Thousands of Americans came to Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day 2021 to pay their respects to our nation’s heroes.
In this video, Colonel Michael Binetti, Chief of Staff of Arlington National Cemetery, shared the meaning of Memorial Day and guides the public through today’s National Memorial Day Observance.
Arlington National Cemetery represents the American people for past, present and future generations by laying to rest those few who have served our nation with dignity and honor, while immersing guests in the cemetery’s living history. For those with loved one laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, today and every day is Memorial Day.
The U.S. Army Military District of Washington conducted a Presidential Armed Forces Full Honor Wreath-Laying Ceremony, where President Joseph Biden laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This ceremony was followed by the Department of Defense observance program in the Memorial Amphitheater; where General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, gave the welcome address, Lloyd Austin III, Secretary of Defense, provided remarks, and President Joseph Biden shared a Memorial Day address to the nation.
Transcript
This Memorial Day, we gather here at Arlington National Cemetery to remember the men and women who gave their lives for our country. For those with family members laid to rest here at Arlington, every day is their Memorial Day. We are forever grateful for the service and sacrifice of every service member who is laid to rest here within these hallowed grounds. Their story is of course one of courage, selflessness and commitment. This Memorial Day, we honor their memory and the values they upheld so that we could live in freedom at Arlington there are Americans from every corner of our country, every walk of life, every race, culture, creed and religion, and they all have one thing in common their dedication of service to our great nation. This Memorial Day, we are proud to welcome the public and government officials to help us commemorate this special day. For while we stand amid monuments of stone must never forget that each of these markers for those known and unknown here at Arlington and far beyond, represent a precious life a son, a daughter, a mother, a spouse, brother, sister of friends, a neighbor. This Memorial Day, join us as we honour, remember and explore our nation’s diverse history through the heroes here at Arlington. From the Revolutionary War to the modern day, we are great people honoring the service and sacrifice of a grateful nation, mm.