The Media Line: President Trump Marks Veterans Day at Arlington;  Monument Displays Names of 41 Million Past and Present Service Members 

President Trump Marks Veterans Day at Arlington;  Monument Displays Names of 41 Million Past and Present Service Members 

By The Media Line Staff  

President Donald Trump honored American military veterans at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, November 11, defending the ongoing war against Iran while pledging continued support for former service members during the annual Veterans Day ceremony.  

The observance, attended by an estimated 5,000 people, began at 11 a.m. with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, followed by a parade of colors by veterans’ organizations and addresses at the Memorial Amphitheater.  

The Veterans Day commemorations also included a temporary installation on the National Mall honoring more than 41 million Americans who have served or are currently serving in the US military.  

The National Military Monument features two American flag displays, with names scrolling continuously across their stripes. Representing service members from different generations and military branches, the list takes several days to cycle through in its entirety. The installation will remain on display through November 12.  

First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance and Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins attended the Arlington ceremony.  

“On Veterans Day, we reaffirm our undying gratitude to every patriot who has answered the call of duty,” President Trump said.  

Among those recognized were 103-year-old World War II veteran Corporal Jack Myers, Vietnam War helicopter pilot Colonel Douglas Moore and Afghanistan veteran Sergeant First Class Ryan Hendrickson.  

President Trump also paid tribute to Marine veteran Dale Garner, who survived the 1983 Hezbollah bombing of the US Marine barracks in Beirut that killed 241 American service members.  

Addressing the war with Iran, which began in February, President Trump defended the military campaign, saying Tehran had been waging war against the United States since 1979.  

“America did not start a war with Iran,” he said.  

“We want to make sure we have a total victory, not a 93 percent victory,” President Trump declared.  

He predicted the conflict would end soon and claimed Iran would need 25 years to rebuild what American military operations had destroyed. Reported American casualties in the conflict range from 18 to 21 service members killed and 482 to 757 wounded or injured.  

Turning to veterans’ services, President Trump highlighted a 71% reduction in the Department of Veterans Affairs claims backlog and efforts to secure housing for nearly 100,000 homeless veterans. He also praised military recruitment figures.  

The address follows the president’s announcement last week of plans for a triumphal arch honoring veterans and the military. The proposed 250-foot structure near Arlington has faced legal opposition, including a lawsuit joined by members of the Kennedy family.  

Vice President Vance, himself a veteran, emphasized the obligation of former service members to advocate for those who follow them into military service.  

“We will never leave our veterans behind, ladies and gentlemen,” Vance said. “That is my most sacred promise to every person here today.”  

He praised Vietnam War veterans for advocating for benefits and government commitments extending to subsequent generations who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

Vance also recognized three World War II veterans attending the ceremony: Dave Yoho, Clifford Richardson and Julian Smith.  

The United States has approximately 17.1 million living veterans, including an estimated 30,607 World War II veterans. About 6.23 million served in combat or war zones, while women account for approximately 12% of the veteran population. The median veteran age is 63.  

Photo credit: The National Military Monument, a temporary installation, will be on display at the National Mall in Washington, DC, through Nov. 12 to honor 41 million veterans. (Courtesy)