Trump pays tribute to fallen heroes at Arlington, referring to them as "America's finest and most courageous" soldiers
President Trump Pays Tribute to Fallen Heroes on Memorial Day
Arlington, VA - During a solemn ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, President Trump honored fallen service members, calling them "great warriors" and "Americas' best and bravest."
"We revere their incredible legacy," Trump said. He further expressed gratitude, saying, "We salute them in their eternal glory. We continue our relentless pursuit of America's destiny as we make our nation stronger, prouder, freer, and greater than ever before."
The President's speech, though primarily focused on honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice, briefly touched upon political matters, referring to the republic he is "fixing after a long and hard four years."
Before addressing the gathering, Trump paid tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a somber ritual for U.S. presidents. As taps played, he paused and saluted, joined by Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
In California, over 3,500 Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts planted 90,000 flags in preparation for the Memorial Day ceremony.
Trump shared stories of two fallen heroes, Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon Kent and Senior Master Sergeant ElroyHarworth.
Kent, who was killed in Syria in 2019, left behind a husband and two young sons. She served on her fifth combat deployment, working as a linguist, translator, and cryptology technician alongside special forces. Trump highlighted her bravery, stating, "She did it better than anyone."
The crowd also learned of Harworth, who perished in Vietnam while his wife was pregnant. His son followed in his footsteps, serving in the Army for 20 years. Vance emphasized, "We must be cautious in sending our people to war."
However, the day began on a different tone for Trump, who took to social media to attack former President Biden and federal judges, prompting criticism for his unconventional Memorial Day messages.
Despite the controversy surrounding his Memorial Day messages, President Trump continued his speeches, paying tribute to fallen heroes like Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon Kent and Senior Master Sergeant Elroy Harworth in a distinctly political manner. The California political scene echoed this sentiment, with political debates arising over the need for caution in war-and-conflicts, such as the one that took Kent's life in Syria. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, general news headlines were dominated by the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts preparing for Memorial Day ceremonies by planting flags across the city.
