[taps playing] [taps playing] ladies and gentlemen, the wreath ceremony is complete. The Memorial Day Service will begin shortly. President trump arriving at Arlington National cemetery to honor our nations fallen in the line of duty. You can see them making their way back up from the wreathlaying ceremony. Welcome to happening now. Im leland vittert. And im molly lion. The was is back in seas after his overseas trip as commanderinchief. The Memorial Day Ceremony just getting underway there. The president speaking soon. Ahead of his remarks, he will perform one of the president s most solemn duties as we witnessed laying the wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier. This is the president s first wreathlaying as president. He was there the day before his inauguration. People will tell you who know the president well that that moment and the successive moments as he entered office of taking on duties of commanderinchief changed him as have our previous president s, especially president bush and president obama. Obama wartime president s themselves. Lets bring in Lucas Tomlinson from the naval academy. Good to see you. What im struck by in talking to veterans like yourself on today, everybody you see on a street says happy memorial day. Veterans will tell you, today i have a duty to my friends who never made it home. Thats right, leland. Its not veterans day. A widow told me that you celebrate veterans and their service 364 days out of the year. This day, memorial day, is a day to honor the dead. The ceremony you just saw there, the tomb of the unknown soldier. Not just when the president comes to visit once a year but throughout the year, the tomb is guarded by the old guard of the u. S. Army. Very powerful. The century takes 21 steps to the end of the tomb, faces the tomb for 21 seconds. Its a very solemn ceremony for anybody visiting washington and going to arlington. And molly, it happens every day, rain, shine. You can see the old guard who guards the tomb there in snowstorms, you see them in blizzards, you see them during the monstrous rains there in washington. Were looking now at part of the ceremony awaiting President Trumps speech. President trump has made really no bones about the fact that he views the military differently. He ran on this than president obama does. Absolutely. We see the men and women that stand guard there. As you mentioned, all throughout the year despite the weather. They consider it an honor to stand there at the tomb of the unknown. The ceremony, the wreathlaying isnt about any particular president. Its about much more than that. Were expected to hear remarks from the president coming up here a little past 11 30. Also expected to hear from the secretary of defense, jim mattis. When it comes to the secretary te, hes a former marine general. How does that change the dynamic . Like its the first memorial day for President Trump, its also the first memorial day for defense secretary mattis. He served in uniform, a marine general, served for 40 years. Now hes back. Took a special waiver, if you recall, to get him to be the defense secretary. It hadnt been since general george c. Marshall that a sitting defense secretary was not himself a civilian but a former military general. So defense secretary mattis, he goes to funerals for his marine, his troops, hes had great responsibility. This is the first time that hes led the defense department, the pentagon on memorial day. It will be interesting to hear his remarks. Im sure theyll be meaningful. President trump calling his first firm foreign trip as commanderinchief a home run. What did it tell us about the state of his Foreign Policy . Lets bring in claudia, the Foreign Policy resident at the womens forum. Great to have you here. Great to be here. It seemed that he kept to the script, accomplished what he wanted to. They have come back feeling they had a great trip abroad and when washington has been in a bit of chaos. How do you think the trip went. I think it went extremely well. The bottomline mission is to tell the world that america will stand up for its own interests again. He did very well in that. In fact, the disconcerted Angela Merkel in germany is a sign of success. It was a good trip. He also didnt take questions, didnt hold a press conference. This is someone that seems to enjoy doing that, the sparring with the press. What does that say about how he planned this trip and executed it . Im speaking of somebody that has spent a career of a member of a press. Im less concerned about that than the message hes been sending to the world with what hes been actually doing. Weve heard a lot of press conferences. Im for officials talking to the press. I dont think thats actually germane. What matters, he went to saudi arabia and gave a speech not talking about moral values or moral relativism but we must defeat islamic terrorism. He then went straight to israel and made quite a statement. He suppose with the palestinians, went to the vatican. Probably at least as significant, immensely important, he stopped at sigonella to visit a military base on the way back. We should probably not ignore that it was the military base which claims might have reached the beleaguered americans in benghazi in 2012. He talks about the importance of the military. As well as telling members of nato that they needed to pay what they promised to. They needed to buy in to the defense against what is certainly an increasingly dangerous russia. So i think overall, theres things i would criticize here and there. By and large, great. I hope he gives a press Conference Soon where people can ask about it. When we talk about immigration, this is something that the president campaigned on very strongly. The phrase muslim ban seemed to cling to him despite the administration trying to clarify their policy. When he went overseas, he was greeted so warmly by leaders in the arab world and by muslims. He seemed to soften his tone as far as the Muslim Community is concerned. At the same time, called on the Muslim Community to take action, hold them accounting for the attempts to reign in terrorism around the world. I think what youre seeing there is a different between american domestic politics, which right now is very nasty, very ugly. And very complicated. The real concerns of other countries. Abroad right now, the concerns are not only real but increasingly worrisome. We have seen a Rising Network of dangerous actors over the past decade or so. As opposed to the 1990s following the soviet collapse. We had a period of america is the lone super power and things will calm down and be peaceful. You have an increasingly aggressive russia and emboldened china and iran that wouldnt be contained by president obamas iran nuclear deal. A north korea that is not just an intractable problem but an urgent one. Theyre Testing Nuclear weapons and missiles at a rate that we cant allow to go on. Yet what do we do . And isis, by the way. These are the things that countries in the middle east, that europe actually that countries abroad are worried that outside the washington beltway, outside america, people are worried about, thats why they wanted to see what the american president is going to do or talking about or interested in. The white house feels it was an impactful trip. Thanks, claudia. We remember for generations all of the people that have kept us safe for all of these many, many years. Thank you for joining us. Live pictures from arlington as we await President Trumps remarks. About an hour worth of ceremony well hear from the secretary of defense and well hear an invocation and as well america the beautiful. Meantime, we have guy benson from townhall. Com. We see the official delegation rising. We may have to cut you off quickly. But very quickly, from your point of view, thoughts on what the president has to do today in his first memorial day address. I think its a solemn event. The president understands that. Just getting a lump in my own throat listening to taps play at the tomb of the unknown soldier. I can only imagine to be the president , knowing you have the power to put men and women in harms way at the drop of the hat if you feel necessary and people could lose their lives. So i think the president will strike a very somber tone today and a very grateful tone. I was at arlington yesterday in section 60, which is where many of those that gave their lives in the war on terror are buried. One of the newest graves there is that of ryan owens, the navy seal that died in yemen and who President Trump flew to Dover Air Force base to welcome his remains home. People will tell you after that moment, this was a changed president. Guy, you get the sense that the president changed a little bit even during this first foreign trip. Suddenly he was much more measured in his words. He was while still very clear on his policies, a little bit more restrained. Especially when we heard him talk to the saudis and in israel and at the g7. Thats right. I think when you consider what the president was doing days before the trip, his administration was caught in the scandal and controversy and he lands in saudi arabia. Theres this impressive welcome for him and the long trip where hes meeting with heads of state, allies and were going to cut you off and will in at arlington at the ceremony begins. [cheers applause] [applause] ladies and gentlemen, chaplain austin. Let us pray. Almighty god, prince of peace, you have declared theres no greater love than for those that lay down their life for their friends. Today we stand among americas sons and daughters, patriots that have given their lives for our freedom. We pause today to remember them for their sacrifice and honor their memory. Our friends, that we may be more aware of how blessed we are as a nation. We realize the price that is paid to have and maintain our freedom. We also pray today for the family and friends of those that have given the lives and service to our nation. We pray that they will be comforted and reassured the sacrifice is not forgotten. Lord, we ask you continue to give wisdom to our commanderinchief, his administration, our elected officials and the military leaders as they promote peace to our country and around the world. Lords, today we have men and women in harms way and we ask that you continue to watch over and bless them with the strength and courage to be victorious and we ask that they will come home soon. We thank you, god, for our country and ask that you continue to bless america. We asked you to do these things not for ourselves but in a door dance with your will and throughout your holy land. Amen. Ladies and gentlemen, please join the United States air force band in singing our national anthem. [applause] please be seated. Ladies and gentlemen, general dunford. [applause] mr. President , mr. Vice president , secretary mattis, distinguished guests and most importantly, our gold star famili families. Its an honor to join you in remembrance. This story is one of selflessness and courage and commitment and extraordinary sacrifice. More than one million americans have answered the call of duty gave the last full measure of their devotion is fellow citizens with be raised in freedom and enjoy peace. Saratoga to gettysburg, midway. Today we reflect on the enormity of the sacrifice. Reflect in the hopes and dreams never realized. Today we all still reflect on the sacrifice of the families left behind. The anguish of parents, spouses, siblings and friends. The sadness of children growing up without fathers or mothers. We know for the families every day is memorial day. Today we also reflect on what is most important about the men and women we honor. We reflect on how they live. They are people that stood for something larger than themselves. They were people that embodied the most important values and traditions of our nations. They were people that understood what we have in our country is worth fighting for. Those they were taken from us prematurely, they were people that touched our lives. They were people that made a difference. Today if we truly want to honor the fallen from all of our conflicts, well do something more than mark their graves with flags and flowers. Well do something more than deliver remarks and reflect for just a few moments. If we want to give meaning to the sacrifice of those that have given all on our behalf, each of us will leave here today determined to find in some small way a method of serving our nation and our communities in their honor. If we do that, i would offer those of us that were taken prematurely will look down and know that we do remember that. Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guardsmen that are still in uniform, thank you for remembering. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, listen now as the United States air force band perform america the beautiful. For purple mountains, majesty above the fruited plains america, america god shed his grace on thee and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea oh beautiful, for pilgrim feet whose stern impassioned stress a thorough fare of freedom beat across the wilderness america, america god shed his grace on three and crown think good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea [applause] ladies and gentlemen, secretary mattis. [applause] they shall grow not old as we that are left grow old, they shall not weary them or the years condemn as the going down of the sun in the morning, we will remember them. Mr. President , mr. Vice president , chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, general dunford, gold star families, everyone, we gather here today with the shared attitude of gratitude. 23 centuries ago, an old spartan king observed that it is not the places that great men, but men greats the places. Today we know that he was right more than a century ago, this 624acre plot of land was a plantation on the potomac. Scenic, but hardly sacred. Now these fields hold the greatest treasure of our nation, americas courageous dead. Those today we pause to remember. Not far from here lies the marker of Oliver Wendell holmes, jr. , a civil war infantry veteran that later rose to be a Supreme Court justice. Holmes said those that serve in our military have hearts that are touched with fire. Having known great things, he said, they are content with silence. If you have ever known one of the fallen, you have known greatness. It is hard to be content with their silence for we missed them. The empty chair on the holiday, empty every day. The photograph that goes wherever you do. The picture fades but the person in it does not. Their fighting spirit persists passed down through the ranks, the spirit echos of those that serve today on air, on land and at sea. In a world awash with change, some things stand firm. Some things are as plato said, good, beautiful and truthful. The kid on the line that never had a chance to grow old will always be there to teach us that suffering has meaning if it is accepted out of love for others. To the families of the fallen both here and at home, no words will ease your pain. But i beg you, let us have meetings. Unite your sorrow to their awesome purpose. Be do grace places, but people also grace people. Were blessed by our time with those now asleep, the mighty and the gentle. Let us share their story with others, then like the poet that we all can say, sleep, soldiers, still in rest, your truth and valor wearing. The loving are the daring. Now, ladies and gentlemen, its my great honor to introduce our commanderinchief, president of the United States, donald trump. [applause] thank you. [applause] thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you so much. And thank you, general dunford, secretary mattis, for your moving words and for your service to our great nation. Vice president pence, cabinet secretary, members of congress, members of the armed forces and veterans, thank you for joining us as we honor the brave warriors that gave their lives for ours. Spending their last moments on this earth in defense of this country and of its people. Words cannot measure the depth of their devotion, the purity of their love or the totality of their courage. We only hope that every day we can prove worthy, not only of their sacrifice and service, but of the sacrifice made by the families and loved ones they left behind. Special, special people. I especially want to extend our gratitude to secretary john kelly for joining us today. Incredible man. [applause] i always like to call him general. He understands more than most ever could or ever will. The wounds of war. Not only did secretary proudly serve in the military for more than 40 years enduring many hardships, but he and his incredible wife, karen, have borne the single most difficult hardship of them all. The loss of their son, robert, in service to our country. Robert died fighting the enemies of all civilizations in afghanistan. To john, kerry, heather, kate, andrea and the entire kelly family, today 300 million american hearts are joined together with yours. We grieve with you. We honor you. We pledge to you that we will always remember robert and what he did for all of us. Thank you. [applause] the kelly family represents military families across the country who carry the burden of freedom on their shoulders. Secretary kelly is joined today by his soninlaw, jake, a Wounded Warrior and the secretarys son, johnny, will soon leave on his deployment. It is because of families like yours that all of our families can leave in safety and live in peace. To every gold star family, who honors us with your presence, you lost sons and daughters, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers. They each have their own names, their own stories, their own beautiful dreams. But they were all angels sent to us by god. They all share one title in common. And that is the title of hero. Real heros. [applause] so they were here a brief time before god called them home. Their legacy will endure forever. General Douglas Mcarthur once said that the soldier that is called upon to give his life for his country is the noblest development of man kind. Here at this hallowed shrine, we honor the noblest, the men and women that paid the ultimate price for victory and for freedom. We paid tribute to those brave souls that raced into gun fire, roared into battle and ran into hell to face down evil i they made their sacrifice not for fame or for money or even for glory, but for country. We are privileged to be joined today by a man whose life demonstrates the values of service and sacrifice. Here with his wife, senator elizabeth dole. [applause] senator dole fought bravely in world war ii and was severely wounded by german fire. In just a few weeks, bob will be celebrating his 94th birthday. [applause] and bob, i know i speak for millions of grateful americans when i say, thank you. Thank you, bob. [applause] we thank you not only for your service but for helping us to remember your fallen comrades and the countless american patriots who gave their lives in the second world war. Since the first volley of gun fire, in the revolution, braves americans in every generation have answered the call of duty and won victory for freedom in its hour of need. Today a new generation of american patriots are fighting to win the battle against terrorism risking their lives to protect our citizens from an enemy that uses the murder of innocence to wage war on humanity itself. Were joined today by the wife of specialist Christopher Horton who rests on these so beautiful grounds. As jane tells us, chris was a man that loved his country with every part of his being. In 2008, chris enlisted in the Oklahoma Army national guard. He trained as a sniper becoming known as one of the best shots anywhere at any time. He was a talented, tough guy. Chris was in the national guard. He was also a volunteer police officer, and everything he did, he thought about how he could serve god, serve his family and serve his country. In 2011, he deployed for the first time to afghanistan. Chris knew his job was one of the most dangerous there was. But he was determined to go after the enemy at any cost to himself. His mission, to help target and kill terrorists that sought to destroyed innocent people. In his first deployment, chris was near the pakistan border trying to eliminate and enemy cell that was doing so much damage. And they were planting deadly roadside bombs against his unit and the units of many others. Standing watch with his comrades, he died in the ensuing gun battle with enemy forces. Chris sacrificed his life to protect his fellow soldiers and to protect all americans. He was awarded the purple heart and bronze star for his courage. At only 26 years old, chris secured his place in our hearts for eternity. Jane, america grieves with you. Our whole entire nation sends you our support, our strength and our deep, deep love. You lost your husband and america lost a hero. And together we will preserve his memory today, tomorrow and always. Thank you, jane. [applause] thank you, jane. [applause] [applause] [applause] thank you, jane. Were also joined by david and rose, the parents of major andrew buyers. As a boy, andrew dreamed of the chance to attend the United States military academy at westpoint. He worked hard, he urned that chance and he graduated at the top of his class. He became the commander of a special halo team, leading his fellow soldiers out of fire and hurdling into dangerous and unknown territory. About this time, andrew was sent on his third combat deployment. This time he went to afghanistan. November 3, he was one of ten special forces operators, to land by helicopter near a taliban safe haven in northern afghanistan. They trekked through a mile of waistdeep mud and climbed steep cliffs before finally reaching the village that they wanted to reach. There a nights long battle ensued. Andrew and his team fought off wave after wave of enemy fighters. A grenade detonated and as the taliban began to surround the americans and afghan forces, andrew ran through the smoke and through the hail of bullets to rescue an afghan soldier. In the midst of this torrent of gun fire and danger, andrew worked heroically to open a gateway and get his money to safety risking his life to save theirs. And he did it. Unbelievably he did it. But in saving those lives, andrew was killed right then and there by enemy fire. Andrew has since been awarded the silver star for gallantry in battle. To his parents, david and rose, we stand in awe of your son and his courageous sacrifice. On behalf of the american people, i express to you our everlasting gratitude for what his son did for his country, for his comrades and for all of us. Andrews father says he holds on to the promise of their son, the lord, our god, who will be with you wherever you go. Thank you. Thank you. [applause] thank you. Thank you. [applause] what a man he was. To every goldstar family, god can you and your loved ones are with them. They died in war so that we could live in peace. I believe that god has a special place in heaven for those that laid down their lives so that others may live free from fear and this horrible oppression. Now let us pledge to make the most of that freedom, that they so gallantly and brilliantly fought for and they died for us. Let us also pledge to tell is the story of robert, chris, andrew and all of americas fallen warriors today and for the next 1,000 years. [applause] while we cannot know the extent of your pain, what we do know is that our gratitude for them and to you is boundless and undying. Boundless and undying. Will always be there. Thank you. [applause] their stories are now woven into the soul of our nation, into the stars and stripes on our flag, and into the beating hearts of our great, great people. Today we also hold a special vigil for heros whose story we cannot tell because their names are known to god alone. The unknown soldiers. We do not know where they came from, who they left behind or what they hope to be. What we do know is what they did. They fought and they died there a great and noble act of loyalty and love for their families and to our country. In a letter written that is now famous, ones Civil War Soldier captures it all. Never forget how much i love you. My last breath will whisper your name. Thats the love we hear whispering throughout this sacred place and from every tombstone on these hallowed grounds. It is the love that binds this earth and bleeds from the hearts of all of those that died so that we might live free. We can never replace them, we can never repay them. But we can always remember. And today that is what we are doing. We remember. Words cannot wipe away the tears or bring back the smiling faces. If americans just take the time to look into your eyes and tell you how much we thank you and how dearly we pray for you and how truly we love you, then hopefully you can find solace through your pain. And every time you see the sunrise over this blessed land, please know your brave sons and daughters pushed away the knife and delivered for us all that great and glorious dawn. Thank you, god bless you, god bless our fallen heros, god bless their families, god bless our military and god bless the United States of america. [applause] thank you. [applause] [applause] [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing for the playing of taps and the benediction. [taps playing]. [taps playing almighty and merciful god, grant to all of us grace and peace and a strong recollection of this National Memorial day observance. May the memory of this sacred place among americas sons and daughters be etched in our hearts and be thankful for our blesses and sacrifices. They shall grow not old, as we be left for old, age shall not worry them or the years condemned. After the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. Amen. Ladies and gentlemen, please remain in place until the president has departed and the colors are retired. [applause] hard to imagine a more solemn duty, to lay the wreath before the tomb of the unknown soldiers and to speak to the gold star families and acknowledge all of those that have fallen in service to our country on this memorial day. A solemn moment for the president. Hes had a few of them in his young presidency. This is a president that just a few days after taking office welcomed home the body of ryan owens, a navy seal that died on a mission that he approved in yemen. This is a president who they say was changed after that. We have seen as times like this drastically changes the way he interacts with the audience and with the american people. Bring in with that, guy benson, Political Editor from townhall. Com. We watch the president speak to some of the folks before he heads out for the day. Guy, it would be hard for this speech, as you predicted, to be more president ial. Yeah, it was full of gratitude, as it should be. A very powerful speech of bits of anecdote and courage. It was a powerful speech because it was yes, delivered well and written well and that sort of thing. But the reason that it resonates and the reason that i think it was so affecting is because of the people that were honored in the speech. People that have died fighting for this country. I think sometimes most americans who do not serve at an allvolunteer force, weve been at war for many years now and the only reason we wonder if we have enough hot dogs and cheeseburgers for the grill is because of the guys like those in this speech. I think sometimes its very easy for us, especially in this town where were focused on politics, politics to lose sight of that. Thats why memorial day is so important not just as a day of celebration for americans and welcoming in summer and that is all wonderful, theres a much more solum angle to it as well. The president highlighted that i think beautifully. You just noted that every generation has had to answer the call of service. The past two generations have had to answer it in a unique way. Almost 16 years of wars with 911 with no end in sight. One of the families of one of the men that president brought up is a woman by the name of jane horton, chris hortons wife. She sent an email out yesterday talking about how honoring the fallen means, having the strategy for afghanistan. We talked about this a lot. This is a president who is has inherited a war in afghanistan, a war against isis in syria. Now we have troops fighting in yemen and seals in somalia, yet this is a president that ran on the principle of america disengaging. Yeah. If youre someone that lost a loved one in battle or someone to this day that has people in harms way, having a strategy is not just a talking point in the halls of congress. What is the president s strategy . Whether its obama, trump or anybody else, the presence or absence of a good strategy can mean difference of life and death for the person you love that is something that our military leadership is mindful of. If were putting people in a position to be killed what are the interested and what is the end goal and what is the exit strategy afterwards. I think one of the reasons that President Trump has i think won over a number of national securityminded conservatives, the man standing next to him, jim mattis, the secretary of defense whose credentials are sterling, whose love of this country is totally unquestionable. He is an expert to say the very least. Well, if you want to think about what a trump doctrine might look like, look to jim mattis. Yesterday you might remember, he was asked on cbs face the nation what keeps him up at night. Jim mattis replied, nothing. I keep other people up at night. That perhaps is the beginning of a trump doctrine. Lets see how it plays out. Guy benson, thanks for your insights. Thanks so much. Enjoy the rest of the day. You too. Leland molly, its note worthy, this is just about noon. The ceremony concludes as the flag is raised from half staff to full staff at arlington and around the country. Molly so many important ceremonies going on to remember all of the fallen. One of the most powerful did places, the Vietnam Veterans memorial and efforts to honor those that sacrificed in the vietnam war. Garrett tenney has more from the national mall. This marks the 35th anniversary of the Vietnam Memorial walls. Its one of the most visited in d. C. Theres more than 58,000 names on the wall. Its overwhelming and easy to forget that each one of those men and women had a family, a future, Golden Dreams for the future. Thats why the Vietnam Veterans memorial started putting faces with each of those thames the nonprofit groups to spend eight years collecting pictures for a virtual wall of faces. Right now the wall of faces is on their website. It has personal details along with their pictures, stories and remembrances of those individuals that helped bring them alive. Really put a face to a name and makes it more real for someone that might come to the wall and have that emotional impact of visiting the wall and seeing all the names, adding the faces, adds another layer of depth and understanding for that Persons Service and sacrifice. The group has collected more than 50,000 pictures for the names on the wall. Theres still thousands missing and theyre asking the public to help collect those last few but looking up the names on their websites, to see who does not have a picture in submitting them online to help remember their sacrifice. Molly . Molly garrett, what is it like there right now at the memorial . Its a stark and significant, wellknown memorial. A lot of people