President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance attended a special ceremony on Tuesday at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, paying their respects on Veterans Day to those who have served this great nation.
The president also delivered a special address at Arlington shortly following the traditional wreath-laying ceremony, where he elevated the sacrifice of the American soldier and 250 years of grit and service that have consistently secured liberty for this country.
“This morning on these hallowed grounds where generations of American heroes rest in eternal glory, we gather to fulfill the sacred duty of every free man and woman: on Veterans Day, we honor those who have worn the uniform,” the president said.
He added, “Today, to every veteran – we love our veterans – we say the words too often left unsaid: thank you for your service.”
The president’s remarks focused entirely on the importance of America’s finest heroes and their hard and sometimes final work in defending freedom.
“Everything we have, everything our country has achieved, has been purchased by the muscle, spine, and steel of the United States military,” the president remarked. “…They volunteered to give their last breaths to all of us so that we could breathe free, and today, we know without any doubt in our hearts, that after two and a half centuries, America stands tall because America’s veterans stood so strong.”
President Trump also took a moment to highlight the work his administration has done to prioritize the needs of American veterans, including cutting down backlogs on VA benefits, opening 20 new VA facilities in 13 states, and adding over one million additional service hours across all VA centers nationwide.
“Because of what every veteran has done today, the flame of liberty shines bright, the people of our nation sleep safe, the American dream surges forward, and our magnificent destiny stands more splendid and glorious than ever before,” the president concluded.
The special ceremony was capped off with a beautiful rendition of “God Bless America,” sung by what appeared to be the U.S. Army Band.
