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Chiefs. now, it'll progress on to his speech, in which he'll enunciate that gratitude. >> we're going to hear from dunford before we hear the president. james mattis will speech, as well. geoff, tell me about the relationship between the president, his secretary of defense, particularly. >> reporter: you know, they've had -- they have an interesting relationship, in that defense secretary jim mattis is well respected. he is one of the few members of the cabinet, i think just by virtue of his own service in the military, who is independent. i'm thinking back to the many times in which the presi...

Malcolm nance, as well. decorated formal naval int intelligence officer, taking place in counterterrorism and combat operations. g geoff, we used to get advanced remarks from the president. now the tweet often exceeds what he will say. let's get your reaction to it. maybe your sense of how it frames what we're going to hear later 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 military and rebuilding and so much more....

Of the unknown soldiers? >> i'll tell you, it is very different if you're actually physically there. it is overwhelming. you feel the shot from the cannon, from the old guard, and you hear the salutes, and you see the solemnity of the ceremony. you really, truly, understand the depth of loss of the families who come there. there are a lot of families who are gold star parents, who come to these ceremonies. you really feel the gratefulness that a nation can offer. >> geoff, about 5,000 men and women are expected to be there for that ceremony today. help me with the history here. memorial day is...

How great the men and women serving in the military are. in that way, whenever i see the two of them together, i always think of mattis' independent streak. >> my thanks to both of you. geoff covers the white house for us. malcolm nance, former intelligence officer and contributor to msnbc. thank you for your time. we take a pause while the president makes his way to the amphitheater at arlington national cemetery. we expect him to deliver remarks in a few moments. of course, we'll carry those live. stay with us. this is msnbc. - i love my grandma. - anncr: as you grow older, your brain natura...

I went in the navy. my younger brother went into the navy. i now have a niece who is in the navy, who served in combat all of yemen last year. you know, that's just us. that's our family. what we are most -- what we consider the most important thing is the fact that we serve because we love this country. we have great patriotism. we want you to enjoy those freedoms that you have, no matter what they are. >> geoff, i want to ask what you'll be watching for as the ceremony gets underway. we have a president of the united states who is admiring of the military. a look at the people with whom he s...