President Joe Biden is paying tribute to fallen soldiers on Memorial Day.
“There’s nothing more important, nothing more sacred, nothing more American than keeping the faith,” Biden declared during his remarks in observance of Memorial Day.
"And so remember those who gave their all in the cause of unity, in the cause of a nation that endures because of them."@POTUS delivered #MemorialDay remarks and called on Americans to honor those who have given their lives for our country "by sustaining the best of America." pic.twitter.com/UXK4ZuLTqq
— Mediaite (@Mediaite) May 31, 2021
Honoring the sacrifices of fallen soldiers, Biden said, “On this Memorial Day we honor their legacy and their sacrifice. Duty, honor, country they live for it, they died for it — and we as a nation are eternally grateful.”
Additionally, Biden said of surviving military families, “We’re the children of sacrifice made by a long line of American service members. We’re free because they were brave.”
Pres. Biden on the sacrifices of fallen soldiers: "On this Memorial Day we honor their legacy and their sacrifice. Duty, honor, country they live for it, they died for it– and we as a nation are eternally grateful." https://t.co/Wrprwpj5Hn pic.twitter.com/gZJLnnVSRH
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) May 31, 2021
“May God bless the United States of America and may the light perpetually shine upon the fallen,” the president concluded his remarks. “May God bring comfort to their family’s and may God protect our troops today and always.”
Watch his full speech below:
Among those in the audience were families and military in the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), the White House told the press pool.
Biden participated in a wreath-laying ceremony on Monday. Also in attendance were First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.
This year’s Memorial Day weekend is Biden’s first as commander in chief.
President Biden at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on #MemorialDay2021
— CSPAN (@cspan) May 31, 2021
Watch full video @ArlingtonNatl here: https://t.co/oDJF758IHF pic.twitter.com/HC0Mgg1KNR
Several lawmakers also paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who tweeted, “This Memorial Day we remember the brave men and women in uniform who have laid down their lives in defense of our nation. Let us carry their memory close today and honor their sacrifice always.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also wrote in a statement, “On Memorial Day, grateful Americans pay tribute to the fallen heroes who gave their last full measure of devotion to safeguard our cherished freedom and ensure the survival of our sacred democracy.”
She added, “For generations, courageous patriots have put their lives on the line to defend our nation, from the hills of the American countryside to the fields of Western Europe to the shores of the Pacific to the sands of the Middle East. Today, and every day, we are thankful for their service and draw strength from their sacrifice.”