'They died in war so that we could live in peace': Solemn Trump gives Memorial Day address at Arlington National Cemetery

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[h=1]'Thank you, Jane': Trump gives gratitude to tearful widow of slain Army sniper and honors deceased son of Gen. John Kelly, others who made 'ultimate sacrifice' in emotional Memorial Day tribute at Arlington[/h]

• President Trump delivered his first Memorial Day address Monday
• He placed a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery
• He hailed 'Gold Star' families and mentioned service members who gave their lives
• Among those he mentioned was the late son of homeland security secretary Gen. John Kelly
• Trump tweeted about Memorial Day on Monday morning, honoring service members who gave their lives
• Vice President Mike Pence greeted the Project Hero Memorial Day Bike Ride and also heads to Arlington

 

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President Donald Trump honored those who lost their lives serving the nation as he participated in a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery Monday and told emotional stories of just a few who perished.
'Here at this hallowed shrine we honor the noblest among us – the men and the women who paid the ultimate price for victory and for freedom,' Trump told a crowd of families, military personnel, and dignitaries at Arlington on Monday in his first Memorial Day speech as president.
'We pay tribute to those brave souls who raced into gunfire, roared into battle and ran into hell to face down evil. They made their sacrifice not for fame or for money or even for glory, but for country,' Trump said.
Among those whose stories Trump shared was Army Specialist Christopher Horton, an Oklahoma Army Guard member who died in Afghanistan. He was a sniper known 'as one of the best shots anywhere at any time,' the president said, but died during a deployment in 2011 at the age of just 26.

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President Donald Trump lays a wreath at The Tomb of the Unknown Solider at Arlington National Cemetery, Monday, May 29, 2017, in Arlington, Va.

 

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'Chris sacrificed his life to protect his fellow soldiers and to protect all Americans,' Trump said, before hailing his widow.


'Chris secured his place in our hearts for eternity,' Trump continued. 'Jane: America grieves with you,' the president said.


After he concluded his story, Horton's widow, seated near Vice President Mike Pence, wiped a tear from her eye, as she received a standing ovation from members of the crowd.


'Thank you, Jane,' Trump said, looking up in her direction from the the dais where he spoke.

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President Donald Trump sings the national anthem during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, May 29, 2017 in Arlington, Virginia

 

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Trump also singled out Gen. John Kelly, his Homeland Security chief, for having lost his son, Robert, who died fighting the 'enemies of all civilizations' in Afghanistan.


'We grieve with you, we honor you, and we pledge to you that we will always remember Robert and what he did for all of us,' the president said.

Robert Kelly was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan's Helmand province in 2010 at the age of 29.


Trump said Kelly was joined by his son-in-law, Jake, a wounded warrior.


'It is because of families like yours that all of our families can live in safety and live in peace,' Trump told his homeland chief.


Trump visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington on Monday for the ceremony. After listening to the National Anthem, Trump slowly placed the wreath before the tomb.


After a military official secured the wreath, the president gave it a pat with his hand, then slowly backed away from it.

 

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Robert Kelly, the son of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, died in Afghanistan at age 29

 

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Army Specialist Christopher Horton was among those honored by President Trump on Monday

 

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He paused silently, and then walked away, standing for a rendition of 'Taps,' at which point the simple ceremony for military service members who have fallen was concluded.


Accompanying the president were Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff Joseph Dunford.

White House Chief of staff Reince Preibus, who left Trump's overseas trip early to return to Washington, also was there, as was counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway.


Earlier, Trump sent out gratitude and prayers on Memorial Day via Twitter to those who lost their lives in service of their country.


'Today we remember the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in serving. Thank you, God bless your families & God bless the USA!' Trump wrote in one of a series of tweets Monday.

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President Donald Trump speaks at the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., Monday, May 29, 2017, during a Memorial Day ceremony

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President Donald Trump speaks during a Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Monday, May 29, 2017, in Arlington, Va.

 

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President Donald Trump stands during the playing of the National Anthem before he lays a wreath at The Tomb of the Unknown Solider at Arlington National Cemetery, Monday, May 29, 2017, in Arlington, Va.

 

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I look forward to paying my respects to our brave men and women on this Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery later this morning.

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Vice President Mike Pence greeted about 80 participants in the Project Hero Memorial Day Bike Ride Monday



'Honoring the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to America. Home of the free, because of the brave. #MemorialDay,' Trump wrote in another message, adding on an American flag emoji.


On Monday morning, Trump is set to deliver his first Memorial Day address at Arlington National Cemetery.


He will lay a wreath at the cemetery, the final resting place for many military members and others who served the nation.


Trump sent the tweets after returning from a nine-day trip overseas.


In a reminder that military sacrifices continue to loom, Trump also tweeted about the North Korean threat – a day after the latest ballistic missile launch from the secluded nation known for hostile rhetoric and erratic actions.

 

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Vice President Mike Pence greeted about 80 participants in the Project Hero Memorial Day Bike Ride.
'We are incredibly honored to host project hero back at the home of the Vice President, Pence said.
'This is a day we remember those who served and did not come home. ... To be able to welcome you here on this most hallowed of days is profoundly humbling to Karen and I,' he added.
Pence praised Trump's 'extraordinary trip' abroad, before heading to Arlington for the service.

President Trump tweeted about sacrifice in honor of Memorial Day on Monday

President Trump tweeted about sacrifice in honor of Memorial Day on Monday

President Trump tweeted about sacrifice in honor of Memorial Day on Monday

 

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Vice President Mike Pence greeted the Project Hero Memorial Day Bike Ride and also heads to Arlington

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Vice President Mike Pence greeted the Project Hero Memorial Day Bike Ride and also heads to Arlington

'North Korea has shown great disrespect for their neighbor, China, by shooting off yet another ballistic missile...but China is trying hard!' Trump tweeted.
North Korea's latest launch landed into the Sea of Japan, in a provocation toward one of the United States' closest allies.
According to a tally compiled by Axios, there are 4,411 U.S. casualties from Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2,216 from operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
Out of 1.3 million active duty U.S. military and 800,000 reservists, about 200,000 are currently deployed overseas.

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ARLINGTON, VA - MAY 28: Angelica Danner and her daughter Liana lay roses at headstones in Arlington National Cemetery May 28, 2017 in Arlington, Virginia. Volunteers from throughout the country gather to place a rose on each grave in preparation for Memorial Day

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A member of the National Park Service inspects the walkway at the World War II Memorial early in the morning before the Memorial Day events in Washington, Monday, May 29, 2017

Arizona Sen. John McCain sent out his own Memorial Day message in a video greeting.
'Throughout our history, we have always asked the few to protect the many… in order that the rest of us – the vast majority – can live in a free and prosperous society,' the former Vietnam POW said.
'I would like to say to all of our former service members … and our service members – thanks for serving. And for all of our other citizens, I’d like say thank you for your honoring those who have served and sacrificed. I believe that it’s only in America where we do such things to such a degree and it makes me proud to be an American,' McCain said.