.488 --> 01:10:02.619 could not bear the thought that the 01:10:02.619 --> 01:10:05.749 nation they love so much might ask for 01:10:05.749 --> 01:10:09.439 heroes and hear no answer . But they 01:10:09.439 --> 01:10:11.879 answered , and they answered very , 01:10:11.959 --> 01:10:15.799 very loudly at Ticonderoga and 01:10:15.799 --> 01:10:18.560 San Juan Hill , at Manila Bay and 01:10:18.560 --> 01:10:21.819 Midway , at Point du Hoc and 01:10:21.819 --> 01:10:24.640 Busan , the courage of the American 01:10:24.640 --> 01:10:27.080 warrior has forged a path through every 01:10:27.080 --> 01:10:30.279 sea and . Every place that's marked a 01:10:30.279 --> 01:10:33.600 trail to every corner on the earth in 01:10:33.600 --> 01:10:37.160 250 years , America's heroes have saved 01:10:37.160 --> 01:10:39.109 more lives , freed more captives , 01:10:39.479 --> 01:10:41.479 accomplished more good , and spread 01:10:41.479 --> 01:10:45.279 more hope than any other people at any 01:10:45.279 --> 01:10:47.459 time in the history of the world . 01:10:48.439 --> 01:10:50.990 Whole nations , no liberty today . 01:10:51.140 --> 01:10:53.029 Entire generations no freedom . 01:10:53.189 --> 01:10:55.950 Billions and billions of people have 01:10:55.950 --> 01:10:58.172 been delivered from poverty , tyranny , 01:10:58.172 --> 01:11:00.319 and oppression . Because of the 01:11:00.319 --> 01:11:03.839 sacrifices we honor this day , that's 01:11:03.839 --> 01:11:07.520 why from Brittany to Sicily , from 01:11:07.520 --> 01:11:10.520 Panama City to Saipan , from the 01:11:10.520 --> 01:11:13.279 Netherlands to North Africa to New 01:11:13.279 --> 01:11:16.520 Zealand , this whole planet is adorned 01:11:16.520 --> 01:11:19.959 with memorials to America's fallen and 01:11:19.959 --> 01:11:22.549 to America's greatness . To their 01:11:22.549 --> 01:11:25.709 courage carved in marble and engraved 01:11:25.709 --> 01:11:29.080 in the hearts of all of mankind , we 01:11:29.080 --> 01:11:33.069 will never forget you . From 1776 01:11:33.069 --> 01:11:37.069 to 2026 , America has always stood 01:11:37.069 --> 01:11:40.330 as a great and moral cause . Our 01:11:40.330 --> 01:11:43.189 warriors are no mere mercenaries , they 01:11:43.189 --> 01:11:46.029 are guardian angels who stride across 01:11:46.029 --> 01:11:48.430 the battlefields of history and stand 01:11:48.430 --> 01:11:51.870 watch . Over the highest and most 01:11:51.870 --> 01:11:54.950 beautiful plains the human spirit has 01:11:54.950 --> 01:11:57.029 ever seen , holding the line between 01:11:57.029 --> 01:11:58.750 liberty and tyranny , between 01:11:58.750 --> 01:12:02.060 civilization and barbarism . Between 01:12:02.060 --> 01:12:05.899 good and evil , wherever the 01:12:05.899 --> 01:12:08.379 American soldier walks , wherever he 01:12:08.379 --> 01:12:11.350 fights , wherever he fails , And 01:12:11.350 --> 01:12:15.089 wherever he falls , He does it for 01:12:15.620 --> 01:12:18.500 the destiny of a nation like no other . 01:12:18.870 --> 01:12:20.981 There's never been anybody like you . 01:12:22.189 --> 01:12:24.759 And for the fate of freedom on this 01:12:24.759 --> 01:12:27.919 earth , we salute you like nobody has 01:12:27.919 --> 01:12:30.660 ever been saluted before . 01:12:39.450 --> 01:12:42.129 By their deaths , those who have gone 01:12:42.129 --> 01:12:44.459 before us in battle have redeemed the 01:12:44.459 --> 01:12:47.540 promise of our founding for . Each 01:12:47.540 --> 01:12:50.870 future generation . They've not just 01:12:50.870 --> 01:12:52.981 made the ultimate sacrifice , they've 01:12:52.981 --> 01:12:54.990 offered the ultimate proof that we 01:12:54.990 --> 01:12:58.189 Americans do indeed love liberty . We 01:12:58.189 --> 01:13:00.629 do cherish the self-government given to 01:13:00.629 --> 01:13:04.229 us by our forefathers . We do believe 01:13:04.229 --> 01:13:06.589 with all our souls in the mission that 01:13:06.589 --> 01:13:10.270 God has given to America , and we do 01:13:10.270 --> 01:13:12.810 intend with all our strength and heart 01:13:13.149 --> 01:13:15.390 to hold high the torch our heroes 01:13:15.390 --> 01:13:19.200 handed to us , and we will . Never ever 01:13:19.200 --> 01:13:22.439 let it fall . Thank you very much . You 01:13:22.439 --> 01:13:25.240 are special , special people . We love 01:13:25.240 --> 01:13:27.959 you all . God bless the families of the 01:13:27.959 --> 01:13:30.120 fallen . God bless the men and women 01:13:30.120 --> 01:13:33.319 who serve , and God bless the United 01:13:33.319 --> 01:13:35.652 States of America . Thank you very much . 01:14:02.390 --> 01:14:05.390 Remain standing for the plague of taps 01:14:05.509 --> 01:14:06.770 and the benediction . 01:14:18.689 --> 01:14:19.689 Well 01:15:19.140 --> 01:15:20.862 Now received the benediction . 01:15:23.060 --> 01:15:26.040 God of all creation , We pray you bless 01:15:26.040 --> 01:15:28.680 our nation , our leaders , and those 01:15:28.680 --> 01:15:31.270 who make decisions over us with wisdom , 01:15:31.680 --> 01:15:35.310 unity , and grace toward all . Now may 01:15:35.310 --> 01:15:37.470 the God of peace who provides freedom 01:15:37.470 --> 01:15:40.509 together , equip us and guide us as we 01:15:40.509 --> 01:15:42.830 leave this place . May we carry the 01:15:42.830 --> 01:15:44.830 burden of the brave who paid the 01:15:44.830 --> 01:15:47.549 ultimate sacrifice by honoring their 01:15:47.549 --> 01:15:49.970 legacy through our pursuit of justice . 01:15:51.020 --> 01:15:53.819 And compassion . In your strong name , 01:15:53.879 --> 01:15:55.680 I pray . Amen . 01:16:09.879 --> 01:16:12.419 Ladies and gentlemen , please be seated . 01:16:28.060 --> 01:16:30.600 Please welcome back Craig Morgan and 01:16:30.600 --> 01:16:33.479 the United States Army Band performing 01:16:33.700 --> 01:16:34.549 Paradise . 01:16:59.479 --> 01:17:02.720 They gave me a green uniform and black 01:17:02.720 --> 01:17:04.259 boots . My feet 01:17:07.180 --> 01:17:09.770 18 and wild as hell . I thought it 01:17:09.770 --> 01:17:13.700 would be . He put me on a 01:17:13.700 --> 01:17:15.890 plane to some strange . 01:17:19.810 --> 01:17:23.049 I say goodbye . Mom and dad fellow . 01:17:49.680 --> 01:17:50.240 When you 01:17:55.080 --> 01:17:56.399 It's paradise . 01:18:02.709 --> 01:18:06.680 Christmas of '89 was a lonely time for 01:18:06.680 --> 01:18:10.120 me . I was 01:18:10.120 --> 01:18:12.540 probably fine , but it was nothing like 01:18:12.540 --> 01:18:16.270 Tennessee . Never thought the 01:18:16.270 --> 01:18:19.229 day . To kill a man . 01:18:22.419 --> 01:18:25.580 I did not sleep a wink that night , but 01:18:25.580 --> 01:18:27.180 we won for Uncle Sam . 01:18:40.899 --> 01:18:41.899 to cry . 01:18:52.089 --> 01:18:52.600 When you 01:19:19.649 --> 01:19:22.649 When you can . 01:19:24.859 --> 01:19:26.200 Is peering down 01:19:33.209 --> 01:19:34.209 His parents 01:19:39.160 --> 01:19:39.600 His 01:20:02.930 --> 01:20:05.290 Ladies and gentlemen , please rise as 01:20:05.290 --> 01:20:08.600 you are able and remain in place as the 01:20:08.600 --> 01:20:10.729 official party departs and the colors 01:20:10.729 --> 01:20:11.669 are retired .