President Donald Trump led a solemn Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier alongside Vice President JD Vance and top military officials.
Under crisp fall skies, the president’s delegation stood at attention during the National Anthem before Trump placed the presidential wreath at the iconic memorial. The haunting notes of Taps echoed across the rows of white headstones as uniformed servicemembers rendered salutes.
‘Undying Gratitude’ for Patriots
In subsequent remarks at the Memorial Amphitheater, Trump honored veterans spanning generations – from 103-year-old World War II corporal Jack Myers to active-duty personnel engaged in current operations against Iran. “We pay tribute to all who have worn the uniform,” Trump said, “who faced the enemy and stood as our protection in battle.”
Vice President Vance invoked Abraham Lincoln’s Lyceum Address, comparing veterans to “a forest of giant oaks” while calling them America’s “most important monuments.” The Ohio Republican brought the crowd to applause by declaring: “When our nation said ‘Send me,’ you were the ones who stood up.”
VA Secretary: Veterans ‘The Reason America Exists’
Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins delivered perhaps the day’s most impassioned tribute, connecting veterans’ sacrifices directly to constitutional freedoms. “Every time this country needed someone, a veteran stood up,” Collins said. “That someone is the reason you can vote, assemble, and speak freely today.”
The ceremony marked Trump’s first Veterans Day observance since returning to the White House, with the new administration emphasizing support for military families through expanded healthcare access and benefits reform. As dusk fell, visitors continued placing flags and flowers at gravesites across the 639-acre cemetery – a quiet testament to the day’s enduring message.
Source: www.breitbart.com โ https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/11/11/trump-honors-americas-veterans-with-wreath-laying-at-arlington-national-cemetery/