Obama Visits Tomb Of Unknown Soldier As Nation Marks Memorial Day

Kris Alingod - AHN Contributor

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - President Barack Obama joins thousands of Americans in commemorating Memorial Day on Monday by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington. The nation pays tribute to its fallen heroes as it seeks to end the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Obama, who spent Memorial Day weekend at Camp David with his family, will lead the traditional ceremony at Arlington at about 10:30 am. He will return to Camp David and spends a quiet day with First Lady Michelle Obama and their two daughters before returning to the White House later in the evening.

The President had honored veterans and servicemen and women in his weekly address on Saturday.

"Our fighting men and women - and the military families who love them - embody what is best in America. And we have a responsibility to serve all of them as well as they serve all of us," he said. "Yet, all too often in recent years and decades, we, as a nation, have failed to live up to that responsibility. We have failed to give them the support they need or pay them the respect they deserve. That is a betrayal of the sacred trust that America has with all who wear - and all who have worn - the proud uniform of our country."

"That is why we are building a 21st century Department of Veterans Affairs with the largest single-year funding increase in three decades... That is why, this week, I signed a bill that will eliminate some of the waste and inefficiency in our defense projects - reform that will better protect our nation, better protect our troops," he added.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has issued a statement urging constituents to "take a moment to remember the extraordinary sacrifices of so many Americans who fought for their flag and their country." He added, "We should be honored to share this land with such brave heroes."

Over the weekend, Defense Sec. Robert Gates spoke before West Point Graduates, praising them for their courage.

"You made your decision to serve knowing not only that America was at war ... but that this war would be bloody, difficult, of indefinite length and uncertain outcome," he said. "In doing so, you showed courage, commitment, and patriotism of the highest order."

Gates also spoke about leadership, saying, "Treating soldiers decently also extends to making sure that they, and their families, are properly taken care of - body, mind, and soul."

More than 100,000 are expected to attend Memorial Day activities at the 128 Veterans Affairs national cemeteries across the nation to pay tribute to the 1 million Americans who have died during wars. The programs began over the weekend and include color guards, bands and choir performances.

At the most active VA natioal cemetery, in Riverside, California, volunteers have been reading aloud since Armed Forces Day a week ago, the names of more than 150,000 veterans buried there.

The Obama administration is currently pursuing a new Afghan strategy that includes sending 17,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. The new troops will train Afghan Security Forces following a shift in the U.S. mission to training and increasing the size of the Afghan Army to 134,000 and the police force to 82,000 by 2011.

Iraq, meanwhile, has been taking an increasingly larger share for its security from American forces. The President announced in February that U.S. combat troops will all be pulled out from the nation by August next year but a residual force of 35,000 to 50,000 troops will remain to help in the transition until 2011.

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