Order arms. Present arms. [drum roll] [taps] order arms. Ladies and gentlemen the ring ceremony is only great wrceremony this morning will take place. [applause] [applause] ladies and gentlemen please stand and remain standing. The command chaplain, joined force headquarters, and the United StatesArmy Military district of washington. Major general, jeffrey s buchanan, commanding general united dates army, military district of washington. Mr. Patrick callahan, executive director, Army Military cemeteries program. General martin id. See chairman, joint chiefs of staff. Dempsey, chairman, joint chiefs of staff. The honorable ashton carter, secretary. Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States. [applause] [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the chaplain. I invite you all to pray with me. Almighty god, we gather today across america, very mindful of the cost paid for the freedom we enjoy. We gather on these Hallowed Grounds particularly to remember and to honor, with singular devotion, men and women of ignoble claylike like ours who rose above their human condition with noble hearts and steadfast will. Despite the brevity or of security of their lives dignified our humanity and the profession of arms, by choosing to stand for something. Who declared with their actions that preserving freedom was a cause to live for, to serve for, and even to die for. Bless our commemoration here and all of its participants, maintenance of servants render honor to those who remember we remember. For what they gain, they deserve more than we can give. We ask you lord, to bestow upon them the gift that this world cannot give. Grant of the peace that they felt so elusive in this life and let that peace be full and everlasting. Amen. Ladies and gentlemen please join the United States marine band in joining our National Singing our National Anthem. O say can you see by the dawns early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilights last gleaming, whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous night, oer the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming . And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there; o say does that starspangled banner yet wave, oer the land of the free and the home of the brave . [applause] please be seated. Ladies and gentlemen, general dempsey. [applause] general dempsey thank you very much. Let me begin by thanking the president s own and mastery Gunnery Sergeant who did that rousing rendition of the anthem. Give them one more round of applause. [applause] general dempsey mr. President secretary carter, fellow americans, good morning and welcome. We come together in this anointed place on this appointed date to honor our fallen warriors, those champions of freedom who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. I especially want to thank their families on behalf of the men and women of our armed forces. I want you to know that you are always in our hearts. We along with a grateful nation reminded remain inspired by your strength and remarkable courage, and i want to make special mention of my teammates for the tragedy assistance program. They are celebrating their good grief camp. God bless you guys. [applause] general dempsey i am often asked my fellow countrymen and women how to properly honor our fallen. They wonder how they can best pay tribute to those laid to rest beneath our flag, so that we may stand freely beside it today. I tell them simply to remember. Our great nation is set aside to date for this very purpose to remember. To remember how are followed stood with courage and to memorialize their devotion to america and to our principles. But the sun will set on this day and disappear behind foothills of virginia, and in the morning when it rises over the potomac emma watson . What then . What should we do . Tomorrow, we resumed lifes daily routines, take a moment to think of the families who will return home and leave their loved ones here in the sacred place think of these families home and abroad with unmarked graves abroad and in the blue seas. Think of the empty chair at the dinner table and the one less voice of laughter in their house. Next week, next month, what should we do that . Remember. When you see the starspangled banner flying over your Childs School committing a moment to consider those men and women who gave their lives make america great. Upon seeing a purple heart license plate or hearing the National Anthem at a sporting event will take a moment to think of those who did not survive their wounds, we did not return home, who can never again salutes the flag or share the freedoms we experienced each and every day. These are the acts of remembrance, daily rituals of reflection handed down to us by families of the fallen for generations. Remembrance, like love and trust, only truly exists interactions. It is not a place we visited, or a simple sentiment, rather it is a debt of attitude that shapes the way we live our lives. Let us pledge today to make a have of these acts of remembrance as an example for the generations that follow. A year from today, on the last monday of may, we will reconvene on this Hallowed Ground to reaffirm our promise to always remember. May god give rest to our fallen, and are missing. Assaulted solace to their families and less into the United States of america. Thank you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, listen now as the United States marine band performs america the beautiful. O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain for Purple Mountain majesties above the fruited plain America America god shed his grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea o beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life America America may god thy god mend thine evry flaw, confirm thy soul in selfcontrol thy liberty in law [applause] ladies and gentlemen secretary carter. [applause] secretary carter mr. President chairman and mrs. Dempsey, distinguished guests ladies and gentlemen, to our gold star families, the families of americas Fallen Heroes in attendance here and across our grateful nation, it is truly our honor to be standing with you on this solemn, sacred day. We, your fellow americans, lacks the words to describe what you feel today. Because trias we may try as we may, and try as we do, we can never fully know. But we do know what your sacrifice means to us. To this nation, and to a world that will depends so much on american men and women in you or for its security. As we gather here this morning im reminded of the words of one of our president s, a veteran who himself rest not a 10 minute walk from here. President s john f. Kennedy. In this very amphitheater he once said. , these quiet grounds this cemetery, and others like it all around the world remind us with pride of our obligation and our opportunity. On a day set aside for americans to honor and remember those who perished while serving our country, our obligation and or opportunity are one and the same. Our obligation is to give voice to the fallen. To honor them, and share their stories of sacrifice and heroism. Our opportunity is to use this day to inspire new generations to understand the freedom they have been given. To grasp how and why it is theirs, and to dedicate themselves to pass it on to generations unborn. Reflect, for a moment, on the way our nations flag is flown on memorial day. First, it is wasted briskly to the top with the same clarity of purpose we see in all of those who join our all volunteer force. And then it is solemnly, soberly lowered to half staff. A tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. But it does not stay there. At noon it is raised back toward the sky signaling our will to recover after tragedy and symbolizing the great strength and resilience that characterizes not only our nation, but also those who defend it and their families. Today, when we watch the American Flag fully ascend once again, our thoughts will be with our Service Members, both lost and living, including the nearly 200,000 soldiers, sailors airmen, marines beyond our shores as we gather here. So ably protecting us far from home. They also join us in morning the follow the fallen. They celebrate their strength. And they also serve a long line of patriots who fought in places like lexington and concord gettysburg and midway, and more recently, falluja and how elmut. The legacy that has made our military the finest fighting wars are world has ever known. Troops of such caliber demand great leaders, and there is no doubt they have one in our commanderinchief. I see that every day. He knows well the challenges we must face, the obligations we must meet, and the opportunities we must sees in order to keep our nation safe, and to make a better world for our children. And i see that he cares deeply about the safety, welfare, and dignity of our men and women in uniform and their families. For all that, and so much more, i am tremendously proud to serve as his secretary of defense. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great privilege to introduce the residents of the United States barack obama. [applause] president obama thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Good morning, everybody. Thank you, secretary carter for your leadership of our men and women in uniform, general dempsey, Major General buchanan, mr. Patrick, executive director of Army National military cemeteries am a chaplain cemeteries, chaplain, members of our Armed Services, veterans and most of all families and friends of our fallen. It is my deep honor to share this day with you again. For 147 years our nation has set aside to this day as a solemn tribute to patriots who gave their last full measure of devotion for this country that we love. And while the nature of war has changed over that time, the values that drive our brave men and women in uniform remained constant. Honor, courage selflessness, those values live in the hearts of everyday heroes in every american war. Men and women who now rest forever in these quiet fields, and across our land. They live in the patriots who sparked the revolution, and received our reunion. They live in the young gis who defeated tyranny in europe and this year we marked a historic anniversary, 70 years since our victory in world war ii. More than 16 million americans left everything they knew fight for our freedom. More than 400,000 gave their lives. Today i ask all of the family and friends of our following world war ii heroes, spouses children, brothers and sisters and fellow veterans from world war ii to please stand if you can, or raise your hands so that our country can thank you once more. [applause] president obama the same values live in those who braved the mountains of korea, the jungles of vietnam, the deserts of the middle east. In the past decade we have seen these values on display again in the men and women of our 9 11 generation. For many of us, this memorial day is especially meaningful. It is the first since our war in afghanistan came to an end. Todays the first memorial day 14 years that the United States is not engaged in a major ground war. On this day we honor the sacrifice of the thousands of American Service members, men and women who gave their lights since 9 11, including 2200 patriots who gave their ultimate sacrifice in afghanistan. As an arizona kid wyeth love the outdoors. He started fishing when he was two years old. His dad says he was pretty good for a toddler. Wyatt grew to six foot four inches and for a flannel shirt everyday, his friends nicknamed him hold on you. And to go to college and work in the arizona game and Fish Department so that he could contact the land and water he loved so much. Wyatts wife was animated by the blessings he and his family enjoys americans gave an obligation with that came with an obligation to give back. He enlisted in the army. When you deploy to afghanistan as a combat engineer, there was no doubt in his mind that he was doing the right ring. Last summer, he told his sister if something happens to me, know that i went happy. Ronald morris was born in jamaica. He moved to queens as a teenager, and like so many he was called, compelled, to serve his new country. He enlisted in the army, and even recruited his older brother to join as well. He served five tours, including several in iraq. Along the way he fell in love with an Army Reservist named christina. They had little girl named arianna. Ramon was the kind of leader who would do anything for his men, on and off the battlefield. Nothing was more important to him than being a great father to his little girl. Specialist wyatt martin and Sergeant First Class ramon morris were 15 years apart in age. They traveled greatly different paths in life. Those passed to them to the same unit they made them brothers in arms, serving together in afghanistan. In december, and ied struck their vehicle. They were the last two americans to give their lives during our combat mission in afghanistan. Today, here in arlington, in section 60 ramon lies in eternal rest, and we are honored to be enjoying be joined by his brother who is deploying for germany tonight. Thank you. Thank you to your family. [applause] president obama these two men these two heroes, you saw them passing on the street, you would not know they were brothers. Under this flag, in common cause , they were bonded together to secure our liberty, to keep us safe. My fellow americans, this Hallowed Ground is more than a final resting place of heroes. It is a reflection of america itself. In a reflection of our history the wars we waged for democracy the piece we peace we fight for to preserve it. Men and women of all backgrounds, races creeds, circumstances and faiths willing to defend and the for the ideals that bind us as one nation. It is a reflection of our [ parents, and in the sentinels of the third infantry regiment who dutifully and unfailingly watch over those patriots known only to god, but never forgotten. Today a grateful nation thanks them as well. Most americans do not fully see, do not fully understand the sacrifice made by the 1 who serve in this all volunteer armed forces. This i cry for preserve the freedoms we too often take for granted. If you know it is like to take a bullet for a buddy for to live with the fact that he or she took one for you, our gold star families, our military families, our veterans, they know this. Intimately. Whenever i meet with our gold star families like i did this only, i hear their price through their tears as they flip through old photos, run their fingers over shiny medals. I see that their hearts are still broken and still full of love. They do not ask for awards or owners, they do not ask for special treatment, they are unfailingly humble in the face of unspeakable loss. They represent the best of who we are. They are people like ramons mother who could carry case for the people who killed her son but she said i have no anger, no bitterness, even for the person who did this. I feel sorry for them, and i as k god to change their life. That is one gold star mother of amazing grace. People like wyatts parents who said he was not just our kid, he is everyones. He is an american soldier, and as an american soldier, he belongs to everybody. The siblings like the goldstar sister who wrote to me of her brother, private class Stephen Dennis gave his life in 2004. She said remember him not as 1253rd war casualty, but the 67 inch burst of light he was on the world. These sons and daughters, these brothers and sisters, who lay down their lives for us, they belong to us all. They are our children too. We benefit from their life, their positive influence on the world, and it is our duty, our eternal obligation to be there for them too. To make sure our troops always have what they need to carry out the mission, to make sure we care for all those who have served. To make sure we honor all those who we have lost. To make sure that we keep faith with our military families. To make sure we never stop searching for those who are missing, or trying to bring home our prisoners of war. We are greatful for the families of our pow mias. This may be the first memorial day since the end of our war in afghanistan, but we are acutely aware that our men women in uniform still stand watch, still serve and still sacrifice around the world. Several years ago we had more than 100,000 troops in afghanistan. Today, fewer than 10,000 troops remain on a mission to train the afghan forces. We will continue to bring them home, to reduce our forces rather down to an embassy presence by the end of next year, but afghanistan remains a very dangerous place. So many families know our troops continue to risk their lives for us. Growing up in massachusetts john dawson was an honor student to play varsity soccer, he loved the bruins, he loved the past, he was always up for fun. Running into a room spraying silly string or photobombing before it was in style. He was passionate about the service. You share the same convictions of so many we honor today. He wanted nothing more than to john a join a common cause, be part of something bigger than himself. He did journey} with his church he joined the army, as a combat medic he fulfilled his dream of helping people. He loved his job. In april, an attacker wearing an afghan uniform fired at a group of american soldiers. An Army Corporal john dawson became the first servicemember to give his life in this new mission to train the afghan forces. The words on his dog tag were those in scripture. Greater love has no one other than this, then to lay down your life for your friends. The americans rest beneath these beautiful hills, and in sacred ground across our country and around the world, they are why our nation indoors. Endures. Each simple stone marker arranged in military precision signify the cost of our freedom. It is a debt we can never repay. But it is a debt we will never stop trying to fully repaid. Repay, by remaining a nation worthy of their