President obama took place in a ceremony at Arlington National cemetery. Joining him are Vice President joe biden, robert mcdonald, and ashton carter. Afterwards, he made remarks in tribute to veterans and urging american businesses to hire former Service Members. This is 50 minutes. Halt present arms [the starspangled banner] order, halt present [drum roll] [taps] order, halt ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States. [applause] [hail to the chief] ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing for the procession of our nations colors. As we march on the colors, the u. S. Army band will play the National Emblem march. please place your hand over your heart. [National Emblem march] please remain standing for prayer for all veterans, delivered by the chaplain, ainociate director of chapli center. Let us pray. Veterans andof nations, you are so awesome and all of your ways. We give you thanks on this veterans day, for the devotion and encourage of all of those who have worn our nations uniform and offered military service for this country that we can now enjoy such freedom. Veteran you for our service organizations. Who make every day of the year veterans day. Today is a nation, god, we honor veterans who protect our american way of life. We honor veterans who suffered from the visible and invisible wounds of war. We honor veterans of laid down their lives for others. We honor their surviving families and the sacrifices they have made. To god, we thank you, for our nations veterans willing to hardship in war in peacetime. We ask on this veterans day, god, that you would encourage and heal those in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, amending their wounds at home. Help us, god, do never forget our comrades listed as prisoners of war and missing in action. Help us to bring them and the returning warriors to a joyful reunion and peaceful life at home. Give to us your people of this grateful hearts and a united will to honor these men and women. And hold them always in your untiland our prayers, an your world is perfected in peace. And all wars cease. Give us all a sense of humor and find something to make a smile, as we remember the good times and celebrate our nations veterans. Amen. Now i would like to invite junior,ert ryan president of the military association of america, to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america. And to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please be seated. It is now my distinct privilege introduce to you, the members of the national committee. The committee was formed by president ial order in 1954, to focus the annual observance on the veterans and to support observances throughout the nation. Please hold your applause until ive introduced the special guests. If able, please stand with your name is called. Norbert ryan junior, National President , military officer association of america. Jane, National President of the polish legion of veterans. Larry kinard, korean war veterans association. Angel, National Commander of american g. I. Forum. Catholic warord, veterans of the usa. And word meant edward demint. Ed kovack. Commanderom, national of the jewish war veterans. John rowan, president of the Vietnam Veterans of america. John, commanderinchief of the veterans of foreign wars of the u. S. James pigeon, National Commander. President er, national of the blinded veterans association. Jr. , National Commander of the army navy union. Overstreet, commander of the noncommissioned officers. David goff, National Vice commander of american legion. Robert husker, National Commander of the military order of purple hearts. Virgil, sleek president of the association. Richard gore, sr. , National Commandant of the marine corps league. , executive director of the military chaplain association. William mullen, legion of valor of the usa. Mike plummer, deputy legislative director, National Association of uniform services. Ruth hamilton, commanderinchief, military order of the world wars. Lawrence highland, National President , the retired association. Thomas kelly, congressional matter of honor society. Jr. , disabled american veterans. The associate members of the committee are located to the boxes in my left. I would like to ask the president and National Commanders that comprise our associate membership to stand and be recognized. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in recognizing our veteran National Leadership with your applause. [applause] it is now my pleasure to introduce our veteran organization host for 2015. Military officer association of america. Moa is the1929, nations largest and most Influential Association of military officers. With more than 390,000 members, it is the leading voice representing activeduty, guard, and reserve as well as retired and former officers in all seven services. Moa offers a powerful force, speaking for a Strong National defense and equitable treatment for all who serve and have served their country in uniform. Moas network of affiliate chapters across the u. S. Actively promotes the concept of Lifetime Service at the national, state and community , levels. As you can see, they live their motto. At moa, we never stop serving. They are represented today by their National President. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome mr. Norbert ryan, jr. [applause] norbert mr. President , mr. Vice president. Secretary and mrs. Mcdonald. Secretary and mrs. Carter. Members of congress. Members of the joint chiefs of staff and spouses. Medal of honor recipients. Fellow veterans. Members of the armed forces. Gold star families and other distinguished guests. Ladies and gentlemen good , morning and welcome. To all in attendance here and across the country on this most important day, veterans day. It is an honor for the military Officers Association of america to cohost this years ceremony, a first in our 86year history of providing leadership on behalf of the entire military family. Today, we join all americans to honor the inspiring shared sacrifice and commitment of past and present members of the armed forces. Thankfully, honor, valor, and love of country have always been the defining characteristics of americas military from bunker hill to the mountains of campus in afghanistan. But the battlefield is not the exclusive birthplace of heroism. Our nations heroes are also here at home in the form of the families and loved ones of our returning warriors who provide the care and understanding that enable them to regain a life of normalcy. The individuals who have dedicated their lives to improving the quality of life of veterans in ways big and small. Veterans day reminds us that this nations greatest asset is not our leadingedge technology, rich farmland, or material wealth. No, our nations greatest treasure is our sons and daughters who served and sacrificed in their nations uniform. That is why we never stop serving. Those who serve or have served. For if we do, we risk breaking the faith that will inspire future generations to serve. Thank you for joining us this morning and giving thanks to all those who served. May god bless all veterans and may god always bless the United States of america. Thank you. [applause] please welcome the honorable robert mcdonnell, secretary of veterans affairs. [applause] mr. Mcdonald mr. President and Vice President biden, thank you both for your leadership and your steady, strong advocate for our nations veterans, Service Members their families, and , survivors. You have shown respect for our veterans abiding commitment. Every day of the year for those , live have served not just on a single day of the year thank , you. Medal of honor recipients thomas kelly and Brian Thacker were honored by your courage and your heroism in battle. Secretary carter and your wife, white house chief of staff, administrator mccarthy, united representatives, senators collins, franken, cotton, tell illis, sullivan, your spouses and guests. Ambassador rice, chairman dunford, general silva, general grass, general welsh, general miley, admiral richardson, general mellor, all your spouses and guests. Other distinguished leaders of the department of defense and military services, former v. A. Administrator harry walters, vice admiral norm ryan. Military Officers Association of america, our cohost are this years celebration and all the representatives of our Veterans Service organizations. Fellow veterans, members of our armed forces, ladies and gentlemen. As many of you know, president obama is scheduled to present the medal of honor to an american soldier tomorrow. Captain retired florence gruenberg. Tomorrows ceremony will mark only the 10th time in Living Service member has received our nations highest valor award for actions in afghanistan or iraq. Seven more were posthumously awarded the medal. At tomorrows ceremony, president obama will address the specifics of captain grover s heroism. But let me say that in the worst of circumstances and without hesitation, the captain acted in a manner that saved the lives of many of his comrades. Tragically, he could not save them all. When he was informed last month that he would receive the medal of honor, he said, this metal dal belongs to them. Its my mission to tell everyone. Thank you for recognizing me but this does not belong to me. It belongs to them. Thats how im coping with them mentally. It gives you the opportunity to represent them have their families. He is in dramatic of the service and sacrifices of young men and women from every generation of american veterans. For almost two and a half centuries now they have , selflessly answered the call to arms to preserve and defend the ideas behind the words that are both vision and conscious of our democracy. We hold these truths to be selfevident. That all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Each generation has done its part to deliver a strong and free america to the next generation. They have done so with great determination, personal toughness, and willingness to risk it all for others. This veterans day, we want to especially acknowledge those who served in two difficult conflicts. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of world war ii. And the beginning of our 50th commemoration of the decadelong war in vietnam. To those who fought in both wars, thank you for your selfless service. Americans are ever grateful for your sacrifices. The president and Vice President understand and value the service and sacrifice of veterans. That is why they have provided strong resources for care and benefits. Support of the new g. I. Bill to educate the next generation of american leaders. Tremendous support to help v. A. Drive down the backlog in claims by almost 90 and improve access to Quality Health care for all veterans. As the president said in his state of the Union Address this year, as a new generation of veterans come home, we go them we owe them every opportunity to live the American Dream they help defend. The first lady and dr. Jill biden are also unwavering supporters in their own right. They have joined forces to bring the public and private sectors together in support of employment of Service Members, veterans, and their family members, among many other initiatives. Veterans could not ask for stronger advocates and our president , Vice President , and their wives. Ladies and gentlemen, it is a great personal and professional honor to present to you our commanderinchief. Please join me in welcoming the president of the United States, barack obama. [applause] president obama thank you. thank you so much. Please be seated. Thank you. Thank you, bob, for your service to our nation. As an Army Airborne ranger. And your tireless work on behalf of your fellow veterans. To Vice President joe biden, general dunford, Major General becker, distinguished guests. To our outstanding Veterans Service organizations and their leadership. To our men and women in uniform. And most of all, to our proud veterans and your families. It is a great privilege to be with you once again. And to captain laurent gruenberg, tomorrow will be my honor to present you with the medal of honor, our nations highest military decoration. To all of our veterans here today, to veterans across america, whether you served on the beaches of europe, the jungles of asia, the deserts of the middle east. Whether you served here at home or overseas, in wartime or in peace. Whether you served proudly in the army, navy, air force, marines, or coast guard, you are part of an unbroken chain of patriots who have served this country with honor through the life of our nation. Wherese sacred grounds, generations of heroes have come to rest, we remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. And today, we gather once more to salute every patriot who was ever proudly wore the uniform of the United States of america. This year as we mark 70 years since our victory in the second world war, we pay special tribute to a generation that literally saved the world. We are joined by several of those heroes, including our oldest known female World War Two vet, Army Lieutenant colonel luda c. Mcgrath, who this year turns 108. [applause] there she is. [applause] and i would ask all of our veterans and families of world war ii, if you can stand, please stand or raise your hand so america can thank you one more time. [applause] today, in big cities and small towns across our country, there will be ceremonies around flagpoles and parades down main street to properly express our gratitude and show our appreciation to men and women who serve so that we might live free. It is right that we do so. But our tributes will ring hollow if we stop there. If tomorrow after the parades and ceremonies we roll up the banners and sweep the veterans halls and go back to our daily lives, forgetting the bond between the service of our veterans and our obligations as citizens, we will be doing a profound disservice to our veterans and the very cause for which they serve. This day is not only about gratitude for what they have done for us. It is also a reminder of all that they still have to give to our nation and our duty to them. Thats what i want to talk about briefly today. Were in the midst of a new wave of american veterans. In recent years, more than one million of our minute women in uniform, many of them veterans of afghanistan and iraq, have completed their military service and return to civilian life. Each year, at least another 200,000 do the same. Our 9 11 generation of veterans are joining the ranks of those who have come before, including many of you are veterans of korea and vietnam. Our tributes today will ring hollow if we do not ensure that our veterans receive the care that you have earned and that you deserve. The good news is that in recent years, we have made historic investments to boost the v. A. Budget, expand benefits, offer more Mental Health care and improved care for our Wounded Warriors, especially those with posttraumatic stress and traumatic brain injury. Theave now slashed disability claims backlog by nearly 90 . We are reducing the outrage of veterans homelessness and have helped tens of thousands of our veterans get off the streets. Still, the unacceptable problems that weve seen like long wait times and some veterans not getting the timely care that they need is a challenge for all of us. If we are to match our words with these. And my message to every single veteran, to veterans all across this country is that i am still not satisfied and Bob Mcdonnell is still not satisfied and we are going to keep investing in the facilities and the physicians and staff to make sure that our veterans get the care that you need when you need it. That is our obligation and were not going to let up. [applause] our tributes today will also ring hollow if we dont provide our veterans with the jobs and opportunities that you need when you come home. Thats why weve helped more than 1. 5 million veterans and their families pursue an education under the post9 11 g. I. Bill. Thats why we work to make sure that every state now provides veterans and their families with instate tuition. Thats why we are fighting to make it easier for our veterans to get the licenses and certifications to transition the outstanding skills they gained in the Armed Services to civilian jobs. Its why we are helping more veterans and military spouses find jobs. And today, the veterans Unemployment Rate is down to 3. 9 , even lower than the national average. [applause] but this cant just be a job for government. We all have a role to play. I realize that with less than 1 of americans serving in uniform, the other 99 of folks dont always see and appreciate the incredible skills and assets that our veterans c