President Obama's Memorial Day Address To Soldiers: 'America Will Be There For You'

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President Obama delivered his yearly Memorial Address this morning' the first, he noted, where he could say 'Americans are not fighting and dying in Iraq.' Honoring many individual soldiers personally while thanking the armed forces for their services, the President promised soldiers the 'clear mission and full support of a grateful nation,' and to refrain from sending troops into battle unless 'absolutely necessary.'

RELATED: President Obama Lays Wreath On Tomb Of The Unknowns At Arlington National Cemetery

Noting that the Iraq War as we knew it for a decade is over, and the war in Afghanistan winding down, the President detailed the stories of the first and last deaths of the Iraq War, then spoke to the parents of the fallen. 'I cannot begin to fully understand your loss. As a father, I cannot begin to imagine what it's like to hear that knock on the door and learn that your worst fears have come true,' he said, citing the decision to go to war as 'the most wrenching decision that I have to make' as President. He promised he will 'never do so unless it is absolutely necessary,' and offer always the 'clear mission and the full support of a grateful nation.'

He then listed several individuals whose lives were lost, telling the stories of warm, dedicated soldiers lost this year. His homage did not end with the fallen however, noting that 'we can meet our obligations to those who did come home' and their families, fighting 'a very different but very real battle of their own.' He told the audience that the 'patriots who rest beneath these hills were fighting for many things' for their families, for their flag' but above all, they were fighting for you,' promising them that 'America will be there for you.' He concluded with an aspiration for the country: 'we must always strive to be worthy of your sacrifice.'

The speech in full via Fox News below:

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• Oh please. Does Obama really believe soldiers fought for 'our freedom' in Vietnam? Of course he doesn't. No one does.

• 'America Will Be There For You' unless you guys ask for too many benefits then we will have to cut back on you guys.

• What Obama said: 'America will be there for you.' He concluded with an aspiration for the country: 'we must always strive to be worthy of your sacrifice.' 

  What right-wing nutjobs heard: 'I'm Obama, the king who killed Bin Laden, blah blah blah. Vote for me and this country will be the next USSR, blah blah blah. With one key difference: we'll be Muslim, blah blah blah. Bow before me troops or I'll cut off you funding, blah blah blah.'

• The President can't get up there and go through every single war and check off the 'good' ones versus the 'bad' ones. He's honoring the soldiers and sailors and marines.

  The idea is to honor the dead not expound on whether the Mexican-American War was worthy and the Spanish-American War not so worthy. It's not a dissertation, it's a memorialization.

  Some things are beyond politics. Way beyond them.

•  Yep, exactly. The delusional wingnuts are shameless and have no concept of patriotism. I don't even like Obama and he's a phony and not liberal'.but I have the patriotism to want our country to prosper and for our society to be better for everyone. The wingnuts are all about their party, their failed on every approach every time ideology over country.

  And what is just as disgusting as it ever gets they call themselves patriots.
  Just pathetic, ignorant and sad they are.

•  'Some things are beyond politics. Way beyond them.'

  Never has there been a CIC so disrespected by people claiming to be patriots. The sad thing is nothing is beyond politics right now.

• Dumbest comment of the day, totally wrong.

• I real fear. Hope we do not let them down. That is above politics.

• 'Some things are beyond politics. Way beyond them.'  Exactly, especially condemning the President over his Memorial Day speech. Bad form.

• our president has done more for vetrans than any since WW2..
  our president has done more for business offer record profits and a sustained stock market..
  our president has kept us safer than any recent president'killing top terrorist and tyrants that have escaped the last several presidents including Reagan..
  our president has given us back international prestigue and alliances..
  our president has give civil rights to citizens both civilian and military unlike any president before'
  regardless of the rhetoric and vitriol that is expressed'no rational person can deny that in 3 years'this president has been the most productive president in modern times with the most difficult challeges and least amount of cooperation..
  it is nothing short of astonishing~

• Well, this trend of savaging a president didn't start with Mr. Obama.

  If this was Bush and a memorial day address the ideologues on the other side would be out.

  It may have gotten worse under this president; but it's been headed in that direction for a long time.

• A couple of days ago, it  was reported that Obama would be on vaca and wouldn't be making an address.  He was sending  Biden to do it.  I'm glad he realized what an idiotic and selfish move that would've been and decided to do the right thing for the heroes (that's right Chris Hayes) and honor them appropriately. 

• May have gotten worse?

  Understatement of the century.

• You're politicizing this in the other direction.

  I think folks on both sides need to cool it for just one day.

• The President during bad economic times will always be attacked more harshly than during good times.

  Even if he's not to blame.

  When things are good the president gets credit even if it's not warranted; and when things are bad the president gets blame even if it's not warranted.

  That's just the way it is.

• what i love is hearing a speech from a president about how he loves, respects, and supports the troops so much and yet he can't pronounce CORPSMAN properly.

• You believe soldiers fought in Vietnam for your freedom?

•  'it was reported'

  You mean it was made up to manufacture outrage among you wingnuts.

• + 1

  and filled with self-righteous certainty

• I'll bet few of Obama's constant critics on this site have volunteered or visited a VA hospital in the last year ' much easier to sit back and play armchair generals 

  My special thanks for all Vets and their families on this day.  

• Case in point. 

  The day you're ready to spend 5 years constantly on camera without making a single gaffe, let us know. 

  Also, let me know when you want to start comparing Bush gaffes with those of the current president. I have a feeling the Bush gaffes could take up a lot of your time so plan accordingly.

• Look in the mirror lib, and on that post, you will see Chris Hayes.

• Imagine how right wingers would react if he didn't say it.

• Absolutely. The pivotal 'battle' in winning the cold war and ending any thought that the soviets had of spreading communism without our full sacrificial opposition, which they did not count on.