(Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Adrian Cadiz)(Released)
If you missed President Obama’s annual Memorial Day address at Arlington National Cemetery, don’t worry. We got your back.
In addition to simply expressing his gratitude to the armed services, the president used his Memorial Day address to talk about the three Americans killed fighting ISIS within the last year.
If you don’t have time even for a video, here are some of the most significant quotes from Obama’s address:
– “Those who rest beneath this silence — not only here at Arlington, but at veterans’ cemeteries across our country and around the world, and all who still remain missing — they didn’t speak the loudest about their patriotism. They let their actions do that. Whether they stood up in times of war, signed up in times of peace, or were called up by a draft board, they embodied the best of America.”
– “Truly remembering means that after our fallen heroes gave everything to get their battle buddies home, we have to make sure our veterans get everything that they have earned, from good health care to a good job. And we have to do better; our work is never done. We have to be there not only when we need them, but when they need us.”
– “A few days later, one of his platoon mates sent Charlie’s parents a letter from Iraq. “Please tell everyone Chuck saved a lot of lives today,” it said. He left us, “with that big signature smile on his handsome face, as always. Chuck was full of aloha, but was also a ferocious warrior.”
– “When they brought Louie home, hundreds of strangers lined freeway overpasses and the streets of Southern California to salute him. And today, we salute Staff Sergeant Louis Cardin.”
– “Last October, as ISIL terrorists prepared to execute 70 hostages, Josh and his fellow Special Ops went in and rescued them. Every single one walked free. “We were already dead,” one of the hostages said, “then God sent us a force from the sky.” That force was the U.S. Army, including Josh Wheeler.”