Obama honors "America's guardians"

ARLINGTON, Va. - President Barack Obama honored America's fallen service members, and called on Americans to remember their sacrifice.

In a Memorial Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery Monday, Mr. Obama expressed the honor and solemn responsibility he feels serving as commander in chief of "one of the finest fighting forces the world has ever known."

He paid tribute to service members who lost their lives in service: "Venerable warriors who lay here and across this country and around the globe. Each of them adds honor to what it means to be a soldier, sailor, airman, Marine and Coast Guardsman. Each is a link in an unbroken chain that stretches back to the earliest days of our republic.

"And on this day, we memorialize them all. We memorialize our first patriots, blacksmiths, farmers, slaves and freed men who never knew the independence they won with their lives. We memorialize the armies of men - and women disguised as men - black and white, who fell in apple orchards and corn fields in a war that saved our union. ...

"The patriots we memorialize today sacrificed not only all they had but all they would ever know. They gave of themselves until they had nothing more to give. It's natural when we lose someone we care about to ask why it had to be them. 'Why my son? Why my sister? Why my friend? Why not me?' These are questions that cannot be answered by us.

"But on this day we remember that it is on our behalf that they gave their lives. We remember it is their courage, their unselfishness, their devotion to duty that has sustained this country through all its trials, and will sustain it through all the trials to come.

"We remember that the blessings we enjoy as Americans came at a dear cost. Our presence in a free society bears testimony to their enduring legacy. Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay. But we can honor their sacrifice, and we must. We must honor it in our own lives by holding their memories close to our hearts, and heeding the example they set.

"And we must honor it as a nation by keeping our sacred trust with all who wear America's uniform and the families who love them - by never giving up the search for those who have gone missing under our country's flag or held as prisoners of war, by serving our patriots as well as they serve us, from the moment they enter the military to the moment they leave it, to the moment they are laid to rest. That is how we can honor the sacrifice of those we've lost. That is our obligation to American's guardians."

Earlier, the president laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

The ceremonies also include a U.S. Marine Band concert at the Memorial Amphitheater.

Also scheduled for Monday at the Tomb of the Unknowns is a "national moment of silence" ceremony at 2:55 p.m. ET., and a memorial service by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War at 5 p.m.

Before departing the White House for Arlington National Cemetery, Mr. Obama announced Army Gen. Martin Dempsey as his choice to succeed Adm. Mike Mullen as chairman of the military Joint Chiefs of Staff Monday.

President Obama called Dempsey "one of our nation's most respected and combat-tested generals."

Obama picks Dempsey for next Joint Chiefs head

The president also announced he has chosen Navy Adm. James Winnefeld to succeed Cartwright as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs and Army Gen. Ray Odierno as his candidate to replace Dempsey as Army chief of staff.

Mr. Obama called America's servicemen and women "the best our nation has to offer, and they deserve nothing but the best in return, and that includes leaders."

[tpartier]

For the Honor of Fletcher Davenport, MM3, USS Ranger, Engineering 1957-1978

Lost along the way - an exceptionally intelligent shipmate - and far more earnest than most.

[breto62]

This is the same President who wants to cut military pay and benefits to satisfy his budget. Screw Obama!

[Jaylah54]

I don't suppose any of you morons talking about Obama versus Bush, blah, blah, blah, blah have even the slightest clue that Memorial Day is NOT a day to drag out all of your tired, old we've-heard-them-all-before-ad-nauseum political arguments, but IS a day to honor our war dead, regardless of political persuasion?

And the worst of it is that y'all are playing RIGHT into their hands and proving that their assumptions of your lack of intelligence are 100% true. As long as they can keep you calling each other names and defending your own preferred politician, you're not paying the slightest attention to what they're ALL actually doing. (That goes for Democrats, Republicans, liberals, conservatives, and every body in between.)

This day isn't about President Obama making a speech (with or without a teleprompter). It's about remembering those men and women who laid down their lives for this country, whether they agreed with the politics of war or not.

And ALL of your political talk is nothing but total disrespect for those whom this day is set aside to remember. My suggestion to you: shut up, turn your computer off, sit in silence for 5 minutes (more than most of you could possibly bear, I know) and contemplate the sheer number of people that lay beneath those simple headstones, who cannot be here to argue politics with you, because THEY'RE DEAD.

If any of you political morons had ever worn the uniform of a branch of service for this country, you'd know that. And you'd put aside your stupid arguing for this one day, in respect for the men and women who DID put on that uniform. For you.

[bilrobi1]

You are right. I got caught up in it. It isn't about politics. Thank You for the reminder.

[catmomtx]

by jschmidt27 May 30, 2011 7:16 PM EDT
skyk1=thanks for serving. Hope you had a good Memorial Day.
I don't trust Obama because everything he does feels like he is still on the campaign. If it is good for him, he'll do it. If it is good for the country, he'll only do it because it is good for him.
I didn't feel like that with other recent Presidents with the exception of Clinton who I also thought was somewhat self-serving, but not as much as Obama. With Obama he has 'it is always about me' attitude. Just my observation. BTW= Palin is no better


?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

And what makes you come to that brilliant conclusion? What makes what this President does any different than any other President? Why do you consider him doing what all other Presidents as still campaigning. And especially after eight years of George Bush. You know the person who exploited 9/11. Who used fear, scare and smear, the terrorist are going to kill us. The person who made sure the whole month before the 2004 election made sure the American people were afraid that the terrorist were going to attack us. I mean exactly what is it that President Obama has done that would make you believe he is only doing what you think is good for him?

Come to think about it, keeping our country from going into a depression, saving the auto industry, pulling combat troops out of Iraq, paying attention to the Afghanistan war, seeing that ALL Americans have access to affordable health care, trying to fix the mess that is Wall Street, capturing and killing Bin Laden. Yup, on second thought I can see how those things are good for him. They are good for our country too, you fool. Why would you be upset that a President is actually achieving his campaign goals?

[jschmidt27]

Well I don't give Obama the credit or blame Bush the way you do. My opinion. The Democrats policies are driving this country to bankruptcy. I don't trust Obama or many of the far right candidates. We need someone to put the bests interest of the country first. I don't feel and never did feel that is Obama. I feel many things what Obama did were self serving payback to unions such as the UAW balout, teacher bailout, stimulus where only 9% went to infrastructure where we could have had shovel ready jobs. Also Bush admin came up with the bank bailout, that Obama continued, and saved the credit market. You absolve the Dems of any responsibilty for subprime even though many of the programs leading up to it were invented and supported by the Dems. You ignore Dodd an Franks styming Fannie and Freddie regulation and as late as Sept 2007 Dodd said they didn't need regulating. Now Franks wants to bailout F /F and create another government entity. It seems for you Pelosin never voted for the wars, or spending bills during Bush years. SO you are entitled to your opinion and I mine as long as it is a free country. I don't think the left leaning policies of the Dems are good for the country.

[tpartier]

@jschmidt...

Obviously you lack historical perspective on tax rates vs economic vitality, what happened five years before the Great Depression? Tax slash.

What happened right before we became a debtor nation under Reagan? Tax Slash. What happened before the Recession of the late 80's ? Tax Slash. and of course, we know what W did... Tax Slash.

Who ignored the warnings about mainstream banks and their malfeasance (several warnings from the FBI? Who ignored the report about Bin Laden determined to strike? Who laughed off trying to get Bin Laden - as he bragged about his golf drive - but then acted like it was important again as 2004 came around? Who hid intelligence from much of Congress? Who had a Secy of Defense that used a machine to sign letters of condolence?
Who made up excuse after excuse for getting into Iraq? Who started two wars - bragged about them - and then couldn't finish either one? Who sent the troops over unprepared for extended deployment and without proper armor for the vehicles or themselves?

Yeah - you are one petty person, aren't you?

[dennisall77]

It is so refreshing to have a president who is eloquent, poised, intelligent, and elegant. Cowboy Bush and his monosyllabic speeches delivered in his nasal twang made the USA looks like a bunch of hicks. Of course, Repubs are willing to criticize BHO for making great speeches by saying "he uses a teleprompter" (just like all have since Ike) and he is TOO intelligent (as if being dumb like Bush is good). Seems I remember the Repubs being so PROUD of Reagan for giving a good speech (the Great Orator)but are irritated by a good speech from Obama. Hypocrites.

[catmomtx]

Word!

[82ndairbornediv]

Remembering my friend, ROBERT WHITESIDE, LT. USN 1944-1969

[Mortarman429]

Hooah

[tpartier]

as a fellow Navy Man - my sincere regards. USN 76-80, USS Ranger - 77-80

[Jaylah54]

As a (Vietnam) veteran, PLEASE don't bury me at Arlington when my time comes.

They have the most horrifying habit of losing remains/cremains and/or burying them under the wrong headstones.

In France, people still actually "adopt" the graves of US servicemen in cemeteries there in honor of the men who liberated their country.

In The Netherlands, school children are frequently taken to American WWII cemeteries so they can understand the large number of Americans who died to keep them free.

Here in the US at Arlington, we bury honored warriors under the wrong headstones, in unmarked graves, and put cremation urns in waste-dirt piles.

Perhaps the first thing the US can do to "repay" that debt to our war dead is actually put them in the right graves.

While there is only one monument to "The Unknowns" at Arlington, there are actually thousands of unknowns buried there, either in unmarked graves, or under the wrong headstones.

[tellingthestory]

Obama has (0) honor and he knows full well the rank and file of the military hate him. That is why in 2008 they did there best to stop the military from voting again in 2010 same thing. Obama is the most disliked president ever by the military. No one trust him and most believe him to be a total fool except they do thank him for following all the G. W. Bushes policies. Bush is some one they loved and trusted.

[Jaylah54]

Forgot to take your meds again today, huh?

[tpartier]

gee - I wonder where your proof in that is? I would beg to differ - I can pretty well bet the military is skewing Democrat now, after several campaigns by veterans have shown the GOP to be utterly irresponsible on veteran issues.

For instance - for the two Congresses Obama served in - He decisively scored better than McCain by veteran and military groups.

Obama Before he became President
2007-2008 In 2007-2008 IAVA gave President Obama a grade of B.
2006 - supported the interests of the DAV 80 percent in 2006.
2006 - In 2006 IAVA gave President Obama a grade of B+.
2005 - supported the interests of the DAV 92 percent in 2005.

McCain
in the last IAVA report Oct 2010 - McCain got a D (see http://www.veteranreportcard.org)
2007-2008 In 2007-2008 IAVA gave Senator McCain a grade of D.
2006 Senator McCain supported the Disabled American Veterans 20%
2006 In 2006 IAVA gave Senator McCain a grade of D.
2006 Senator McCain supported 18% of the legislation favored by the The Retired Enlisted Association in 2006.
2005 Senator McCain supported the Disabled American Veterans 25% in
2004 Senator McCain supported the DAV 50% in 2004.
2004 Senator McCain supported the The Retired Enlisted Association 0%
2003-2004 Senator McCain supported the Vietnam Veterans of America 100%
2003 Senator McCain supported the The American Legion 50% in 2003.
2001 Senator McCain supported the Vietnam Veterans of America 46%
1999 Senator McCain supported the DAV 66% in 1999.
1997-1998 Sen. McCain supported the Vietnam Veterans of America 0%
1989-1990 Vietnam Veterans of America - Senator McCain voted their preferred position 50% of the time.

[TheMemekiller]

That makes Obama the only President other than Bill Clinton not to miss a Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony while in office since 1980.

[HawkSpringsIsHere]

Of the 1503 US soldiers that have died in Afghanistan since 2001,
933 have died under the Obama Regime.
But you'll never see that stat at cBSnews or any other Mainstream Media.
Because there will be no news that might negatively affect the messiah's re-election.

[tellingthestory]

The job of the LIBERAL press is to lie their collective ***** off protecting Obama their anointed GOD!

[thechooch1]

HawkSpringsIsHere you don't suppose this is because we lost our way and started an optional war in Iraq and took our eye off the enemy that actually attacked us do you?