“On this Memorial Day, I want to pay special tribute to the men and women who served in our Armed Forces and made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. As we remember them and pray for the families they left behind, we honor them and all they gave for our nation.

“Today, as we honor our nation's fallen heroes, we also pray for our soldiers who are still in harm's way in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. We honor their commitment to our nation and we pray for their safe return.

“Throughout our history – from the Revolutionary War to the War on Terrorism – American men and women have answered the call to defend democracy. It has not been an easy task and many sacrifices have been made. But, as we remember America's fallen, I am inspired by their courage and dedication to our ideals of democracy and freedom.

“On this Memorial Day, as we commemorate bravery and service of our fallen heroes, we also must ensure that their sacrifices will never be in vain.”