WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden celebrated Memorial Day by laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery. He praised the sacrifices of generations of U.S. soldiers who died in battle for their country.
Biden was joined at the 155th National Memorial Day by his wife Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as Harris’ husband Douglas Emhoff. He took a moment to reflect in front of the wreath which was decorated with flowers, a red white and blue ribbon, before bending his head and praying.
Biden later said in an address to the Memorial Amphitheater, “We must not forget the price paid for protecting our democracy.” “We must not forget the lives that these flags and flowers, or marble markers, represent.”
He said, “We remember every year.” “And it doesn’t get easier every year.”
The federal holiday on Monday honoring America’s fallen servicemen was a day after Biden, Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other parties reached a final agreement in a deal to raise America’s debt limit. This deal now awaits the approval of Congress.
The agreement as it is now would maintain nondefense expenditures at a level that is similar to for the fiscal year 2024 and then increase them by 1% in the next year. The measure would allow a 3% increase in defense spending in fiscal year 2024 to $886 billion and another 1% growth in fiscal year 2025 to $895 billion.
Biden is proud that his Democratic Administration has brought relative peace to the U.S. Military after 20 years of war in Afghanistan & Iraq.
Biden has ended the longest war of the United States in Afghanistan. He fulfilled a promise made during his campaign to end the 20-year “forever war” which cost more than 2400 U.S. military personnel their lives.
In August 2021, the war in Afghanistan ended on Biden’s watch, but in a deadly and chaotic manner. Critics blasted the administration’s handling the evacuation of approximately 120,000 American citizens and Afghans, as poorly-planned and badly-executed.
Last month, the Biden administration released , a review, of the final days of the war. It largely blamed his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, and claimed that Biden had been “severely restricted” by Trump’s actions.
The U.S. is now leading a coalition that pours tens billions in military and economic assistance into Ukraine in an effort to repel Russia’s invasion which seems to be without end.
Biden, while stating that he does not want U.S. troops in the conflict, has stated that the Russian attempt to seize territory is an affront against international norms. He has pledged to help Kyiv to win by sending artillery and tanks, drones, and most recently, agreeing to let allies train Ukrainian forces on American F-16 fighter jets.
The Bidens hosted an event at the White House on Monday morning before the ceremony in Arlington, Virginia. This breakfast was for veterans, military families, Department of Defense officials, and other administration officials.
The President and First Lady were to return to their home near Wilmington in Delaware later on Monday to enjoy the remainder of the federal holiday.
