1 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:15,209 Hi, everybody. It’s Memorial Day weekend – a chance for Americans to get together

2 00:00:15,209 --> 00:00:21,759 with family and friends, break out the grill, and kick off the unofficial start of summer.

3 00:00:21,759 --> 00:00:26,849 More importantly, it’s a time to remember the heroes whose sacrifices made these moments

4 00:00:26,849 --> 00:00:32,619 possible – our men and women in uniform who gave their lives to keep our nation safe

5 00:00:32,619 --> 00:00:34,550 and free.

6 00:00:34,550 --> 00:00:39,730 From those shots fired at Lexington and Concord more than two centuries ago to our newest

7 00:00:39,730 --> 00:00:45,790 generation of veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, our history shines with patriots

8 00:00:45,790 --> 00:00:50,970 who answered the call to serve. They put their lives on the line to defend the country they

9 00:00:50,970 --> 00:00:56,489 loved. And in the end, many gave that “last full measure of devotion” so that our nation

10 00:00:56,489 --> 00:00:58,890 would endure.

11 00:00:58,890 --> 00:01:04,309 Every single one of us owes our fallen heroes a profound debt of gratitude. Because every

12 00:01:04,309 --> 00:01:09,700 time we cast our votes or speak our minds without fear, it’s because they fought for

13 00:01:09,700 --> 00:01:14,409 our right to do that. Every chance we get to make a better life for ourselves and our

14 00:01:14,409 --> 00:01:19,789 families is possible because generations of patriots fought to keep America a land of

15 00:01:19,789 --> 00:01:25,060 opportunity, where anyone – of any race, any religion, from any background – can

16 00:01:25,060 --> 00:01:31,619 make it if they try. Our country was born out of a desire to be free, and every day

17 00:01:31,619 --> 00:01:37,780 since, it’s been protected by our men and women in uniform – people who believed so

18 00:01:37,780 --> 00:01:42,140 deeply in America, they were willing to give their lives for it.

19 00:01:42,140 --> 00:01:47,420 We owe them so much. So this Memorial Day, we’ll gather together, as Americans, to

20 00:01:47,420 --> 00:01:53,060 honor the fallen, with both public ceremonies and private remembrances. And I hope all Americans

21 00:01:53,060 --> 00:01:58,759 will take a moment this weekend to think of those who have died in service to our nation.

22 00:01:58,759 --> 00:02:04,030 Say a prayer in their memories and for their families. Lay a flower where they’ve come

23 00:02:04,030 --> 00:02:10,610 to rest. Reach out to service members, military families or veterans in your community, or

24 00:02:10,610 --> 00:02:15,690 families who have lost loved ones, and let them know that their service and sacrifice

25 00:02:15,690 --> 00:02:18,640 will never be forgotten.

26 00:02:18,640 --> 00:02:22,400 Most of all, let’s keep working to make sure that our country upholds our sacred trust

27 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:27,230 to all who’ve served. In recent weeks, we’ve seen again how much more our nation has to

28 00:02:27,230 --> 00:02:33,150 do to make sure all our veterans get the care they deserve. As Commander in Chief, I believe

29 00:02:33,150 --> 00:02:38,230 that taking care of our veterans and their families is a sacred obligation. It’s been

30 00:02:38,230 --> 00:02:42,440 one of the causes of my presidency. And now that we’ve ended the war in Iraq, and as

31 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:48,360 our war in Afghanistan ends as well, we have to work even harder as a nation to make sure

32 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:53,730 all our veterans get the benefits and opportunities they’ve earned. They’ve done their duty,

33 00:02:53,730 --> 00:03:00,490 and they ask nothing more than that this country does ours – now and for decades to come.

34 00:03:00,490 --> 00:03:05,120 Happy Memorial Day, everybody. May God watch over our fallen heroes. And may He continue

35 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,220 to bless the United States of America.