US honors fallen troops on Memorial Day [ 2006-05-30 10:10 ]
Americans are honoring their war
dead on this Memorial Day holiday. President Bush spoke for the nation at
a ceremony at the country's largest military cemetery. |
A
lone military bugler saluted his fallen comrades with a mournful song.
President Bush, left, lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, Monday
President Bush stood at
attention with members of the armed forces, veterans and the families of
those who have died in service to their country. Mr. Bush looked out at
the rows of military graves at Arlington National Cemetery and said,
simply, this is a place where valor
sleeps.
"All who are buried here understood their duty. They saw a dark shadow
on the horizon, and went to meet it," Mr. Bush said. "They understood that
tyranny must be met with resolve, and that liberty is always the
achievement of courage."
The president said he is in
awe of those who sacrifice for freedom. He
said America honors them on Memorial Day and every day.
"Our nation is free because of brave Americans like these, who
volunteer to confront our adversaries abroad, so we do not have to face
them here at home," he said. "Our nation mourns the loss of our men and
women in uniform; we will honor them by completing the mission for which
they gave their lives - by defeating the terrorists, by advancing the
cause of liberty, and by laying the foundation of peace for a generation
of young Americans."
The president noted that about 270 military men and women of the more
than 2500 killed in the line of duty since the September 11, 2001,
terrorist attacks are buried at Arlington. He said they are a reminder to
the nation of the human cost of the war on terror.
Overall, almost 300,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are
buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Before his speech, President Bush
honored them - and all the nation's military fallen - by placing a wreath
at Arlington's Tomb of the Unknowns, which contains the symbolic
unidentified remains of several Americans killed on distant battlefields.
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Vocabulary:
valor
: courage and
boldness(英勇;勇猛)
awe : an emotion of reverence
and
respect(敬畏;尊重)
(來源:VOA 英語點津姍姍編輯)
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