they are gone, normandy, vietnam, afghanistan and iraq and thousands of places in between. these americans weren t fighting for dictators. they were fighting for democracy. they weren t fighting to exclude or to enslave. they were fighting to build and broaden and liberate. president biden using his first memorial day as president to stress the need to preserve our democracy. his words were especially pointed as republican-led state legislatures push ahead with their effort to make it harder for americans to vote. so back with us again tonight caroline randall williams author poet an academic observer of all things political. also writer in residence with the department of medicine health and society at vanderbilt university and nashville. and tim miller a contributor to
at arlington national cemetery, the president warned democracy is in peril, here at home, and around the world. he called for unity and said we owe the nation s war dead our best efforts to perfect the union for which they died. our freedom and the freedom of innumerable others has been secured by young men and women, who answered the call of history. and gave everything, in the service of an idea. the idea of america. it s the greatest idea in the long history of humankind. an idea, that we re all created equal, in the image of almighty god. the americans of lexington and concord, of new orleans, gettysburg, iwo jima, normandy, korea, afghanistan, iraq, and thousands of places in between. these americans weren t fighting
thousands of places in between, these americans weren t fighting for dictators. they were fighting for democracy. they weren t fighting to exclude or enslave, for self, they were fighting for the soul of the nation. president biden memorialized america s falls heroes at arlington national cemetery today. the president also made an unannounced trip to a grave in arlington. joining me now from virginia, courtney, great to see you on this memorial day. thanks for joining us. what more do we know about the unplanned stops the president made? reporter: very little, we don t know who the individuals were, they took pictures with at least two different people.
generosity, cruelty and kindness, captivity and freedom, the americans of lexington and concord, new orleans, gettysburg, oregon, ee with a gee ma, normandy, afghanistan, iraq and thousands of places in between, these americans weren t fighting for dictators, they were fighting for democracy. they weren t fighting to exclude or to enslave, they were fighting to build and broaden and liberate. they weren t fighting for self, they were fighting for the soul of the nation. for liberty and simple fair play. simple fair play and decency. today as we remember their sacrifice we remind ourselves of our duty to their memory to the