The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 31, 2011

Presidential Proclamation--Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month

-------
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

The story of America's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community is the story of our fathers and sons, our mothers and daughters, and our friends and neighbors who continue the task of making our country a more perfect Union. It is a story about the struggle to realize the great American promise that all people can live with dignity and fairness under the law. Each June, we commemorate the courageous individuals who have fought to achieve this promise for LGBT Americans, and we rededicate ourselves to the pursuit of equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Since taking office, my Administration has made significant progress towards achieving equality for LGBT Americans. Last December, I was proud to sign the repeal of the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. With this repeal, gay and lesbian Americans will be able to serve openly in our Armed Forces for the first time in our Nation's history. Our national security will be strengthened and the heroic contributions these Americans make to our military, and have made throughout our history, will be fully recognized.

My Administration has also taken steps to eliminate discrimination against LGBT Americans in Federal housing programs and to give LGBT Americans the right to visit their loved ones in the hospital. We have made clear through executive branch nondiscrimination policies that discrimination on the basis of gender identity in the Federal workplace will not be tolerated. I have continued to nominate and appoint highly qualified, openly LGBT individuals to executive branch and judicial positions. Because we recognize that LGBT rights are human rights, my Administration stands with advocates of equality around the world in leading the fight against pernicious laws targeting LGBT persons and malicious attempts to exclude LGBT organizations from full participation in the international system. We led a global campaign to ensure "sexual orientation" was included in the United Nations resolution on extrajudicial execution -- the only United Nations resolution that specifically mentions LGBT people -- to send the unequivocal message that no matter where it occurs, state-sanctioned killing of gays and lesbians is indefensible. No one should be harmed because of who they are or who they love, and my Administration has mobilized unprecedented public commitments from countries around the world to join in the fight against hate and homophobia.

At home, we are working to address and eliminate violence against LGBT individuals through our enforcement and implementation of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. We are also working to reduce the threat of bullying against young people, including LGBT youth. My Administration is actively engaged with educators and community leaders across America to reduce violence and discrimination in schools. To help dispel the myth that bullying is a harmless or inevitable part of growing up, the First Lady and I hosted the first White House Conference on Bullying Prevention in March. Many senior Administration officials have also joined me in reaching out to LGBT youth who have been bullied by recording "It Gets Better" video messages to assure them they are not alone.

This month also marks the 30th anniversary of the emergence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which has had a profound impact on the LGBT community. Though we have made strides in combating this devastating disease, more work remains to be done, and I am committed to expanding access to HIV/AIDS prevention and care. Last year, I announced the first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States. This strategy focuses on combinations of evidence-based approaches to decrease new HIV infections in high risk communities, improve care for people living with HIV/AIDS, and reduce health disparities. My Administration also increased domestic HIV/AIDS funding to support the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and HIV prevention, and to invest in HIV/AIDS-related research. However, government cannot take on this disease alone. This landmark anniversary is an opportunity for the LGBT community and allies to recommit to raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and continuing the fight against this deadly pandemic.

Every generation of Americans has brought our Nation closer to fulfilling its promise of equality. While progress has taken time, our achievements in advancing the rights of LGBT Americans remind us that history is on our side, and that the American people will never stop striving toward liberty and justice for all.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2011 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

              BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 31, 2011

Presidential Proclamation--Great Outdoors Month

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

For generations, America's great outdoors have ignited our imaginations, bolstered our economy, and fueled our national spirit of adventure and independence. The United States holds a stunning array of natural beauty -- from sweeping rangelands and tranquil beaches, to forests stretching over rolling hills and rivers raging through stone-faced cliffs. During Great Outdoors Month, we rededicate ourselves to experiencing and protecting these unique landscapes and treasured sites.

As America's frontier diminished and our cities expanded, a few bold leaders and individuals had the foresight to protect our most precious natural and historic places. Today, we all share the responsibility to uphold their legacy of conservation, whether by protecting an iconic vast public land, or by creating a community garden or an urban park. Last year, I was proud to launch the America's Great Outdoors Initiative, a project that empowers Americans to help build a new approach to conservation and outdoor recreation. My Administration hosted dozens of regional listening sessions to collect ideas from people from across our country with a stake in the health of our environment and natural places. Our conversations with businesspeople, ranchers, hunters, fishermen, tribal leaders, students, and community groups led to a report unveiled in February, America's Great Outdoors: A Promise to Future Generations, which lays the foundation for smarter, more community-driven action to protect our invaluable natural heritage.

Our plan will restore and increase recreational access to public lands and waterways; bolster rural landscapes, including working farms and ranches; develop the next generation of urban parks and community green spaces; and create a new Conservation Service Corps so that young people can experience and restore the great outdoors. To implement these recommendations, my Administration is dedicated to building strong working relationships with State, local, and tribal governments, as well as community, private, and non-profit partners across America. The First Lady's "Let's Move!" initiative encourages youth to enjoy what our outdoors have to offer. These programs and partnerships will improve our quality of life and our health, rejuvenate local and regional economies, spur job creation, protect wildlife and historic places, and ensure our natural legacy endures for generations to come. All Americans can read the report and learn more at www.AmericasGreatOutdoors.gov.

As we commit to protecting our country's outdoor spaces, we also celebrate all they have to offer. Our public lands and other open areas provide myriad opportunities for families and friends to explore, play, and grow together -- from hiking and wildlife watching to canoeing, hunting, and fishing, and playing in a neighborhood park. These activities can help our kids stay healthy, active, and energized, while reconnecting with their natural heritage. This month, let each of us resolve to protect our great outdoors; discover their wonders; and share them with our friends, our neighbors, and our children.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2011 as Great Outdoors Month. I urge all Americans to explore the great outdoors and to uphold our Nation's legacy of conserving our lands for future generations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

       BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 31, 2011

Presidential Memorandum--Delegation of Authority to Appoint Commissioned Officers of the Ready Reserve Crops of the Public Health Service

By virtue of the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby assign to you the functions of the President under section 203 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended by Public Law 111-148, to appoint commissioned officers of the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service. Commissions issued under this delegation of authority may not be for a term longer than 6 months. Officers appointed pursuant to this delegation may not be appointed to the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service for a term greater than 6 months other than by the President or to the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service other than by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. This authority may not be redelegated.

You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 31, 2011

ADVISORY: President Obama to Award Medal of Honor

On July 12th, President Barack Obama will award Sergeant First Class Leroy Arthur Petry, U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry.  Sergeant First Class Petry will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions during combat operations against an armed enemy in Paktya, Afghanistan in May, 2008.  He will be the second living, active duty service member to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan.  Sergeant First Class Petry’s wife, Ashley, and other family members will join the President at the White House to commemorate his example of selfless service.

PERSONAL BACKGROUND:

Leroy Arthur Petry was born on July 29, 1979.  He is a native of Santé Fe, New Mexico and enlisted in the United States Army in September 1999.  He attended Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia.  Sergeant First Class Petry is currently assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment and attached to Special Operations Command (SOCOM) with duty at Joint Base Lewis McChord as a liaison for the SOCOM Care Coalition where he tracks and monitors injured Rangers returning from the Theater of Operations to the initial place of care to home station care. 

Sergeant First Class Petry has completed multiple combat tours to Afghanistan and Iraq totaling 28 months of deployment.

His military decorations include: two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, three Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, National Defense Service Medal, three Army Good Conduct Medals,  Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Combat Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Combat Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, to name a few.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

THE MEDAL OF HONOR:

The Medal of Honor is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while:

  • engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;
  • engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or
  • serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

The meritorious conduct must involve great personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his or her comrades and must have involved risk of life. There must be incontestable proof of the performance of the meritorious conduct, and each recommendation for the award must be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit. 

President Obama Nominates John Bryson to be Our Nation’s Next Commerce Secretary

Kori Schulman
Kori Schulman
May 31, 2011
05:25 PM EDT

Read the Transcript  |  Download Video: mp4 (44MB) | mp3 (4MB)

Today, President Obama announced the nomination of John Bryson as the next Commerce Secretary. Bryson brings a wealth of experience to this role and understands what it takes for America to succeed in a 21st century global economy. In an announcement from the State Dining Room of the White House, the President said:

As Commerce Secretary, John is going to be an important part of my economic team, promoting American business and American products across the globe.  By working with companies here at home, and representing America’s interests abroad, I’m confident that he’s going to help us meet the goal that I set of doubling our nation’s exports. 

In this new role, John will be able to draw on decades of business experience across a range of industries -– from his role on the boards of major companies like Disney and Boeing, to his leadership in the clean energy industry.  That’s the expertise that will help us create new jobs and make America more competitive in the global economy. 

With outgoing Commerce Secretary Gary Locke at his side, the President praised his success in the role and thanked him for his extraordinary service:

Of course, John will be building on the success of outgoing Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, who has tirelessly advanced America’s economic leadership abroad, securing export deals that will mean hundreds of thousands of jobs here in America -– including an agreement with China, where Gary will now be serving as our next ambassador.  And we couldn't be prouder of him and we're confident he is going to be doing an outstanding job there.

Related Topics: Economy, California

President Obama Nominates New Commerce Secretary

May 31, 2011 | 4:37 | Public Domain

The President announces that he will nominate energy executive John Bryson to be the next Secretary of Commerce. Bryson would replace Gary Locke, who has been appointed to be the next Ambassador to China.

Download mp4 (44MB) | mp3 (4MB)

Read the Transcript

Remarks by the President at a Personnel Announcement

1:27 P.M. EDT

     THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everybody.  Today, I am pleased to announce that I will nominate John Bryson to be our nation’s next Commerce Secretary.  John is somebody who will bring to this job a wealth of experience in the public and in the private sectors.  But, in my mind, nothing has prepared him more for this demanding role –- a role that requires delicate diplomacy, complex negotiations, and careful management of folks with strong views -– than being the father of four daughters. 

     They’re all here today, as is John’s wife, Louise.  And I’m sure John agrees that Louise gets the credit for how wonderfully they have turned out.

     As Commerce Secretary, John is going to be an important part of my economic team, promoting American business and American products across the globe.  By working with companies here at home, and representing America’s interests abroad, I’m confident that he’s going to help us meet the goal that I set of doubling our nation’s exports. 

     In this new role, John will be able to draw on decades of business experience across a range of industries -– from his role on the boards of major companies like Disney and Boeing, to his leadership in the clean energy industry.  That’s the expertise that will help us create new jobs and make America more competitive in the global economy. 

     Of course, John will be building on the success of outgoing Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, who has tirelessly advanced America’s economic leadership abroad, securing export deals that will mean hundreds of thousands of jobs here in America -– including an agreement with China, where Gary will now be serving as our next ambassador.  And we couldn't be prouder of him and we're confident he is going to be doing an outstanding job there.

     Of course, in the years ahead, a key to achieving our export goal will be promoting clean energy in America.  It’s how we’ll reduce our dependence on foreign oil.  And that’s how we’ll encourage new businesses and jobs to take root on our shores.  John understands this better than virtually anybody.  Throughout a distinguished career in which he’s led nonprofits, government agencies, and large companies, he’s been a fierce proponent of alternative energy.

     As a young man with a degree in hand from a prestigious law school, John didn’t follow his friends to a blue chip law firm.  John took a chance on an idea he cared about, and co-founded the Natural Resources Defense Council, which grew into a powerful and important voice in protecting the safety of our air and water. 

     It was then that John caught the eye of a young California governor named Jerry Brown.  I’m not sure what happened to that guy, but -- (laughter) -- but for John it led to leadership positions in government, where he got a firsthand look at the real-life impact of energy and environmental policies, from water conservation to electricity production. 

     Later, in the private sector, he rose to become the Chairman and CEO of Edison International, one of the nation’s largest utility companies.  John headed the company for almost 20 years, during which time he helped Edison become a leader in solar and wind power, and innovative approaches to proving the profitability of clean energy.  Just before he retired from the company, he launched a plan to turn 65 million square feet of unused commercial rooftops into solar power stations, the largest array in the country, with enough electricity for more than 160,000 homes.

     Today he advises companies around the world as a business leader who understands what it takes to innovate, to create jobs, and to persevere through tough times.  And he continues to carry himself with the integrity and sense of responsibility that have guided him his entire life.  This experience and these qualities will serve our nation well as John takes on yet another tough assignment in his career. 

     So I want to thank Gary again for his extraordinary service. He has done an outstanding job while at Commerce. 

     And, John, I am grateful to you for your willingness to serve.  I look forward to working with you.  And I know that you will help us deliver the kinds of growth, prosperity and job creation here in America that we all want.

     So, thank you very much, both of you.

     MR. BRYSON:  Thank you very much, Mr. President.

     THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.

     MR. LOCKE:  Thank you, Mr. President.

     THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you, everybody.

END 1:31 P.M. EDT

Close Transcript

President Barack Obama Fills Out His New National Security Team

Nikki Sutton
Nikki Sutton
May 31, 2011
01:52 PM EDT
Read the Transcript  |  Download Video: mp4 (101MB) | mp3 (10MB)

Yesterday morning, before traveling to Arlington National Cemetery for the Memorial Day Service, President Obama made a Department of Defense personnel announcement, nominating  Gen. Dempsey to be the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Admiral Winnefeld to be Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and Gen. Odierno as Army Chief of Staff. The President urged the Senate to confirm these nominees as soon as possible and explained what he values most in advisors:

Related Topics: Homeland Security

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 31, 2011

President Obama Announces Intent to Nominate John Bryson as U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary

Today, President Obama will announce his intent to nominate John Bryson as the Secretary of U.S. Department of Commerce.  Mr. Bryson will play a key role as a member of the President’s economic team, bringing decades of knowledge and experience in the public and private sectors, and will provide valuable ideas and initiatives to strengthen America’s competiveness around the world.

“I am pleased to nominate John Bryson to be our nation’s Secretary of Commerce, as he understands what it takes for America to succeed in a 21st century global economy,” said President Obama. “John will be an important part of my economic team, working with the business community, fostering growth, and helping open up new markets abroad to promote jobs and opportunities here at home.”

The President is confident in Mr. Bryson’s ability to lead the Department and promote job creation, economic growth, sustainable development and improved standards of living for all Americans by working in partnership with businesses, universities, communities and our nation’s workers. 

Mr. Bryson will continue the Department’s mission to drive U.S. competitiveness in the global marketplace, strengthen the international economic position of the United States and facilitate global trade by opening up new markets for U.S. goods and services.  Mr. Bryson will continue the ongoing effort to meet the President’s goal of doubling America’s exports to support millions of American jobs. 

Previously, John Bryson was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Edison International, the parent company of Southern California Edison and Edison Mission Group, from 1990 to 2008.

He is a director of The Boeing Company, The Walt Disney Company and Coda Automotive, Inc., and is a senior advisor to KKR.  He is chairman of the board of BrightSource Energy, the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), and the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) Board of Overseers.  He also serves as co-chairman of the Pacific Council on International Policy (PCIP). 

Mr. Bryson is a trustee of the California Institute of Technology and a director of The California Endowment and the W. M. Keck Foundation.  He serves on the Advisory Board of Deutsche Bank Americas.  He also previously served on a number of educational and environmental boards, including as chairman of the California Business Roundtable, co-chairman of the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA), trustee of Stanford University, and as a member of the U.N. Secretary-General’s Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change (AGECC).

Bryson also served as president of the California Public Utilities Commission, chairman of the California State Water Resources Control Board, and on the board of the Council on Foreign Relations.  At the start of his career, he was a co-founder and attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a national and international environmental group.  He is a graduate of Stanford University and Yale Law School.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 31, 2011

Remarks by the President at a Personnel Announcement

State Dining Room

1:27 P.M. EDT

     THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everybody.  Today, I am pleased to announce that I will nominate John Bryson to be our nation’s next Commerce Secretary.  John is somebody who will bring to this job a wealth of experience in the public and in the private sectors.  But, in my mind, nothing has prepared him more for this demanding role –- a role that requires delicate diplomacy, complex negotiations, and careful management of folks with strong views -– than being the father of four daughters. 

     They’re all here today, as is John’s wife, Louise.  And I’m sure John agrees that Louise gets the credit for how wonderfully they have turned out.

     As Commerce Secretary, John is going to be an important part of my economic team, promoting American business and American products across the globe.  By working with companies here at home, and representing America’s interests abroad, I’m confident that he’s going to help us meet the goal that I set of doubling our nation’s exports. 

     In this new role, John will be able to draw on decades of business experience across a range of industries -– from his role on the boards of major companies like Disney and Boeing, to his leadership in the clean energy industry.  That’s the expertise that will help us create new jobs and make America more competitive in the global economy. 

     Of course, John will be building on the success of outgoing Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, who has tirelessly advanced America’s economic leadership abroad, securing export deals that will mean hundreds of thousands of jobs here in America -– including an agreement with China, where Gary will now be serving as our next ambassador.  And we couldn't be prouder of him and we're confident he is going to be doing an outstanding job there.

     Of course, in the years ahead, a key to achieving our export goal will be promoting clean energy in America.  It’s how we’ll reduce our dependence on foreign oil.  And that’s how we’ll encourage new businesses and jobs to take root on our shores.  John understands this better than virtually anybody.  Throughout a distinguished career in which he’s led nonprofits, government agencies, and large companies, he’s been a fierce proponent of alternative energy.

     As a young man with a degree in hand from a prestigious law school, John didn’t follow his friends to a blue chip law firm.  John took a chance on an idea he cared about, and co-founded the Natural Resources Defense Council, which grew into a powerful and important voice in protecting the safety of our air and water. 

     It was then that John caught the eye of a young California governor named Jerry Brown.  I’m not sure what happened to that guy, but -- (laughter) -- but for John it led to leadership positions in government, where he got a firsthand look at the real-life impact of energy and environmental policies, from water conservation to electricity production. 

     Later, in the private sector, he rose to become the Chairman and CEO of Edison International, one of the nation’s largest utility companies.  John headed the company for almost 20 years, during which time he helped Edison become a leader in solar and wind power, and innovative approaches to proving the profitability of clean energy.  Just before he retired from the company, he launched a plan to turn 65 million square feet of unused commercial rooftops into solar power stations, the largest array in the country, with enough electricity for more than 160,000 homes.

     Today he advises companies around the world as a business leader who understands what it takes to innovate, to create jobs, and to persevere through tough times.  And he continues to carry himself with the integrity and sense of responsibility that have guided him his entire life.  This experience and these qualities will serve our nation well as John takes on yet another tough assignment in his career. 

     So I want to thank Gary again for his extraordinary service. He has done an outstanding job while at Commerce. 

     And, John, I am grateful to you for your willingness to serve.  I look forward to working with you.  And I know that you will help us deliver the kinds of growth, prosperity and job creation here in America that we all want.

     So, thank you very much, both of you.

     MR. BRYSON:  Thank you very much, Mr. President.

     THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.

     MR. LOCKE:  Thank you, Mr. President.

     THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you, everybody.

END 1:31 P.M. EDT

President Obama Speaks at Memorial Day Service

May 30, 2011 | 15:42 | Public Domain

The President speaks at a Memorial Day Service at Arlington National Cemetery.

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Remarks by the President at a Memorial Day Service

11:25 A.M. EDT

     THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you so much.  Please be seated. 

     Thank you, Secretary Gates, and thank you for your extraordinary service to our nation.  I think that Bob Gates will go down as one of our finest Secretaries of Defense in our history, and it’s been an honor to serve with him.  (Applause.)

     I also want to say a word about Admiral Mullen.  On a day when we are announcing his successor as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and as he looks forward to a well-deserved retirement later this year, Admiral Mullen, on behalf of all Americans, we want to say thank you for your four decades of service to this great country.  (Applause.)  We want to thank Deborah Mullen as well for her extraordinary service.  To Major General Karl Horst, the commanding general of our Military District of Washington; Mrs. Nancy Horst; Mr. Patrick Hallinan, the superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery, as well as his lovely wife Doreen.  And to Chaplain Steve Berry, thank you for your extraordinary service.  (Applause.)  

     It is a great privilege to return here to our national sanctuary, this most hallowed ground, to commemorate Memorial Day with all of you.  With Americans who’ve come to pay their respects.  With members of our military and their families.  With veterans whose service we will never forget and always honor.  And with Gold Star families whose loved ones rest all around us in eternal peace.

     To those of you who mourn the loss of a loved one today, my heart goes out to you.  I love my daughters more than anything in the world, and I cannot imagine losing them.  I can’t imagine losing a sister or brother or parent at war.  The grief so many of you carry in your hearts is a grief I cannot fully know.

     This day is about you, and the fallen heroes that you loved.  And it’s a day that has meaning for all Americans, including me.  It’s one of my highest honors, it is my most solemn responsibility as President, to serve as Commander-in-Chief of one of the finest fighting forces the world has ever known.  (Applause.)  And it’s a responsibility that carries a special weight on this day; that carries a special weight each time I meet with our Gold Star families and I see the pride in their eyes, but also the tears of pain that will never fully go away; each time I sit down at my desk and sign a condolence letter to the family of the fallen.

     Sometimes a family will write me back and tell me about their daughter or son that they’ve lost, or a friend will write me a letter about what their battle buddy meant to them.  I received one such letter from an Army veteran named Paul Tarbox after I visited Arlington a couple of years ago.  Paul saw a photograph of me walking through Section 60, where the heroes who fell in Iraq and Afghanistan lay, by a headstone marking the final resting place of Staff Sergeant Joe Phaneuf.

     Joe, he told me, was a friend of his, one of the best men he’d ever known, the kind of guy who could have the entire barracks in laughter, who was always there to lend a hand, from being a volunteer coach to helping build a playground.  It was a moving letter, and Paul closed it with a few words about the hallowed cemetery where we are gathered here today.

     He wrote, “The venerable warriors that slumber there knew full well the risks that are associated with military service, and felt pride in defending our democracy.  The true lesson of Arlington,” he continued, “is that each headstone is that of a patriot.  Each headstone shares a story.  Thank you for letting me share with you [the story] about my friend Joe.”

     Staff Sergeant Joe Phaneuf was a patriot, like all the venerable warriors who lay here, and across this country, and around the globe.  Each of them adds honor to what it means to be a soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, and Coast Guardsman.  Each is a link in an unbroken chain that stretches back to the earliest days of our Republic -- and on this day, we memorialize them all.

     We memorialize our first patriots -- blacksmiths and farmers, slaves and freedmen -- who never knew the independence they won with their lives.  We memorialize the armies of men, and women disguised as men, black and white, who fell in apple orchards and cornfields in a war that saved our union.  We memorialize those who gave their lives on the battlefields of our times -- from Normandy to Manila, Inchon to Khe Sanh, Baghdad to Helmand, and in jungles, deserts, and city streets around the world. 

     What bonds this chain together across the generations, this chain of honor and sacrifice, is not only a common cause -- our country’s cause -- but also a spirit captured in a Book of Isaiah, a familiar verse, mailed to me by the Gold Star parents of 2nd Lieutenant Mike McGahan. “When I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send?  And who will go for us?’  And I said, ‘Here I am.  Send me!”

     That’s what we memorialize today.  That spirit that says, send me, no matter the mission.  Send me, no matter the risk.  Send me, no matter how great the sacrifice I am called to make.  The patriots we memorialize today sacrificed not only all they had but all they would ever know.  They gave of themselves until they had nothing more to give.  It’s natural, when we lose someone we care about, to ask why it had to be them.  Why my son, why my sister, why my friend, why not me?

     These are questions that cannot be answered by us.  But on this day we remember that it is on our behalf that they gave our lives -- they gave their lives.  We remember that it is their courage, their unselfishness, their devotion to duty that has sustained this country through all its trials and will sustain us through all the trials to come.  We remember that the blessings we enjoy as Americans came at a dear cost; that our very presence here today, as free people in a free society, bears testimony to their enduring legacy.

     Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay.  But we can honor their sacrifice, and we must.  We must honor it in our own lives by holding their memories close to our hearts, and heeding the example they set.  And we must honor it as a nation by keeping our sacred trust with all who wear America’s uniform, and the families who love them; by never giving up the search for those who’ve gone missing under our country’s flag or are held as prisoners of war; by serving our patriots as well as they serve us -- from the moment they enter the military, to the moment they leave it, to the moment they are laid to rest.

     That is how we can honor the sacrifice of those we’ve lost.  That is our obligation to America’s guardians -- guardians like Travis Manion.  The son of a Marine, Travis aspired to follow in his father’s footsteps and was accepted by the USS [sic] Naval Academy.  His roommate at the Academy was Brendan Looney, a star athlete and born leader from a military family, just like Travis.  The two quickly became best friends -- like brothers, Brendan said.

     After graduation, they deployed -- Travis to Iraq, and Brendan to Korea.  On April 29, 2007, while fighting to rescue his fellow Marines from danger, Travis was killed by a sniper.  Brendan did what he had to do -- he kept going.  He poured himself into his SEAL training, and dedicated it to the friend that he missed.  He married the woman he loved.  And, his tour in Korea behind him, he deployed to Afghanistan.  On September 21st of last year, Brendan gave his own life, along with eight others, in a helicopter crash.

     Heartbroken, yet filled with pride, the Manions and the Looneys knew only one way to honor their sons’ friendship -- they moved Travis from his cemetery in Pennsylvania and buried them side by side here at Arlington.  “Warriors for freedom,” reads the epitaph written by Travis’s father, “brothers forever.”

     The friendship between 1st Lieutenant Travis Manion and Lieutenant Brendan Looney reflects the meaning of Memorial Day.  Brotherhood.  Sacrifice.  Love of country.  And it is my fervent prayer that we may honor the memory of the fallen by living out those ideals every day of our lives, in the military and beyond.  May God bless the souls of the venerable warriors we’ve lost, and the country for which they died.  (Applause.)

END 11:37 A.M. EDT

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