President Trump participated in a Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday to honor fallen service members and their families, promising those gathered that Americans “will never forget our heroes.”
The time-honored tradition at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier dates back 150 years, with all of Trump’s modern predecessors participating in the annual ceremony. In remarks delivered from the hallowed grounds, Trump praised several veterans in the crowd and offered words of condolence to Gold Star families whose sons and daughters were killed overseas.
“Today, we pay tribute to their service, we mourn alongside their families and we strive to be worthy of their sacrifice,” the president told the crowd of about 5,000. “Theirs was a love more deep and more pure than most will ever know. It was a love that willed them up mountains, through deserts, across oceans, and into enemy camps. They marched into hell so that America could know the blessings of peace. They did so that freedom could live.”
During his remarks, Trump singled out a young man named Christian who approached him at last year’s Memorial Day ceremony and asked if he wanted to meet his father. The president said Christian then led him to a grave site.
“We paid our respects together. It was a moment I will always remember,” Trump said, turning to Christian who returned for the wreath-laying ceremony this year. “I want you to know that even though your father has left this world … your dad’s love, courage, and strength live on in you.”
The president also singled out former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, the last World War II veteran to secure a major party’s presidential nomination, and Navy veteran Ray Chavez, a 106-year-old survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
“Ray, you are truly an inspiration to all who are here today and all of our great country,” Trump said.
“Most importantly,” he continued, “We’re joined here today by the families of American heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. We cannot imagine the depth of emotions that this day brings each year — the grief renewed, the memories relived, those last few beautiful moments together cherished.”
Conveying gratitude to the families gathered around him, Trump said the nation would “never forget” their sacrifices.
“To every parent who weeps for a child, to every child who mourns for a parent and to every husband and wife whose heart was torn into two, today we ask God to wipe away your tears,” Trump said, adding that “as long as we are blessed with patriots such as these, we shall forever remain one people, one family and one nation under God.”
Trump said in a tweet before arriving at Arlington National Cemetery that “those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today.”
Happy Memorial Day! Those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today. Best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for Blacks and Hispanics EVER (& women in 18years), rebuilding our Military and so much more. Nice!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 28, 2018
The president was joined by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, chief of staff John Kelly, White House counsel Don McGahn, national security adviser John Bolton, and press secretary Sarah Sanders for Monday’s ceremony. Several Cabinet members, including Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, also joined Trump at Arlington National Cemetery.
