Clinton Pays Tribute To Veterans, Bob Dole

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Nov. 11) -- Veterans Day was marked by a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetary, with a speech from President Bill Clinton, and later at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where both soldiers and victims of the war told their stories. (1.1M QuickTime movie)

Following the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns, Clinton called for a strengthening of America's "unity of spirit" and promising to continue investigations into the mysterious "Gulf War Illness."

"As we commemorate this day of reverence and respect, let us also remember this 'unity of spirit' that has guided our nation forward from its beginnings," Clinton said at Arlington National Cemetery. "No words can repay the debt of gratitude we owe to the men and women who have stood up for our freedom, but we can honor the memory of our veterans best by remaining the best kind of Americans we can be by keeping our nation strong and secure, one nation under God." (314K WAV sound)

President Clinton singled out his Republican campaign opponent Bob Dole's "record of achievement and patriotism to America" after being injured by a German shell during World War II. "He refused to withdraw from the world and instead dedicated his life to serving the American people," Clinton noted. The crowd gathered in the cemetery's amphitheater responded with a standing ovation.

Citing the work of American troops in Bosnia, Iraq, Korea and Haiti during his first term, the president called for support of both veterans and active members of the armed forces. (231K WAV sound) "Our freedom still comes at a cost. It depends upon the untiring efforts of our 1.5 million men and women in our armed forces who defend our nation, protect our interests, advance our ideals." (215K WAV sound)

As the world's remaining superpower, contended Clinton, the U.S. must continue its efforts to strengthen global alliances, reduce the threat of nuclear weapons, confront ethnic conflicts, promote human rights and fight organized crime, drug trafficking and terrorism. (281K WAV sound)

"If we are to realize our hopes for the future, we must ensure that America remains the world's strongest force for peace and freedom, security and prosperity," Clinton said.

Addressing the unexplained illnesses suffered by soldiers who served in the Gulf War, Clinton repeated his commitment to discovering the cause and cure. (256K WAV sound) "We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to investigate these cases and provide our Gulf War veterans with the medical care they need.... The United States will not forget the people who served us and we will not discharge our obligations to those who served in the Persian Gulf." (116K WAV sound)

The president urged Americans to look to their veterans as an example of the national ideal. "The silent white rows of crosses that surround us mark the final resting place of men and women of all services, all ranks, all races, all religions," Clinton said.

In the afternoon, an emotional ceremony was held at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Surrounded by the black granite wall engraved with the names of Americans who died in the war, veterans remembered the fighting and fallen friends, and in a poignant moment, a Vietnamese victim spoke and laid a wreath at the memorial.

Phan Thi Kim Phuc was nine-years-old when she was burned over most of her body during a napalm attack in what then was South Vietnam. An Associated Press photographer took Kim's picture as she ran shrieking in pain down a road outside her village. The photograph was published around the world and came to symbolize the horror of war.

Kim told the assembly that she forgives the pilot who dropped that bomb on the Buddhist temple where she and others had sought safety. (544K Vivo streaming movie)

"Even if I could talk face to face with the pilots who dropped the bombs I would tell him that we cannot change history, but we should try to do things for the present and the future to promote peace," Kim said.(256K WAV sound)

Kim is now 32 and lives in Toronto with her husband. She has had 17 major operations to repair the burns suffered from the napalm attack.

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Clinton Pays Tribute To Veterans, Bob Dole

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