'Freedom Isn't Free': Melania Shares Powerful Memorial Day Message
First lady Melania Trump delivered a Memorial Day message via social media on Monday reminding Americans “freedom isn’t free.”
“On #MemorialDay we honor the many Americans who laid down their lives for our great country. As one nation under God, we come together to remember that freedom isn’t free,” Trump tweeted.
“Thank you to all the service members & their families who sacrifice so much to keep us safe.”
On #MemorialDay we honor the many Americans who laid down their lives for our great country. As one nation under God, we come together to remember that freedom isn’t free. Thank you to all the service members & their families who sacrifice so much to keep us safe. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/H6yhNQXyPg
— Melania Trump 45 Archived (@FLOTUS45) May 28, 2018
The first lady is currently recovering from minor kidney surgery that she underwent May 14 and has been out of the public eye since.
President Donald Trump paid his respects to the fallen on Monday by participating in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb on the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery before addressing thousands on hand at Memorial Amphitheater on the cemetery’s grounds.
During his remarks, the president singled out 7-year-old Christian Jacobs in the audience for special recognition
“Also joining us today is a very special friend, 7-year-old Christian Jacobs… Last year, after the wreath laying ceremony, Christian walked over to me with great confidence, shook my hand, looked me straight in the eye and asked if I would like to meet his dad,” @POTUS says pic.twitter.com/4taliwjpyY
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 28, 2018
“I met Christian exactly one year ago today,” Trump recounted. “Last year, after the wreath-laying ceremony, Christian walked over to me with great confidence, shook my hand, looked me straight in the eye, and asked if I would like to meet his dad.”
“He loved his dad, Marine Sergeant Christopher Jacobs, who died when Christian was just eight months old,” said Trump.
https://twitter.com/LisaKenolady/status/1001135632964612096
A picture of then 5-year-old Christian by his father’s gravesite went viral in 2015, showing the poignancy of the loss some were experiencing.
NPR reported that the boy’s father, Christopher, was killed during a training exercise in California in 2011.
According to his grave marker, the Marine was a veteran of both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Five-year-old Christian Jacobs pauses at his father’s gravestone at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day. pic.twitter.com/CyEtbehxkM
— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 30, 2016
Trump also recognized former Kansas senator and World War II veteran Bob Dole, who was in attendance at the Arlington ceremony.
Dole, 94, was severely wounded during operations in Italy in 1945.
After retiring from the Senate in 1996, Dole went on to serve as chairman for the National World War II Memorial located on the Washington Mall.
Pres Trump pays special tribute to war hero and former Senator Bob Dole. (Pool Photo by @albamonica) pic.twitter.com/dMPauo39xt
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) May 28, 2018
At the annual National Memorial Day Concert in Washington, D.C., on Sunday night, Medal of Honor recipient Hiroshi Miyamura and his war buddy, Silver Star recipient Joe Annello, were honored for their heroic deeds and the sacrifices they made during the Korean War.
Their story was portrayed by actors John Corbett and Brian Tee. (See video at top of the page.) Watch the entire concert, which aired on PBS, here.
Miyamura and Annello faced down an onslaught of Chinese soldiers and after fighting bravely against overwhelming numbers, became prisoners of war.
Each thought the other had died, but they joyously reunited after the war.
Now Miyamura and Annello do presentations in schools, so the students can learn about the Korean War and what it means to be good citizens.
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