WASHINGTON, D.C.—Hundreds of onlookers gathered in Arlington National Cemetery, for the One Hundred and Forty Second Memorial Day Observance honoring the fallen members of America’s armed forces. Amidst the rows of tomb stones that stretch far into the horizon, family and friends of servicemen and women, members of the armed forces, veterans and supporters, honored the fallen Americans in an atmosphere of silence and respect. Vice President Joe Biden laid a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
“The generation of soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines that have served and sacrificed for us are the heart and soul and I would say the spine of this nation, and as a nation, we pause today to remember them… In doing so they imparted a responsibility on us to recognize, respect and honor and care for those that risk their lives so that we can live our lives,” said the Vice President.
The ceremonies included a musical interlude by the United States Navy Band; an Invocation by Colonel Brent Causey, United States Army Chaplain; a welcome by Admiral Michael G. Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and remarks by Honorable William J. Lynn III, Deputy Secretary of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In a contrast to the sad thought of all those that have died in war, Vice President Biden spoke of the ‘love’ that inspires heroism in the those that serve in the armed forces. The Vice President quoted a fallen soldier: “Fear will never make one share the last sip of water with a dying comrade, anger would never motivate a nurse to stand tall in the bloody operating room for half a day or longer until a blasted soldier or marine got back together, only love can motivate that kind of heroism.”
“The generation of soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines that have served and sacrificed for us are the heart and soul and I would say the spine of this nation, and as a nation, we pause today to remember them… In doing so they imparted a responsibility on us to recognize, respect and honor and care for those that risk their lives so that we can live our lives,” said the Vice President.
The ceremonies included a musical interlude by the United States Navy Band; an Invocation by Colonel Brent Causey, United States Army Chaplain; a welcome by Admiral Michael G. Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and remarks by Honorable William J. Lynn III, Deputy Secretary of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In a contrast to the sad thought of all those that have died in war, Vice President Biden spoke of the ‘love’ that inspires heroism in the those that serve in the armed forces. The Vice President quoted a fallen soldier: “Fear will never make one share the last sip of water with a dying comrade, anger would never motivate a nurse to stand tall in the bloody operating room for half a day or longer until a blasted soldier or marine got back together, only love can motivate that kind of heroism.”
With tears in her eyes, Ms. Bonnie Vona said, “In World War II, the whole country was at war and everybody had to sacrifice. Today, we have men and women dying over there and we go on as if nothing is happening. I think it’s important to take the moment and remember [the members of the armed forces, for] what they do and why”. Ms Vona, who is originally from Texas, lives in Washington, D.C. and has spent time in South Korea as a citizen volunteer at the North Korean border.
“[We came to the ceremonies] to pay respect to soldiers, current and past. I lost my uncle in World War II, they never recovered his body. And our daughter will be starting in the Navy in August. It’s Memorial Day, a day to pay respect,” said Mr. Robert Dobson, a firefighter in Charlotte Country from Punta Gorda, Florida.
“It was nice to see all of the people come out, it shows that they care,” said Crystal Naegeli-Dobson.
Hundreds of thousands of Americans are buried in Arlington National Cemetery. In the southeast part of the cemetery lies the burial ground for military personnel killed in the Iraq War and Afghanistan—section 60. Also on the grounds are monuments and memorials to all branches of the military and those that lost their lives in the September 11, 2001 attack on the Pentagon and others fallen from the Global War on Terror.
“[We came to the ceremonies] to pay respect to soldiers, current and past. I lost my uncle in World War II, they never recovered his body. And our daughter will be starting in the Navy in August. It’s Memorial Day, a day to pay respect,” said Mr. Robert Dobson, a firefighter in Charlotte Country from Punta Gorda, Florida.
Veterans handed out American flags
“It was nice to see all of the people come out, it shows that they care,” said Crystal Naegeli-Dobson.
Hundreds of thousands of Americans are buried in Arlington National Cemetery. In the southeast part of the cemetery lies the burial ground for military personnel killed in the Iraq War and Afghanistan—section 60. Also on the grounds are monuments and memorials to all branches of the military and those that lost their lives in the September 11, 2001 attack on the Pentagon and others fallen from the Global War on Terror.
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