    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [May 26, 1997]
    [Pages 655-657]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Memorial Day Ceremony in Arlington, Virginia
    May 26, 1997

        Thank you very much. General Foley, Chaplain Schwartzman, Mr.
    Metzler, to the members of the Cabinet, General Shalikashvili and the
    leaders of our Armed Forces, to Members of Congress, and especially to
    the members of the Armed Forces who are here, the leaders of our
    veterans organizations, all of you who are veterans and your families,
    and all of you who are family members of those who have given their
    lives in the service of our country.
        My fellow Americans, we gather here today, as we do faithfully every
    year, to pay tribute to our country men and women who fell in the line
    of duty, who gave their lives to preserve the liberties upon which our
    Nation was founded and which we have managed to carry forward for more
    than 200 years now. All across America, our grateful Nation comes
    together today to honor these men and women, some celebrated, others
    quite unknown, each a patriot and a hero.
        For many of our schoolchildren who have known no war, today may seem
    to be little more than a day off from school or a welcome start to the
    summer. But on this day, and all that we pause to remember, there are
    essential lessons for the young and, indeed, for all the rest of us as
    well: Appreciate the blessings of freedom; recognize the power and
    virtue of sacrifice; respect those who gave everything on behalf of our
    common good.
        This day reminds us of what we can achieve when we pull together as
    one nation, respecting each other with all of our myriad differences,
    but coming together, we can fight any battle and face any challenge.
        It reminds us of our duty to honor not only those we have lost in
    freedom's cause but also, through attention and care, the service men
    and women who came back home and are now our veterans, as well as the
    families of those for whom there tragically has never been a final
    accounting.
        It reminds us of our obligation to take care of those who have taken
    care of us and those who take care of us today. That means ensuring that
    our men and women in uniform have the best training and equipment and
    preparation possible to do their jobs for freedom, because even in times
    of peace, we must remain vigilant in a very new and still uncertain
    world.
        And above all, it reminds us of America's responsibility to remain
    the world's leading force for peace and prosperity and freedom as we

    [[Page 656]]

    enter the 21st century, so that future generations of young Americans
    who wear our uniform will never have to endure the losses in battles
    that our predecessors did in the 20th century.
        Behind me, just a few yards from where we gather today, lies the
    grave of General George Marshall, an heroic soldier in war and a
    visionary statesman for peace after the Second World War. He built the
    armies that enabled freedom to triumph over tyranny in World War II. And
    after the war, along with President Truman, Senator Arthur Vandenberg,
    and others, he inspired America to make the investments and forge the
    institutions that built the peace, reached out to former adversaries,
    spread democracy and prosperity, and ultimately won the cold war.
    General George Marshall was the very first full-time soldier ever to win
    the Nobel Prize for Peace. A half-century ago, he knew that in order to
    be strong at home and safe at home, we had to lead the world to a more
    secure and better place.
        Now, at the end of the cold war, when there appears to be no looming
    threat on the horizon, we must rise to Marshall's challenge in our day.
    We must remember the lessons of those who gave their lives in World War
    II and those who worked so hard to make sure that we would prevail in
    the cold war and not have to go back to war again. We must create the
    institutions and the understandings that will advance the security and
    prosperity of the American people for the next 50 years.
        This great endeavor must begin in Europe. Twice in this century--
    indeed, twice within a period of a few decades--Americans went over
    there and gave their lives in defense of liberty. Many more stood sentry
    with our European allies through the long night of the cold war. Today,
    our generation has been given a precious chance to redeem that sacrifice
    and service, to build an undivided, democratic European Continent at
    peace for the very first time in history.
        Over the course of this week, beginning this evening, I will travel
    to Europe to advance this goal. Tomorrow in Paris, President Yeltsin of
    Russia, my fellow NATO leaders, and I will join an historic signing of
    the Founding Act of the NATO-Russia partnership, opening a new era of
    cooperation in Europe to bridge the historic divisions there. Then I
    will have the great honor to represent you in The Netherlands, joining
    with leaders from all over Europe to celebrate the 50th anniversary of
    the Marshall plan, the plan that helped Europe to recover its prosperity
    and secure its liberty. I will challenge Europe's people to work
    together with America to complete the work that General Marshall's
    generation began, extending the reach of security and prosperity to the
    new democracies in Europe that once were on the other side in the cold
    war. Finally, I will have a chance to meet with the new Prime Minister
    of Great Britain to celebrate our unique partnership with our old and
    close ally.
        My fellow Americans, if you look at all the gravestones here today,
    you will see that they have not died in vain, when you see what we enjoy
    today and that we stand at the pinnacle of our power, our success, and
    our influence as a nation. But that means we stand at the pinnacle of
    our responsibility.
        At the end of World War II, General Marshall could make that case to
    America. We fought a bloody war because we did not assume that
    responsibility at the end of World War I. Today it is perhaps more
    difficult because we feel no impending threat as we did from the
    Communist forces in the cold war.
        But I ask you when you leave this place today to ask yourself, as an
    American, what can I do to honor the sacrifices of those we honor here
    today? For what did George Marshall dedicate his life? For what did
    these people fight and die? And how can we make sure that we have a new
    century in which we do not repeat the mistakes of the last one?
        I will say, the only way that can happen is if America refuses to
    walk away from the world and its present challenges. We must learn the
    lessons General Marshall and his generation left us. Their sacrifice and
    their spirit call upon us to seize this moment, to shape the peace of
    the present for future generations, to turn the hope we share into a
    history we can all be proud of.
        And so on this day when we remember those who gave everything for
    our Nation and its freedom, let us resolve to honor them by renewing our
    commitment, on the edge of a new century and a new era, to lead the
    world toward greater peace and security, freedom and prosperity. In
    doing that, we will make Americans safer. We will allow our men and
    women in uniform to stand sentinel for our freedom with less risk to
    their lives.
        May God always bless the American heroes we honor today. May He
    bless those fallen and

    [[Page 657]]

    those who still stand at the ready. May He always bless the United
    States, and may He always give us the wisdom to do what is right for
    tomorrow.
        Thank you, and God bless you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:30 a.m. in the Amphitheater at Arlington
    National Cemetery. In his remarks, he referred to Col. Joel R.
    Schwartzman, USAF, Chief of Chaplains, Bolling Air Force Base; John
    Metzler, Superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery; President Boris
    Yeltsin of Russia; and Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom.