At Memorial Day Service, Obama Highlights End of ‘Major Ground War’

During Memorial Day Services Monday, President Obama reminded everyone present that he had successfully ended the war in Afghanistan.

“Today is the first Memorial Day in 14 years that the United States is not engaged in a major ground war,” he said during his speech, calling it an “especially meaningful” day.

Obama laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknowns at the Arlington National Cemetery. He pointed out that when he first took office, there were more than 100,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, but only 10,000 of them remain to train and assist Afghan soldiers today.

“We’ll continue to bring them home and reduce our forces further, down to an embassy presence by the end of next year,” he said. “But Afghanistan remains a very dangerous place. And as so many families know, our troops continue to risk their lives for us.”

Obama wants all Americans to remember the sacrifices made by those who served in the military.

“This may be the first Memorial Day since the end of our war in Afghanistan,” he said. “But we are acutely aware, as we speak, our men and women in uniform still stand watch and still serve, and still sacrifice around the world.”