President Obama Pays His Respects on Veterans Day

President Barack Obama observed Veterans Day Wednesday by visiting Arlington National Cemetery, where he continued to push for improved civilian lives for US servicemen and women. More than one million veterans of the post-9/11 wars have returned to civilian life over the past decade, and 200,000 more will leave the military this year to start civilian lives.

“Veterans could not ask for stronger advocates than our president, vice president and their wives”, McDonald said.

– Here at NPR, you can also read about how heroic WWI veteran Sgt. Alvin York built a school in his hometown, and on today’s Diane Rehm show, two veterans discuss how they helped each other and their community. The keynote speaker encouraged the audience to celebrate veterans every day, so that current and former armed forces members know their hard work does not go unnoticed.

The President didn’t mention proposed reforms during his speech, but White House officials on Tuesday outlined a range of new programs for the Veterans Affairs Department, including enhanced protections for GI Bill education benefits and a renewed push to end veterans’ homelessness.

“We are going to keep investing in the facilities and the physicians and the staff to make sure that our veterans get the care that you need when you need it”, he added.

In a ceremony at Arlington, attended by the oldest living WWII female veteran, 108 year-old Luta Mae McGrath, the President honored the nation’s Veterans…

“Today, the veterans’ unemployment rate is down to 3.9 percent, even lower than the national average” of 5 percent, Obama said.

“If you want to get the job done, hire a vet”, Obama said.

“Hopefully the legend will be carried on by other veterans”, Mitchell said.

“I would say that we’re making progress at the V.A. but we’re not where we need to be yet”, he said.

He thanks America’s veterans for their service and addressed a few of their unique challenges.

As many of us sit down for dinner with our families, our military are out in the streets and in battlefields.