Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
May 24, 2014
Hi, everybody. It’s Memorial Day weekend – a chance for Americans to
get together with family and friends, break out the grill, and kick off
the unofficial start of summer. More importantly, it’s a time to
remember the heroes whose sacrifices made these moments possible – our
men and women in uniform who gave their lives to keep our nation safe
and free.
From those shots fired at Lexington and Concord more than two
centuries ago to our newest generation of veterans of the wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan, our history shines with patriots who answered the call
to serve. They put their lives on the line to defend the country they
loved. And in the end, many gave that “last full measure of devotion”
so that our nation would endure.
Every single one of us owes our fallen heroes a profound debt of
gratitude. Because every time we cast our votes or speak our minds
without fear, it’s because they fought for our right to do that. Every
chance we get to make a better life for ourselves and our families is
possible because generations of patriots fought to keep America a land
of opportunity, where anyone – of any race, any religion, from any
background – can make it if they try. Our country was born out of a
desire to be free, and every day since, it’s been protected by our men
and women in uniform – people who believed so deeply in America, they
were willing to give their lives for it.
We owe them so much. So this Memorial Day, we’ll gather together,
as Americans, to honor the fallen, with both public ceremonies and
private remembrances. And I hope all Americans will take a moment this
weekend to think of those who have died in service to our nation. Say a
prayer in their memories and for their families. Lay a flower where
they’ve come to rest. Reach out to service members, military families
or veterans in your community, or families who have lost loved ones, and
let them know that their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Most of all, let’s keep working to make sure that our country upholds
our sacred trust to all who’ve served. In recent weeks, we’ve seen
again how much more our nation has to do to make sure all our veterans
get the care they deserve. As Commander in Chief, I believe that taking
care of our veterans and their families is a sacred obligation. It’s
been one of the causes of my presidency. And now that we’ve ended the
war in Iraq, and as our war in Afghanistan ends as well, we have to work
even harder as a nation to make sure all our veterans get the benefits
and opportunities they’ve earned. They’ve done their duty, and they ask
nothing more than that this country does ours – now and for decades to
come.
Happy Memorial Day, everybody. May God watch over our fallen heroes.
And may He continue to bless the United States of America.
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