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1252894
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5/31/76 - Remarks at Ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery
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1252894
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document
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5/31/76 - Remarks at Ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery
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President's Speeches and Statements Reading Copies (Ford Administration)
Reading Copies of Presidential Speeches and Statements
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American Revolution Bicentennial, 1776-1976
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1252894
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31
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1976-05-31
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5
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1976
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31
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1976-05-31
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5
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1976
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The original documents are located in Box 34, "5/31/76 - Remarks at Ceremonies at the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery" of the President's
Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 34 of President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
PRESIDENT'S REMARKS AT MEMORIAL DAY
SERVICES AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
MONDAY, MAY 31, 1976
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
THANK YOU, MR. SUTPHIN
MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS
Acc. 300mg
DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS (Note: BOB DOLE said he would
be there and asked that you mention him)
SPONSORING VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS
GENERAL YERKS
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
-I-
THERE IS NO HIGHER OR MORE SOLEMN PRIVILEGE THAN
TO REPRESENT OUR NATION IN PAYING TRIBUTE TO ITS HONORED DEAD
AND
IN THIS OUR 200TH YEAR,
THIS DAY AND THIS HALLOWED GROUND
TAKE ON A SPECIAL MEANING
-2-
II
AS WE MARK THIS ANNIVERSARY
OF OUR NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE, WE MUST REMEMBER
THAT THE BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATES MORE THAN A SUCCESSFUL
POLITICAL REVOLUTION WHICH FREED AMERICA FROM FOREIGN RULE
-3-
THE FOUND ING OF OUR NATION WAS MORE THAN A
POLITICAL EVENT
IT WAS AN ACT OF FAITH,
A PROMISE TO
AMERICANS AND TO THE ENTIRE WORLD
-4-
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE DECLARED THAT
PEOPLE CAN GOVERN THEMSELVES,
THAT THEY CAN LIVE IN FREEDOM
WITH EQUAL RIGHTS
THAT THEY CAN RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF
OTHERS
-5-
IN THE TWO CENTURIES THAT HAVE PASSED SINCE 1776,
MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE WORKED
AND
TAKEN UP ARMS WHEN NECESSARY
TO MAKE THAT DREAM A
REALITY
WE CAN BE PROUD OF WHAT THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED
-6-
TODAY, WE ARE THE WORLD'S OLDEST REPUBLIC
WE ARE AT PEACE
OUR NATION AND OUR WAY OF LIFE ENDURE.
AND
WE ARE FREE
-7-
ALL WHO COME TO ARLINGTON THIS MEMORIAL DAY
MUST REFLECT UPON THE SACRIFICE MADE BY THOSE COUNTLESS
BRAVE AMERICANS WHO LIE IN REST ON THESE HILLSIDES
AS
BENEATH SILENT MARKERS AT VALLEY FORGE
GETTYSBURG,
AND
PEARL HARBOR
-8-
THEIR COURAGE WON A REVOLUTION
THEIR BRAVERY
PRESERVED OUR REPUBLIC
THEIR PERSEVERANCE KEPT THE PEACE
AND ENSURED US A HERITAGE OF FREEDOM
IT IS THROUGH
THEIR SACRIFICE THAT WE HAVE A BICENTENNIAL
-9-
IT IS THROUGH THEIR SACRIFICE THAT WE,
THE LIVING
HAVE INHERITED A SACRED BURDEN
A TRUST
TO HONOR
THE PAST BY WORKING FOR THE FUTURE
OTHER NATIONS HAVE RISEN TO GREAT HEIGHTS ONLY TO
WEAKEN IN THEIR RESOLVE
WE MUST NOT REPEAT THEIR ERROR
-10-
A NATION BORN OF A FAITH AND CARRIED FORWARD BY
ACTION REQUIRES FROM EACH OF US A COMMITMENT TO ADVANCE
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY AND TO MAINTAIN OUR GUARD AGAINST THOSE
WHO THREATEN OUR FREEDOM
-II-
ALTHOUGH WE THANK GOD THAT NO AMERICANS ARE
DYING IN BATTLE TODAY, WE MUST RENEW OUR RESOLVE TO USE BOTH
OUR MORAL LEADERSHIP AND OUR MATERIAL STRENGTH TO KEEP THE
PEACE
-12-
OVER A CENTURY AGO, ANOTHER PRESIDENT STOOD
BEFORE AMERICA'S FALLEN AT GETTYSBURG AND SPOKE WORDS THAT
HAVE RUNG THROUGH THE DECADES OF OUR HISTORY
THEY ARE
PARTICULARLY APPROPRIATE TODAY:
-13-
"
IT IS RATHER FOR US TO BE HERE DEDICATED TO THE GREAT
TASK REMAINING BEFORE US -- THAT FROM THESE HONORED DEAD WE
TAKE INCREASED DEVOTION TO THAT CAUSE FOR WHICH THEY GAVE THE
LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION;
-14-
THAT WE HERE HIGHLY RESOLVE THAT THESE DEAD SHALL
NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN;
-15-
THAT THIS NATION,
UNDER GOD,
SHALL HAVE A NEW
BIRTH OF FREEDOM;
-16-
AND THAT GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE,
BY THE PEOPLE,
FOR THE PEOPLE,
SHALL NOT PERISH FROM THE EARTH."
END OF TEXT