美国总统每周演讲稿

第一篇：美国总统每周演讲稿

Prepared Remarks of President

Barack

Obama

Weekly Address

Saturday, August 27, 2011

In just two weeks, we’ll come together, as a nation, to mark the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.We’ll remember the innocent lives we lost.We’ll stand with the families who loved them.We’ll honor the heroic first responders who rushed to the scene and saved so many.And we’ll pay tribute to our troops and military families, and all those who have served over the past ten years, to keep us safe and strong.We’ll also recall how the worst terrorist attack in American history brought out the best in the American people.How Americans lined up to give blood.How volunteers drove across the country to lend a hand.How schoolchildren donated their savings.How communities, faith groups and businesses collected food and clothing.We were united, and the outpouring of generosity and compassion reminded us that in times of challenge, we Americans move forward together, as one people.This September 11th, Michelle and I will join the commemorations at Ground Zero, in Shanksville, and at the Pentagon.But even if you can’t be in New York, Pennsylvania or Virginia, every American can be part of this anniversary.Once again, 9/11 will be a National Day of Service and Remembrance.And in the days and weeks ahead, folks across the country—in all 50 states—will come together, in their communities and neighborhoods, to honor the victims of 9/11 and to reaffirm the strength of our nation with acts of service and charity.In Minneapolis, volunteers will help restore a community center.In Winston-Salem, North Carolina, they’ll hammer shingles and lay floors to give families a new home.In Tallahassee, Florida, they’ll assemble care packages for our troops overseas and their families here at home.In Orange County, California, they’ll renovate homes for our veterans.And once again, Michelle and I look forward to joining a local service project as well.There are so many ways to get involved, and every American can do something.To learn more about the opportunities where you live, just go online and visit Serve.gov.Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost;a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11.On this 10th anniversary, we still face great challenges as a nation.We’re emerging from the worst economic crisis in our lifetimes.We’re taking the fight to al Qaeda, ending the war in Iraq and starting to bring our troops home from Afghanistan.And we’re working to rebuild the foundation of our national strength here at home.None of this will be easy.And it can’t be the work of government alone.As we saw after 9/11, the strength of America has always been the character and compassion of our people.So as we mark this solemn anniversary, let’s summon that spirit once more.And let’s show that the sense of common purpose that we need in America doesn’t have to be a fleeting moment;it can be a lasting virtue—not just on one day, but every day.Prepared Remarks of President

Barack

Obama

Weekly Address

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Hello from the Country Corner Farm in Alpha, Illinois!For the past few days, I’ve been traveling to small towns and farm towns here in the heartland of this country.I sat down with small business owners in Gutenberg, Iowa;and ranchers and farmers in Peosta.I had lunch with veterans in Cannon Falls, Minnesota;and talked to plant workers at a seed distributor in Atkinson, Illinois.And to the girls volleyball team at Maquoketa High School, let me just say one thing: Go Cardinals.Now, I’m out here for one reason: I think Washington, DC can learn something from the folks in Atkinson and Peosta and Cannon Falls.I think our country would be a whole lot better off if our elected leaders showed the same kind of discipline and integrity and responsibility that most Americans demonstrate in their lives every single day.Because, the fact is, we’re going through a tough time right now.We’re coming through a terrible recession;a lot of folks are still looking for work.A lot of people are getting by with smaller paychecks or less money in the cash register.So we need folks in Washington – the people whose job it is to deal with the country’s problems, the people who you elected to serve – we need them to put aside their differences to get things done.There are things we can do right now that will mean more customers for businesses and more jobs across the country.We can cut payroll taxes again, so families have an extra $1,000 to spend.We can pass a road construction bill so construction crews – now sitting idle – can head back to the worksite, rebuilding roads, bridges, and airports.We’ve got brave, skilled Americans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.Let’s connect them with businesses that could use their skills.And let’s pass trade deals to level the playing field for our businesses.We have Americans driving Hyundais and Kias.Well, I want to see folks in Korea driving Fords, Chevys and Chryslers.I want more products sold around the globe stamped with three words: Made in America.These are commonsense ideas – ideas that have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans.The only thing holding them back is politics.The only thing preventing us from passing these bills is the refusal by some in Congress to put country ahead of party.That’s the problem we have right now.That’s what’s holding this country back.That’s what we have to change.Because, for all the knocks we’ve taken, despite all the challenges we face, this is still the greatest country on earth.We still have the best workers and farmers, entrepreneurs and businesses, students and scientists.And you can see that here in Alpha.You can see it along the country roads that connect these small towns and farmlands.These past few days, I’ve been seeing little kids with American flags and grandparents in lawn chairs.I’ve shaken hands with folks outside machine shops and churches, corner stores and farms.It reminds me why I got into public service in the first place.Getting out of Washington and spending time with the people of this country – seeing how hard you’re working, how creative you are, how resourceful you are, how determined you are – that only makes me more determined to serve you as best I can as President.And it only makes me more confident in our future.That’s why it’s so important that folks in Washington put country before party.That’s why it’s so important that our elected leaders get past their differences to help grow the economy and put this nation back to work.Because here in Alpha it couldn’t be more clear: if we can come together, there’s no stopping the United States of America.There’s no doubt that our future is bright.Thanks, and have a great weekend.Prepared Remarks of President

Barack

Obama

Weekly Address

Saturday, August 13, 2011

On Thursday, I visited a new, high-tech factory in Michigan where workers are helping America lead the way in a growing clean energy industry.They were proud of their work, and they should be.They’re not just showing us a path out of the worst recession in generations – they’re proving that this is still a country where we make things;where new ideas take root and grow;where the best universities, most creative entrepreneurs, and most dynamic businesses in the world call home.They’re proving that even in difficult times, there’s not a country on Earth that wouldn’t trade places with us.That doesn’t mean we don’t face some very tough economic challenges.Many Americans are hurting badly right now.Many have been unemployed for too long.Putting these men and women back to work, and growing wages for everyone, has got to be our top priority.But lately, the response from Washington has been partisanship and gridlock that’s only undermined public confidence and hindered our efforts to grow the economy.So while there’s nothing wrong with our country, there is something wrong with our politics, and that’s what we’ve got to fix.Because we know there are things Congress can do, right now, to get more money back in your pockets, get this economy growing faster, and get our friends and neighbors back to work.The payroll tax cut that put $1,000 back in the average family’s pocket this year? Let’s extend it.Construction workers who’ve been jobless since the housing boom went bust? Let’s put them back to work rebuilding America.Let’s cut red tape in the patent process so entrepreneurs can get good ideas to market more quickly.Let’s finish trade deals so we can sell more American-made goods around the world.Let’s connect the hundreds of thousands of brave Americans coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan to businesses that need their incredible skills and talents.These are all things we can do right now.So let’s do them.And over the coming weeks, I’ll put forward more proposals to help our businesses hire and create jobs, and won’t stop until every American who wants a job can find one.But we can no longer let partisan brinksmanship get in our way – the idea that making it through the next election is more important than making things right.That’s what’s holding us back – the fact that some in Congress would rather see their opponents lose than see America win.So you’ve got a right to be frustrated.I am.Because you deserve better.And I don’t think it’s too much for you to expect that the people you send to this town start delivering.Members of Congress are at home in their districts right now.And if you agree with me – whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican or not much of a fan of either – let them know.If you’ve had it with gridlock, and you want them to pass stalled bills that will help our economy right now – let them know.If you refuse to settle for a politics where scoring points is more important than solving problems;if you believe it’s time to put country before party and the interests of our children before our own – let them know.And maybe they’ll get back to Washington ready to compromise, ready to create jobs, ready to get our fiscal house in order – ready to do what you sent them to do.Yes, we’ve still got a long way to go to get to where we need to be.We didn’t get into this mess overnight, and it’s going to take time to get out of it.That’s a hard truth – but it’s no excuse for inaction.After all, America voted for divided government, not dysfunctional government, and we’ve got work to do.And when we come together and find common ground, there’s no stopping this country.There’s no stopping our people.There’s no holding us back.And there is every reason to believe we’ll get through this storm to a brighter day.Thanks for listening, and have a great weekend.Prepared Remarks of President

Barack

Obama

Weekly Address

Saturday, August 6, 2011

This week, Congress reached an agreement that’s going to allow us to make some progress in reducing our nation’s budget deficit.And through this compromise, both parties are going to have to work together on a larger plan to get our nation’s finances in order.That’s important.We’ve got to make sure that Washington lives within its means, just like families do.In the long term, the health of our economy depends on it.But in the short term, our urgent mission has to be getting this economy growing faster and creating more jobs.That’s what’s on people’s minds;that’s what matters to families in this country.And the fact is, this has been a tumultuous year for the economy.We’ve weathered the Arab Spring’s effect on oil and gas prices.The Japanese earthquake and tsunami’s effect on supply chains.The economic situation in Europe.And in Washington, there was a contentious debate over our nation’s budget that nearly dragged our country into financial crisis.So our job right now has to be doing whatever we can to help folks find work;to help create the climate where a business can put up that job listing;where incomes are rising again for people.We’ve got to rebuild this economy and the sense of security that middle class families've felt slipping away for years.And while deficit reduction has to be part of our economic strategy, it’s not the only thing we have to do.We need Democrats and Republicans to work together to help grow this economy.We’ve got to put politics aside to get some things done.That’s what the American people expect of us.And there are a number of steps that Congress can take right away, when they return in September.We need to extend tax cuts for working and middle class families so you have more money in your paychecks next year.That would help millions of people to make ends meet.And that extra money for expenses means businesses will have more customers, and will be in a better position to hire.Yesterday, I proposed a new tax credit for companies that hire veterans who are looking for work after serving their country.We’ve got a lot of honorable and skilled people returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and companies that could benefit from their abilities.Let’s put them together.We need to make sure that millions of workers who are still pounding the pavement looking for jobs are not denied unemployment benefits to carry them through hard times.We’ve got to cut the red tape that stops too many inventors and entrepreneurs from quickly turning new ideas in the thriving businesses – which holds back our whole economy.It’s time Congress finally passed a set of trade deals that would help displaced workers looking for new jobs, and that would allow our businesses to sell more products in countries in Asia and South America – products stamped with three words: Made in America.And we ought to give more opportunities to all those construction workers who lost their jobs when the housing boom went bust.We could put them to work right now, by giving loans to companies that want to repair our roads and bridges and airports, helping to rebuild America.Those are a few commonsense steps that would help the economy.And these are ideas that have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans in the past.So I’m going to keep calling on both parties in Congress to put aside their differences and send these bills to my desk so I can sign them right away.After all, both parties share power.Both parties share responsibility for our progress.Moving our economy and our country forward is not a Democratic or a Republican responsibility;it is our responsibility as Americans.That’s the spirit we need in Washington right now.That’s how we’ll get this economy growing faster and reach a brighter day.Thanks for listening, and have a great weekend.Prepared Remarks of President

Barack

Obama

Weekly Address

Saturday, July 30, 2011

WASHINGTON—In this week’s address, President Obama urged both Republicans and Democrats to take action to avoid defaulting for the first time in our nation’s history.While the two parties are not far apart in their goals, they must resolve their differences quickly so that the United States can continue paying its Social Security checks, veterans’ benefits, and contracts with thousands of American businesses.The time has come to stop endangering the Triple A bond rating of the United States, put aside partisan politics, and behave responsibly to ensure a balanced approach to reducing our nation’s deficit.Today, I’d like to speak with you about the ongoing and urgent efforts to avoid a first-ever default and get our fiscal house in order.Republicans in the House of Representatives just spent precious days trying to pass a plan that a majority of Republicans and Democrats in the Senate had already said they wouldn’t vote for.It’s a plan that wouldn’t solve our fiscal problems, but would force us to re-live this crisis in just a few short months.It would hold our economy captive to Washington politics once again.If anything, the past few weeks have demonstrated that’s not acceptable.Any solution to avoid default must be bipartisan.It must have the support of both parties that were sent here to represent the American people – not just one faction of one party.There are multiple ways to resolve this problem.Congress must find common ground on a plan that can get support from both parties in the House and the Senate.And it’s got to be a plan that I can sign by Tuesday.Look, the parties are not that far apart here.We’re in rough agreement on how much spending we need to cut to reduce our deficit.And we agree on a process to tackle tax reform and entitlement reform.There are plenty of ways out of this mess.But there is very little time.We need to reach a compromise by Tuesday so that our country will have the ability to pay its bills on time – bills like Social Security checks, veterans’ benefits, and contracts we’ve signed with thousands of American businesses.If we don’t, for the first time ever, we could lose our country’s Triple A credit rating.Not because we didn’t have the capacity to pay our bills – we do – but because we didn’t have a Triple A political system to match it.And make no mistake – for those who reflexively oppose tax increases on anyone, a lower credit rating would be a tax increase on everyone – we’d all pay higher interest rates on mortgages, car loans, and credit cards.That would be inexcusable, and entirely self-inflicted by Washington.The power to solve this is in our hands.All that’s needed is a simple vote that Democrats and Republicans have taken for decades, including all of the leaders in Congress today.It was done 18 times under President Reagan.7 times under George W.Bush.And it must be done again now.It’s not a vote that allows Congress to spend more money.Raising the debt ceiling simply gives our country the ability to pay the bills the Congress has already racked up.It gives the United States of America the ability to keep its word.And it will let businesses and our economy breathe a sigh of relief.On Monday night, I asked you to make your voice heard in this debate.And the response was overwhelming.One of the emails we received was from a woman named Kelly Smith, who wanted to send this message to Washington: “I keep my home clean,” Kelly wrote, ”I work hard at a full time job, give my parents any monies I can so they can afford their medications, I pay my bills and by all appearances I am a responsible person.All I’m asking is that you be responsible.I have my house in order and all I’m asking is that you get yours the same way.”

Here in Washington, we need to get our house in order.And I have to say, Democrats in Congress and some Senate Republicans have been listening and have shown themselves willing to make compromises to solve this crisis.Now all of us – including Republicans in the House of Representatives – need to demonstrate the same kind of responsibility that the American people show every day.The time for putting party first is over.The time for compromise on behalf of the American people is now.Thank you.

第二篇：美国总统每周电台演讲

美国总统每周电台演讲：华盛顿白宫奥巴马讲话

Weekly Address: End the Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON, DC— In this week’s address, President Obama saidhat Republicans in the House of Representatives chose to shut down the government over a health care law they don’t like.He urged the Congress to pass a budget that funds our government, with no partisan strings attached.The President made clear he will work with anyone of either party on ways to grow this economy, create new jobs, and get our fiscal house in order for the long haul – but not under the shadow of these threats to our economy.Remarks of President Barack Obama

Weekly Address The White House October 5, 2013

Good morning.Earlier this week, the Republican House of Representatives chose to shut down a government they don’t like over a health care law they don’t like.And I’ve talked a lot about the real-world consequences of this shutdown in recent days – the services disrupted;the benefits delayed;the public servants kicked off the job without pay.But today, I want to let the Americans dealing with those real-world consequences have their say.And these are just a few of the many heartbreaking letters I’ve gotten from them in the past couple weeks – including more than 30,000 over the past few days.Kelly Mumper lives in rural Alabama.She works in early education, and she has three kids of her own in the Marines.Here’s what she wrote to me on Wednesday.“Our Head Start agency„was forced to stop providing services on October 1st for over 770 children, and 175 staff were furloughed.I am extremely concerned for the welfare of these children.There are parents who work and who attend school.Where are they leaving their children„is it a safe environment„are [they] getting the food that they receive at their Head Start program?”

On the day Julia Pruden’s application to buy a home for her and her special needs children was approved by the USDA’s rural development direct loan program, she wrote me from Minot, North Dakota.“We put in an offer to purchase a home this weekend, and it was accepted„if funding does not go through, our chances of the American Dream [are] down the drain„We have worked really hard to get our credit to be acceptable to purchase a home„if it weren’t for the direct lending program provided by the USDA, we would not qualify to buy the home we found.”

These are just two of the many letters I’ve received from people who work hard;try to make ends meet;try to do right by their families.They’re military or military spouses who’ve seen commissaries closed on their bases.They’re veterans worried the services they’ve earned won’t be there.They’re business owners who’ve seen their contracts with the government put on hold, worried they’ll have to let people go.I want them to know, I read the stories you share with me.These are our fellow Americans.These are the people who sent us here to serve.And I know that Republicans in the House of Representatives are hearing the same kinds of stories, too.As I made clear to them this week, there’s only one way out of this reckless and damaging shutdown: pass a budget that funds our government, with no partisan strings attached.The Senate has already done this.And there are enough Republican and Democratic votes in the House of Representatives willing to do the same, and end this shutdown immediately.But the far right of the Republican Party won’t let Speaker John Boehner give that bill a yes-or-no vote.Take that vote.Stop this farce.End this shutdown now.The American people don’t get to demand ransom in exchange for doing their job.Neither does Congress.They don’t get to hold our democracy or our economy hostage over a settled law.They don’t get to kick a child out of Head Start if I don’t agree to take her parents’ health insurance away.That’s not how our democracy is supposed to work.That's why I won't pay a ransom in exchange for reopening the government.And I certainly won't pay a ransom in exchange for raising the debt ceiling.For as reckless as a government shutdown is, an economic shutdown that comes with default would be dramatically worse.I'll always work with anyone of either party on ways to grow this economy, create new jobs, and get our fiscal house in order for the long haul.But not under the shadow of these threats to our economy.Pass a budget.End this government shutdown.Pay our bills.Prevent an economic shutdown.These Americans and millions of others are counting on Congress to do the right thing.And I will do everything I can to make sure they do.Thank you.每周演讲：结束政府关门

华盛顿——在本周的演讲中，奥巴马总统指出，众议院共和党人因为不喜欢医疗保健法案而选择关闭政府。他敦促国会通过预算，为政府提供资金，不附加任何党派附带条件。总统明确表示，在发展美国经济、创造新工作岗位和为了长期发展而重整我们的财政机构的道路上，他愿意与两党中的任何人合作——但不是在对我们经济所做出的种种威胁的阴影笼罩下。

美国东部时间2013年10月5日早晨6:00点，您可以在网站

第三篇：美国总统每周电台演讲 2

美国总统每周电台演讲：华盛顿白宫奥巴马讲话

WEEKLY ADDRESS: Congress Must Act Now toPass a Budget and

Raise the Debt Ceiling

WASHINGTON, DC— In his weekly address, President Obama said that the economy is makingprogress five years after the worst recession since the Great Depression, but to avoid anothercrisis, Congress must meet two deadlines in the coming weeks: pass a budget by the end of themonth to keep the government open, and raise the debt ceiling so America can pay its bills.Congress should vote to do these now, so that we can keep creating new jobs and expandingopportunity for the middle class.Remarks of President Barack Obama

Weekly AddressThe White HouseSeptember 21, 2013

Weekly Address

Hi, everybody.It was five years ago this week that a financial crisis on Wall Street spread to MainStreet, and very nearly turned a recession into a depression.In a matter of months, millions of Americans were robbed of their jobs, their homes, their savings –after a decade in which they’d already been working harder and harder to just get by.It was a crisis from which we’re still trying to recover.But thanks to the grit and determination ofthe American people, we are steadily recovering.Over the past three and a half years, our businesses have created seven and a half million newjobs.Our housing market is healing.We’ve become less dependent on foreign oil.Health carecosts are growing at the slowest rate in 50 years.And in just over a week, millions of Americanswithout health care will be able to get covered for less than $100 a month.So our economy is gaining traction.And we’re finally tackling threats to middle-class prosperity thatWashington neglected for far too long.But as any middle-class family listening right now knows,we’ve got a long way to go to get to where we need to be.And after five years spent digging outof crisis, the last thing we need is for Washington to manufacture another.But that’s what will happen in the next few weeks if Congress doesn’t meet two deadlines.First: the most basic Constitutional duty Congress has is passing a budget.But if it doesn’t passone before September 30th – a week from Monday – the government will shut down.And so willmany services the American people expect.Military personnel, including those deployed overseas,won’t get their paychecks on time.Federal loans for rural communities, small business owners, andnew home buyers will be frozen.Critical research into life-saving discoveries and renewable energywill be immediately halted.All of this will be prevented if Congress just passes a budget.Second: Congress must authorize the Treasury to pay America’s bills.This is done with a simple,usually routine vote to raise what’s called the debt ceiling.Since the 1950s, Congress has alwayspassed it, and every President has signed it – Democrats and Republicans, including PresidentReagan.And if this Congress doesn’t do it within the next few weeks, the United States will defaulton its obligations and put our entire economy at risk.This is important: raising the debt ceiling is not the same as approving more spending.It lets uspay for what Congress already spent.It doesn’t cost a dime, or add a penny to our deficit.Infact, right now, our deficits are already falling at the fastest rate since the end of World War II.Andby the end of this year, we’ll have cut our deficits by more than half since I took office.But reducing our deficits and debt isn’t even what the current standoff in Congress is about.Now, Democrats and some reasonable Republicans are willing to raise the debt ceiling and pass asensible budget – one that cuts spending on what we don’t need so we can invest in what we do.And I want to work with those Democrats and Republicans on a better bargain for the middle class.But there’s also a faction on the far right of the Republican party who’ve convinced their leadershipto threaten a government shutdown if they can’t shut off the Affordable Care Act.Some areactually willing to plunge America into default if they can’t defund the Affordable Care Act.Think about that.They’d actually plunge this country back into recession – all to deny the basicsecurity of health care to millions of Americans.Well, that’s not happening.And they know it’s not happening.The United States of America is not a deadbeat nation.We are a compassionate nation.We arethe world’s bedrock investment.And doing anything to threaten that is the height ofirresponsibility.That’s why I will not negotiate over the full faith and credit of the United States.Iwill not allow anyone to harm this country’s reputation, or threaten to inflict economic pain onmillions of our own people, just to make an ideological point.So, we are running out of time to fix this.But we could fix it tomorrow.Both houses of Congresscan take a simple vote to pay our bills on time, then work together to pass a budget on time.Then we can declare an end to governing by crisis and govern responsibly, by putting our focusback where it should always be – on creating new jobs, growing our economy, and expandingopportunity not just for ourselves, but for future generations.Thank you.

第四篇：美国总统每周电台演讲6月12日

Prepared Remarks of President

Barack Obama

Weekly Address

Saturday, Junne12th, 2010

More than a decade ago, Congress set up a formula that governs how doctors get paid by the Medicare program.The intent was to slow the growth of Medicare costs, but the result was a formula that has proposed cutting payments for America’s doctors year after year after year.These are cuts that would not only jeopardize our physicians’ pay, but our seniors’ health care.Since 2003, Congress has acted to prevent these pay cuts from going into effect.These votes were largely bipartisan, and they succeeded when Democrats ran Congress and when Republicans ran Congress – which was most of the time.This year, a majority of Congress is willing to prevent a pay cut of 21%--a pay cut that would undoubtedly force some doctors to stop seeing Medicare patients altogether.But this time, some Senate Republicans may even block a vote on this issue.After years of voting to defer these cuts, the other party is now willing to walk away from the needs of our doctors and our seniors.Now, I realize that simply kicking these cuts down the road another year is not a long-term solution to this problem.For years, I have said that a system where doctors are left to wonder if they’ll get fairly reimbursed makes absolutely no sense.And I am committed to permanently reforming this Medicare formula in a way that balances fiscal responsibility with the responsibility we have to doctors and seniors.In addition, we’re already taking significant steps to slow the growth of Medicare costs through health insurance reform – not by targeting doctors and seniors, but by eliminating 50% of the waste, fraud, and abuse in the system by 2012.This not only strengthens Medicare, it saves taxpayer dollars.I’m absolutely willing to take the difficult steps necessary to lower the cost of Medicare and put our budget on a more fiscally sustainable path.But I’m not willing to do that by punishing hard-working physicians or the millions of Americans who count on Medicare.That’s just wrong.And that’s why in the short-term, Congress must act to prevent this pay cut to doctors.If they don’t act, doctors will see a 21% cut in their Medicare payments this week.This week, doctors will start receiving these lower reimbursements from the Medicare program.That could lead them to stop participating in the Medicare program.And that could lead seniors to lose their doctors.We cannot allow this to happen.We have to fix this problem so that our doctors can get paid for the life-saving services they provide and keep their doors open.We have to fix this problem to keep the promise of Medicare for our seniors so that they get the health care they deserve.So I urge Republicans in the Senate to at least allow a majority of Senators and Congressmen to stop this pay cut.I urge them to stand with America’s seniors and America’s doctors.Thanks.

第五篇：美国总统每周电台演讲-5月29日

Prepared Remarks of President

Barack Obama

Weekly Address

Saturday, May 29th, 2010

This weekend, as we celebrate Memorial Day, families across America will gather in backyards and front porches, fire up the barbeque, kick back with friends, and spend time with people they care about.That is as it should be.But I also hope that as you do so, you’ll take some time to reflect on what Memorial Day is all about;on why we set this day aside as a time of national remembrance.It’s fitting every day to pay tribute to the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States of America.Still, there are certain days that have been set aside for all of us to do so.Veterans Day is one such day – when we are called to honor Americans who’ve fought under our country’s flag.Our calling on Memorial Day is different.On this day, we honor not just those who’ve worn this country’s uniform, but the men and women who’ve died in its service;who’ve laid down their lives in defense of their fellow citizens;who’ve given their last full measure of devotion to protect the United States of America.These are the men and women I will be honoring this weekend, and I know many of you are doing the same.There are any number of reasons America emerged from its humble beginnings as a cluster of colonies to become the most prosperous, most powerful nation on earth.There is the hard work, the resilience, and the character of our people.There is the ingenuity and enterprising spirit of our entrepreneurs and innovators.There are the ideals of opportunity, equality, and freedom that have not only inspired our people to perfect our own union, but inspired others to perfect theirs as well.But from the very start, there was also something more.A steadfast commitment to serve, to fight, and if necessary, to die, to preserve America and advance the ideals we cherish.It’s a commitment witnessed at each defining moment along the journey of this country.It’s what led a rag-tag militia to face British soldiers at Lexington and Concord.It’s what led young men, in a country divided half slave and half free, to take up arms to save our union.It’s what led patriots in each generation to sacrifice their own lives to secure the life of our nation, from the trenches of World War I to the battles of World War II, from Inchon and Khe Sanh, from Mosul to Marjah.That commitment – that willingness to lay down their lives so we might inherit the blessings of this nation – is what we honor today.But on this Memorial Day, as on every day, we are called to honor their ultimate sacrifice with more than words.We are called to honor them with deeds.We are called to honor them by doing our part for the loved ones our fallen heroes have left behind and looking after our military families.By making sure the men and women serving this country around the world have the support they need to achieve their missions and come home safely.By making sure veterans have the care and assistance they need.In short, by serving all those who have ever worn the uniform of this country – and their families – as well as they have served us.On April 25, 1866, about a year after the Civil War ended, a group of women visited a cemetery in Columbus, Mississippi, to place flowers by the graves of Confederate soldiers who had fallen at Shiloh.As they did, they noticed other graves nearby, belonging to Union dead.But no one had come to visit those graves, or place a flower there.So they decided to lay a few stems for those men too, in recognition not of a fallen Confederate or a fallen Union soldier, but a fallen American.A few years later, an organization of Civil War veterans established what became Memorial Day, selecting a date that coincided with the time when flowers were in bloom.So this weekend, as we commemorate Memorial Day, I ask you to hold all our fallen heroes in your hearts, and if you can, to lay a flower where they have come to rest.