President Barack Obama
lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, on Memorial Day, Monday, May
30, 2016, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. (AP
Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
ARLINGTON, Va.—President Barack Obama laid a wreath Monday
at the Tomb of the Unknowns to honor members of the military who died
serving their country.
Obama’s appearance at Arlington National Cemetery carries on a
longstanding presidential tradition and comes as the U.S. struggles to
end various conflicts in the Middle East.
President
Barack Obama with Army Maj. Gen. Bradley A. Becker, right, bow their
heads during the wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns, on
Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, 2016, at Arlington National Cemetery in
Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
In his remarks, Obama called for Americans to honor the fallen by
caring for those they leave behind — their families and their battle
buddies who come home.
“We need to be there not just when we need them, but when they need us,” Obama said of the nation’s veterans.
President
Barack Obama speaks at the Memorial Amphitheater of Arlington National
Cemetery, in Arlington, Va., Monday, May 30, 2016, during a Memorial Day
ceremony. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Obama said 20 members of the armed forces had died in combat within the last year.
Special operations forces continue to serve in dangerous missions in
Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, even as the U.S. military presence in the
latter two countries has been greatly reduced under Obama’s watch.
The focus in Iraq and Syria is on defeating the Islamic State group.
In Afghanistan, U.S. troops work with Afghan forces battling the
Taliban.
Prior to traveling to Arlington, Obama held a breakfast reception at
the White House for family members of fallen service members and
veterans groups.
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