AMERICANS CLEBRATE MEMORIAL DAY TO HONOR THOSE WHO FOUGHT AND DIED TO PRESERVE OUR FREEDOM. WE SET ASIDE ONE DAY EACH YEAR TO PAUSE AND REFLECT ON THE DEBT OF GRATITUDE WE OWE TO THE BRAVE PATRIOTS WHO STOOD IN THE BREACH WHEN THE DEFENSE OF LIBERTY DEMANDED THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. BY HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SACRIFICED THEIR
LIVES TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOM, WE ENSURE THAT THEIR HEROIC SPIRIT WILL
LIVE ON IN THIS NEW CENTURY. INDEED, THIS SPIRIT IS ALIVE AND WELL IN TODAY'S ARMED FORCES.IN THE MOUNTAINS OF BOSNIA, ALONG THE DMZ IN KOREA, IN THE ROCKY SINAI DESERT, IN THE SKIES OVER IRAQ, AND THE BLUE WATERS OF THE PACIFIC, OUR SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN, MARINES AND COASTGUARDSMEN STAND WATCH -- DAY AND NIGHT -- GUARDING FREEDOM'S FRONTIER. TODAY,AS IN THE PAST, THEY BEAR THE BURDENS THAT MAKE AMERICA'S BLESSINGS POSSIBLE FOR ALL ITS CITIZENS.