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ANNOUNCER: WELCOME TO THE 32nd ANNUAL
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"NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT."
PLEASE RISE FOR OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM,
PERFORMED BY GRAMMY NOMINEE MICKEY GUYTON.
♪ O SAY CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT ♪
♪ WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING ♪
♪ WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS ♪
♪ THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT ♪
♪ O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED, WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING? ♪
♪ AND THE ROCKET'S RED GLARE, THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR ♪
♪ GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE ♪
♪ O SAY DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE ♪
♪ O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE ♪
♪ AND THE HOME OF THE BRA-AVE ♪
[FANFARE]
ANNOUNCER: AND NOW WELCOME TO THE 32nd ANNUAL
"NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT."
TONIGHT'S SPECIAL GUESTS ARE...
AMERICAN STATESMAN GENERAL COLIN POWELL,
ROCK 'N ROLL HALL-OF-FAME LEGEND GLADYS KNIGHT,
COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERSTAR ALAN JACKSON,
GRAMMY AWARD WINNER SARA BAREILLES,
EMMY WINNING ACTOR STEVE BUSCEMI,
21-TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNER VINCE GILL,
MOTOWN ICONS THE FOUR TOPS,
TONY AWARD AND SCREEN ACTORS GUILD NOMINEE MARY McCORMACK,
A STAR OF FILM AND TELEVISION... JOE MORTON,
OPERA SUPERSTAR DENYCE GRAVES,
EMMY AND SCREEN ACTORS GUILD WINNER KATHY BAKER,
A STAR OF FILM AND BROADWAY STAGE... BRIAN D'ARCY JAMES,
FILM AND TELEVISION STAR BAILEE MADISON,
AND ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC NOMINEE MICKEY GUYTON,
FEATURING THE NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
CONDUCTED BY MAESTRO JACK EVERLY
AND... GENERAL MARK A. MILLEY,
CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
AND THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF.
THE U.S. ARMY VOICES AND ARMY CHORUS,
THE SOLDIERS' CHORUS OF THE U.S. ARMY FIELD BAND,
THE U.S. NAVY SEA CHANTERS,
THE U.S. AIR FORCE SINGING SERGEANTS,
THE U.S. ARMY HERALD TRUMPETS,
THE ARMED FORCES SERVICE COLOR TEAMS.
THE "NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY...
THE HORATIO ALGER ASSOCIATION OF DISTINGUISHED AMERICANS
HONORS ALL WHO SERVE, INCLUDING 236 OF ITS ESTEEMED MEMBERS.
SINCE 1947, THE HORATIO ALGER AWARD HAS BEEN PRESENTED
TO OUTSTANDING AMERICANS WHO EMBODY THE AMERICAN DREAM...
BUILT ON HARD WORK, PERSEVERANCE, AND SUCCESS.
THROUGH THEM, THE ASSOCIATION HAS AWARDED $235 MILLION
IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO ENABLE 35,000 YOUTH
TO PURSUE THEIR AMERICAN DREAM THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION.
AND BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE,
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY,
THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING,
GENERAL DYNAMICS,
AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
AND NOW HERE ARE TONIGHT'S CO-HOSTS,
TONY AWARD WINNER JOE MANTEGNA
AND EMMY AWARD WINNER GARY SINISE.
WELCOME TO THE "NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT."
AS ALWAYS, THIS GREAT AMERICAN TRADITION
GIVES US A CHANCE TO UNITE IN TRIBUTE
AND REMEMBER ALL THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR OUR FREEDOM,
ALL WHO SERVE, AND THEIR FAMILIES.
OUT OF CONCERN FOR EVERYONE'S HEALTH,
THERE WILL NOT BE A LIVE AUDIENCE
ON THE WEST LAWN OF THE U.S. CAPITOL.
INSTEAD, TONIGHT'S CONCERT WILL FEATURE TRIBUTES
AND PERFORMANCES IN WASHINGTON D.C.,
AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY AND THE PENTAGON,
AND IN NEW YORK CITY, NASHVILLE,
AND HERE IN THIS VIRTUAL SPACE IN LOS ANGELES.
IT'S NO SECRET WE'VE BEEN LIVING THROUGH CHALLENGING TIMES,
AND OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THE FAMILIES OF THE
ALMOST 600,000 AMERICANS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THIS PANDEMIC,
BUT AS ALWAYS IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY,
WHENEVER THERE IS A CRISIS,
OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL...
WHETHER THEY ARE IN UNIFORM SERVING OVERSEAS
OR SERVING US HERE AT HOME.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SPECIAL MENTION OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS
AND THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE AND ITS MEMBERS
WHO LOST THEIR LIVES SERVING THEIR COUNTRY.
AND NOW WITH A TRIBUTE TO THOSE
WHO GAVE THEIR VERY BEST TO OUR NATION,
JOINING US FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.
IS THE NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
LED BY MAESTRO JACK EVERLY
AND GRAMMY-WINNING OPERA LEGEND, DENYCE GRAVES.
♪ ALL WE'VE BEEN GIVEN BY THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE ♪
♪ THE DREAM OF A NATION WHERE FREEDOM WOULD ENDURE ♪
♪ THE WORK AND PRAYERS OF CENTURIES ♪
♪ HAVE BROUGHT US TO THIS DAY ♪
♪ WHAT WILL BE OUR LEGACY? WHAT WILL OUR CHILDREN SAY? ♪
♪ LET THEM SAY OF ME I WAS ONE WHO BELIEVED ♪
♪ IN SHARING THE BLESSINGS I'VE RECEIVED ♪
♪ LET ME KNOW IN MY HEART WHEN MY DAYS ARE THROUGH ♪
♪ AMERICA, AMERICA, I GAVE MY BEST TO YOU ♪
♪ FOR THOSE WHO THINK THEY HAVE NOTHING TO SHARE ♪
♪ WHO FEAR IN THEIR HEARTS THERE IS NO HERO THERE ♪
♪ KNOW EACH QUIET ACT OF DIGNITY IS THAT WHICH FORTIFIES ♪
♪ THE SOUL OF A NATION THAT NEVER, NEVER DIES ♪
♪ LET THEM SAY OF ME I WAS ONE WHO BELIEVED ♪
♪ IN SHARING THE BLESSINGS I'VE RECEIVED ♪
♪ LET ME KNOW IN MY HEART WHEN MY DAYS ARE THROUGH ♪
♪ AMERICA, AMERICA ♪
♪ I GAVE MY BEST ♪
♪ TO YOU ♪
THANK YOU, DENYCE. THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
SO MANY AMERICANS HAVE GIVEN OF THEMSELVES IN SERVICE TO OUR NATION
IN CONFLICTS LARGE AND SMALL,
IN WARZONES FAR AWAY... IN FRANCE AND GERMANY,
THE PACIFIC THEATER AND KOREA,
IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN,
AND NOT TOO LONG AGO, IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.
MORE THAN A HALF-MILLION AMERICAN ARMED FORCES
WERE CALLED TO FIGHT THE VIETNAM WAR.
OVER 58,000 WOULD NEVER RETURN.
IMAGES OF YOUNG MEN FIGHTING AND DYING FLOODED OUR TV SCREENS.
MOSTLY UNSEEN WERE THE 265,000 WOMEN WHO SERVED WITH EQUAL DEDICATION.
THEY SERVED IN THE ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, AND MARINES.
THEY WERE INTELLIGENCE SPECIALISTS AND TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS.
THEY WERE VOLUNTEERS WITH THE RED CROSS AND THE USO.
OVER 11,000 OF THESE BRAVE AND COMMITTED WOMEN
WERE STATIONED IN-COUNTRY.
7,500 OF THEM WERE NURSES.
[HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING]
SINISE: THERE WERE NO FRONT LINES IN VIETNAM...
[GUNFIRE]
NO SAFE AREAS.
RELENTLESS GUERRILLA WARFARE LEFT WOUNDED AMERICAN SERVICE MEMBERS
IN DESPERATE NEED OF IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE.
MEDEVAC HELICOPTERS DELIVERED A NEVER-ENDING STREAM
OF MUTILATED AND DYING MEN TO MOBILE HOSPITALS.
DOCTORS AND NURSES WORKED PUNISHING ROUND-THE-CLOCK SHIFTS
TO SAVE LIVES,
OFTEN UNDER A SAVAGE BARRAGE OF ENEMY ROCKET AND MORTAR FIRE.
THEIR COURAGE AND DETERMINATION WERE ASTOUNDING.
THEY WAITED.
THEY WORKED.
THEY BROUGHT HOPE AND HUMANITY.
NURSES WITNESSED THE WORST OF WAR,
WHILE GIVING THE BEST THEY HAD.
THEIR LIVES, LIKE THOSE OF THE MEN THEY SOUGHT TO HEAL,
WERE FOREVER CHANGED.
THEY BECAME A "BAND OF SISTERS,"
FORGING A BOND WITH ONE ANOTHER THAT WOULD LAST A LIFETIME.
ONE OF THOSE NURSES WAS A 21-YEAR-OLD
FROM A MINNESOTA DAIRY FARM.
LIKE ALL THE WOMEN WHO SERVED IN THE VIETNAM ERA,
DIANE CARLSON VOLUNTEERED.
TO TELL HER STORY, FROM THE GROUNDS OF ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
AT THE WOMEN IN MILITARY SERVICE FOR AMERICA MEMORIAL,
PLEASE WELCOME AWARD-WINNING ACTRESS KATHY BAKER.
[AS DIANE CARLSON] I DIDN'T JOIN THE ARMY TO BE AN ARMY NURSE.
I WANTED TO BE AN ARMY NURSE IN VIETNAM.
THE DAY I LEFT, MY FATHER...
HE WASN'T EXACTLY THE MOST AFFECTIONATE PERSON...
HE GAVE ME THE BIGGEST HUG EVER AND SAID,
"I HAVE 4 SONS, AND NOW I SEND MY DAUGHTER OFF TO WAR."
THEY FLEW US NURSES TO VIETNAM IN SKIRTS
AND CUTE LITTLE SHOES.
THEN THE DOORS OPENED, AND YOU FELT THE OPPRESSIVE HEAT
AND SMELLED THE TERRIBLE STENCH.
A SOLDIER WITH A BANDOLIER OF BULLETS IS SHOUTING,
"GET DOWN! GET YOUR HEAD DOWN!"
YOU FELT NOTHING BUT TERROR.
I ENDED UP IN PLEIKU WORKING THE 71st EVACUATION HOSPITAL.
IT WAS PURE CHAOS.
WE WORKED IN HELMETS AND FLAK JACKETS
DURING INCOMING ENEMY FIRE.
PATIENTS ON EVERY TABLE, BLOOD EVERYWHERE YOU LOOKED.
THE BODIES CAME SO FAST,
IT WAS LIKE THEY WERE ON A CONVEYOR BELT.
THEN IT WAS DONE, AND WE'D HOSE DOWN THE FLOORS.
WE WORKED ON YOUNG MEN WHOSE CHESTS WERE SPLIT OPEN
OR WHOSE FACES WERE SCARRED BEYOND RECOGNITION
AND THEY'D LOST THEIR WILL TO LIVE.
MY BIGGEST FEAR WAS THAT ONE OF MY PATIENTS WOULD DIE ON MY WATCH
AND IT WOULD BE MY FAULT.
EVERYTHING IS BASED ON TRUST IN A WAR ZONE,
AND WE NURSES TRUSTED EACH OTHER,
BUT WE NEVER TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE SAW OR DID THAT DAY.
WE COULDN'T.
[HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING]
FOR THE TROOPS, THE SOUND OF CHOPPERS MEANT SALVATION.
FOR US, IT MEANT ONLY ONE THING: MORE DEATH.
A NURSE WOULD OFTEN BE THE LAST PERSON A SOLDIER SAW
OR TOUCHED OR TALKED TO BEFORE HE DIED.
I REMEMBER A YOUNG SOLDIER WRAPPED NEARLY HEAD TO TOE IN BANDAGES.
HIS WOUNDS WERE TOO SEVERE.
I KNEW HE WOULDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT.
"MA'AM," HE SAID. "PLEASE STAY.
I DON'T WANT TO DIE. DON'T LEAVE ME."
"I WON'T," I SAID. "I'M HERE WITH YOU."
I HELD HIS HAND AS IT GREW COLDER AND COLDER.
HE DIED A LITTLE AFTER MIDNIGHT.
I STILL COULDN'T LET GO OF HIS HAND.
I... I COULDN'T.
I REMEMBER PULLING THE SHEET OVER HIS FACE,
AND I KNEW THAT I WOULD NEVER FORGET THAT NIGHT AT HIS SIDE.
IN TIMES LIKE THAT, ALL YOU COULD DO IS PRAY FOR GRACE.
I RAN OUT OF PRAYERS IN PLEIKU.
EVERY DAY IN VIETNAM, I'D FELT PART OF SOMETHING WORTHWHILE,
BUT THINGS WERE DIFFERENT BACK HOME.
I COULDN'T RELATE TO MY OWN GENERATION.
I COULDN'T RELATE TO MY OWN COUNTRY.
PEOPLE TREATED ME AS IF I'D DONE SOMETHING SHAMEFUL,
BUT I WAS PROUD OF WHAT I'D DONE.
I TRIED TO GET ON WITH MY LIFE, BUT I WAS ALWAYS ON EDGE.
I COULDN'T SLEEP.
MY DREAMS BECAME A TANGLE OF VIETNAM CASUALTIES
CALLING OUT FOR THEIR MOTHERS
AND MY OWN KIDS CRYING OUT FOR ME.
TRYING TO GET OVER VIETNAM
WAS LIKE BEING OPERATED ON BY A RUSTY KNIFE.
WHAT MADE IT WORSE WAS THAT THERE WAS NOBODY I COULD TALK TO.
SO FINALLY, I JOINED A GROUP AT THE LOCAL VET CENTER...
THE 1 WOMAN WITH 9 MEN.
THEY WELCOMED ME INTO THEIR CIRCLE.
THEY MADE ME FEEL AS IF I BELONGED.
I REALIZED I WASN'T ALONE.
A COUNSELOR TOLD ME, "DIANE, YOU'RE SO ANGRY.
AND ANGER TURNED INWARD IS DEPRESSION."
I'D BEEN DENYING THE WHOLE VIETNAM EXPERIENCE.
I DIDN'T EVEN CONSIDER MYSELF A VETERAN.
WHEN I FIRST SAW THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL WALL,
IT TOOK MY BREATH AWAY.
WHO OF YOU DIED ON MY WATCH?
I'M SORRY WE COULDN'T SAVE YOU.
WE TRIED. WE ALL TRIED.
I FELT A HAND TAPPING ON MY SHOULDER.
AND I TURNED TO SEE THIS MAN IN A FADED FIELD JACKET.
"MA'AM, WERE YOU A NURSE IN VIETNAM?" HE ASKED.
I NODDED.
"I'VE WAITED A LIFETIME TO SAY THIS.
"THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE FOR US.
YOU'RE ALL WE HAD."
I FELT BLESSED.
I'D NEVER SHED A TEAR OVER MY TIME IN VIETNAM,
BUT THAT DAY, I CRIED.
THAT DAY, I CRIED.
UNTIL I HEARD THOSE SIMPLE WORDS "THANK YOU,"
I NEVER REALIZED HOW MUCH I NEEDED TO HEAR THEM.
WOMEN HAVE ALWAYS STEPPED UP TO SERVE
AND ALWAYS PROVEN THEMSELVES.
I WANTED WOMEN WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM
TO HAVE A PLACE THAT HONORED OUR SACRIFICE.
IN 1983, I MADE IT MY MISSION
TO CREATE THE FIRST-EVER MEMORIAL ON THE NATIONAL MALL
DEDICATED TO WOMEN WHO'D WORN THE MILITARY UNIFORM.
IT TOOK 10 YEARS TO BREAK GROUND, BUT WE PREVAILED.
THE VIETNAM WOMEN'S MEMORIAL IS A PLACE FOR HEALING.
TOGETHER, FAMILIES AND VETERANS FIND A SENSE OF PURPOSE
AND BELONGING THERE.
ALL SORROWS CAN BE BORNE IF WE SHARE OUR STORIES.
IT'S HARD, BUT ONCE WE SHARE THEM, IT SOFTENS THE PAIN.
I THINK ABOUT MY SERVICE IN VIETNAM EVERY DAY.
I WAS A VIETNAM NURSE.
WE SAVED THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WOUNDED
AND TOUCHED MANY OF THE 58,000 OTHERS
WHOSE NAMES ARE ETCHED IN BLACK GRANITE.
IT'S PART OF MY LIFE.
IT'S WHO I AM.
IT'S WHO WE ALL ARE.
WE REMEMBER.
[APPLAUSE]
CAN YOU STAND? CAN I HUG YOU?
YES. YOU WERE WONDERFUL!
I WAS SO NERVOUS. I WANT TO THANK YOU.
YOU WERE WONDERFUL. YOU USED MY WORDS.
I DID. WAS THAT WEIRD?
YOU USED MY WORDS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
GRAMMY WINNER SARA BAREILLES.
THIS SONG IS DEDICATED TO THE NURSES AND ALL THE WOMEN
WHO SERVED IN THE VIETNAM ERA.
THEIR COURAGE AND COMPASSION WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
♪ WHEN YOU'RE DOWN AND TROUBLED ♪
♪ AND YOU NEED A HELPIN' HAND ♪
♪ AND NOTHIN', OH, NOTHIN' IS GOIN' RIGHT ♪
♪ CLOSE YOUR EYES AND THINK OF ME ♪
♪ AND SOON I WILL BE THERE ♪
♪ TO BRIGHTEN EVEN YOUR DARKEST NIGHT ♪
♪ YOU JUST CALL OUT MY NAME ♪
♪ AND YOU KNOW, WHEREVER I AM ♪
♪ I'LL COME RUNNIN', MM-MMM ♪
♪ TO SEE YOU AGAIN ♪
♪ WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER OR FALL ♪
♪ ALL YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS CALL ♪
♪ AND I'LL BE THERE, YES, I WILL ♪
♪ NOW, AIN'T IT GOOD TO KNOW YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND ♪
♪ WHEN PEOPLE CAN BE SO COLD? ♪
♪ THEY'LL HURT YOU AND DESERT YOU ♪
♪ THEY'LL TAKE YOUR SOUL IF YOU LET THEM ♪
♪ NOW, DON'T LET THEM ♪
♪ YOU JUST CALL OUT MY NAME ♪
♪ AND YOU KNOW, WHEREVER I AM ♪
♪ I'LL COME RUNNIN', YEAH ♪
♪ TO SEE YOU AGAIN ♪
♪ WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER OR FALL ♪
♪ ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS CALL ♪
♪ AND I'LL BE THERE, YES, I WILL ♪
♪ YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND ♪
[APPLAUSE]
AND NOW A MAN WHO HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO OUR COUNTRY.
HE HAS BEEN A VERY IMPORTANT PART
OF THE "NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT" SINCE 1991,
AND WE'RE SO HONORED HE'S WITH US AGAIN.
PLEASE WELCOME GENERAL COLIN POWELL.
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU. TONIGHT WE HONOR THE OVER 265,000 WOMEN
WHO SERVED AROUND THE WORLD DURING THE VIETNAM ERA,
AND PAY SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THOSE OF YOU WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM.
I KNEW YOU THERE AS LINE OFFICERS AND ENLISTED PERSONNEL,
AS NURSES WHO SAW THE BLEAKEST,
MOST TERRIFYING FACE OF WAR,
DAY AFTER DAY, NIGHT AFTER HELLISH NIGHT.
WHEN I WAS HURT, YOU TOOK CARE OF ME.
FOR MALE SOLDIERS, THE WAR CAME IN FLASHES OF TERROR
AND OCCASIONAL DEATH,
BUT FOR THE NURSES, THE PAIN WAS UNRELENTING.
YOU WENT. YOU SERVED. YOU SUFFERED.
YOU CAME QUIETLY HOME
INTO A SOCIETY THAT DID NOT UNDERSTAND
THE FULL EXTENT OF YOUR SACRIFICE
AND THE GRIEF YOU CARRIED.
WE, AS A NATION, SHOULD HAVE THANKED YOU AND RECOGNIZED YOU
WHEN YOU CAME HOME.
YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMFORTED BY US
AS YOU COMFORTED SO MANY WOUNDED
AND DYING SOLDIERS IN VIETNAM.
AND YET IN SPITE OF YOUR PAIN, YOUR STORY IS ONE OF COURAGE,
HEALING, AND THE TRIUMPH OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT...
A STORY OF A SISTERHOOD THAT HAS REMAINED INTACT
AND INCLUDES ITS BROTHER VETERANS,
A STORY TO INSPIRE GENERATIONS OF SERVICEWOMEN
WHO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS.
THE VIETNAM WOMEN'S MEMORIAL,
AS ENVISIONED BY DIANE CARLSON EVANS,
WILL FOR ALL TIME BEAR WITNESS TO WHAT YOU DID,
YOUR ACTS OF HOPE AND STRENGTH,
TENDERNESS AND POWER,
AND ENSURE THAT ALL OF AMERICA
WILL REMEMBER THAT YOU SERVED WITH HONOR.
MY FELLOW VETERANS, YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR SACRIFICE
WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU, DIANE.
THANK YOU GENERAL POWELL.
THEY'VE EARNED THE TITLE OF THE GREATEST GENERATION,
BUT EVEN THOSE TWO POWERFUL WORDS DO NOT ADEQUATELY DESCRIBE
THEIR HEROISM DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
16 MILLION AMERICANS SERVED IN UNIFORM IN THAT EPIC CAUSE
AND MORE THAN 400,000 LOST THEIR LIVES.
SIMPLY PUT, THEY SAVED THE WORLD FROM GLOBAL TYRANNY
AND WHEN THEY CAME HOME, THEY LAID THE FOUNDATION
FOR THE AMERICA WE LIVE IN AND LOVE TODAY.
BOTH JOE AND I HAD UNCLES WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR II.
SADLY, THEY'RE NOW GONE,
AND THERE ARE FAR TOO FEW OF THEIR COMRADES LEFT.
ONE OF THE HEROES I GOT TO KNOW
IS PRIVATE FIRST-CLASS LAWRENCE BROOKS,
WHO IS OUR NATION'S OLDEST LIVING VETERAN.
THIS 111-YEAR-OLD IS AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL.
BROOKS: IT WAS EVERYTHING, IT WAS EVERYTHING.
I WAS IN SOUTH PACIFIC 2 YEARS AND 9 MONTHS.
THAT'S WHAT WE DID. SEE THAT AIRSTRIP THERE?
THAT'S WHAT OUR COMPANY BUILT.
MAN: JUST WANTED TO COME OVER AND SAY THANK YOU.
YOU REALLY PROVIDED OPPORTUNITY FOR A LOT OF US.
MAN: THERE'S NOTHING LIKE WHEN YOU TALK TO AN OLDER PERSON
AND FIND OUT THEIR EXPERIENCES, MAN.
IT'S LIKE LESSONS THAT YOU CAN'T GET ANYWHERE ELSE,
SO IT'S JUST A BLESSING TO KNOW MR. BROOKS NOW.
WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE HIM,
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING, TO LEAD US, BECAUSE
THAT IS GENIUS THAT WE JUST CAN'T MAKE UP RIGHT THERE.
MY MOTHER AND FATHER RAISED ME AND TOLD ME...
TO SERVE GOD AND BE NICE TO PEOPLE.
I GUESS THAT'S WHY I'VE BEEN LIVING SO LONG ALREADY.
I'M SO GLAD WE HAD A CHANCE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MR. BROOKS.
WHAT AN AMAZING MAN.
AT THE END OF WORLD WAR II,
WE WERE PRAYING THAT PEACE WOULD REIGN FOR A LONG TIME.
BUT AS WE KNOW, WITHIN A FEW SHORT YEARS,
FIGHTING WOULD BREAK OUT ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA.
IT'S BEEN JUST OVER 70 YEARS SINCE THE START OF THE KOREAN WAR.
MORE THAN 1.7 MILLION AMERICANS SERVED IN THIS BRUTAL CONFLICT.
CALLED A "POLICE ACTION" AT THE TIME
BY PRESIDENT HARRY S. TRUMAN AND THE UNITED NATIONS,
THE WAR LASTED 3 YEARS AND ENDED IN AN ARMISTICE
WITHOUT A FORMAL PEACE TREATY.
TENSIONS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA REMAIN HIGH
AS A RESULT OF THIS UNRESOLVED TRUCE,
KEEPING OUR MEN AND WOMEN STATIONED IN SOUTH KOREA
IN A STATE OF "HEIGHTENED ALERT."
TONIGHT, WE HONOR THE PROUD VETERANS
WHO ANSWERED THEIR COUNTRY'S CALL TO DUTY
AND THE MEMBERS OF AN ELITE UNIT WHO MADE HISTORY
WITH THEIR COURAGE AND VALOR.
[EXPLOSIONS]
MANTEGNA: JUNE 25, 1950.
NORTH KOREA, WITH SUPPORT FROM THE SOVIET UNION AND CHINA,
LAUNCHES A SURPRISE ATTACK AGAINST SOUTH KOREA.
AS COLD WAR TENSIONS IGNITE,
U.N. TROOPS COME TO SOUTH KOREA'S DEFENSE.
[EXPLOSIONS]
THE FIRST AMERICAN FORCES LAND IN EARLY JULY.
THEY FIGHT PUNISHING BATTLES
THAT RAGE ACROSS THE KOREAN PENINSULA.
[EXPLOSIONS]
U.N. FORCES BEGIN A PUSH ACROSS THE 38th PARALLEL
TOWARD THE CHINESE BORDER.
AN UNFORGIVING WINTER STALLS THE ADVANCE.
THE CHINESE BOLSTER NORTH KOREAN FORCES
WITH MASSIVE NUMBERS OF THEIR OWN SOLDIERS.
OUR TROOPS FACE HIDEOUS PRIVATIONS,
ENDURE THE TERRIBLE EXTREMES OF WEATHER,
STRUGGLE THROUGH THE SAVAGE TERRAIN.
MORE THAN 100,000 ARE WOUNDED.
37,000 AMERICANS LOSE THEIR LIVES
IN THE COUNTRY KNOWN AS "THE LAND OF THE MORNING CALM."
NONE WHO SURVIVES WILL EVER FORGET WHAT HE EXPERIENCED.
3 MONTHS INTO THE KOREAN WAR, THE ARMY ASKED FOR VOLUNTEERS
TO FORM 4 NEW RANGER INFANTRY COMPANIES,
INCLUDING AN ALL-AFRICAN AMERICAN UNIT.
MORE THAN 500 MEN APPLIED.
ONE OF THEM WAS A YOUNG MAN FROM OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
NAMED CLEVELAND VALREY.
HERE TO TELL SERGEANT VALREY'S STORY
IS DISTINGUISHED ACTOR JOE MORTON.
[AS SERGEANT VALREY] ALL IT TOOK FOR ME WAS TO SEE THE SIGN
IN THE RECRUITING OFFICE IN DOWNTOWN OAKLAND.
"JOIN THE ARMY, SEE THE WORLD."
THERE WAS NO QUESTION I WANTED TO BE A RANGER AND A PARACHUTIST.
ABOUT 120 OF US MADE THE GRADE.
WE WERE THE FIRST AND ONLY ALL-BLACK RANGER COMPANY...
A BLACK ELITE FORCE LED BY BLACK OFFICERS.
THE ARMY SENT US TO JUMP SCHOOL
IN FORT BENNING, GEORGIA, FOR TRAINING.
OUR BROTHER COMPANY, THE 4th RANGERS, WAS ALL WHITE.
WE BECAME GOOD FRIENDS.
WE PRACTICED SMALL-SCALE RAIDS BEHIND THE LINES
NEAR ENEMY HEADQUARTERS.
GET IN FAST, DO YOUR THING, GET OUT.
ALL OF US KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A LONG HAUL,
BUT WE WERE GUNG-HO, YOUNG, AND INVINCIBLE.
WE THOUGHT WE COULD DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.
MY FIRST MEMORY OF KOREA IS THE COLD.
WE ARRIVED IN THE DEAD OF WINTER.
THE WIND AND SNOW NEVER STOPPED BLOWING.
WE RODE IN OPEN-BED TRUCKS WITH NO CANVAS
WHEN IT WAS 20 BELOW.
THE PAIN WAS EXCRUCIATING.
THE 2nd RANGERS SAW COMBAT 7 DAYS AFTER WE LANDED.
WE TOOK SMALL ARMS FIRE AND GRENADES,
THEN THEY ATTACKED IN FULL FORCE.
THOUSANDS OF CHINESE SOLDIERS.
IF YOU GOT ONE, ANOTHER WOULD COME.
IF YOU GOT A HUNDRED, ANOTHER HUNDRED WERE RIGHT BEHIND THEM.
IT WAS TERRIFYING.
LOST OUR FIRST RANGER THAT NIGHT...
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS ISAAC BAKER.
THAT WAS A SHOCK.
NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU THINK YOU'RE PREPARED,
THAT FIRST MAN KILLED CHANGES THE WAY YOU LOOK AT THINGS.
BY THE END OF THE FIRST MONTH,
WE WERE DOWN TO ABOUT 60 MEN AND 1 OFFICER.
IF A BULLET DIDN'T GET YOU, THE FROSTBITE WOULD.
TAKE OFF YOUR BOOTS, ALL YOUR TOES WOULD BE FROZEN.
SOMETIMES THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD FOLLOW A TRAIL
WAS BY THE BLOODY FOOTPRINTS OF THE MAN WALKING AHEAD OF YOU.
I WAS NEXT TO MY PARTNER, JAMES OAKLEY,
WHEN THE ICE CRACKED RIGHT UNDER HIM.
I REACHED OUT MY HAND AND TRIED TO GRAB HIM.
HE HAD TOO MUCH WEIGHT ON HIS BACK.
ALL THAT HEAVY AMMUNITION PULLED HIM RIGHT UNDER.
THE CURRENT JUST...
TOOK HIM AWAY.
YOU DON'T DWELL ON IT RIGHT THEN.
YOU KNOW HE'S GONE AND NOT COMING BACK.
BUT LATER YOU THINK, "WHY DID HE GET KILLED AND I DIDN'T?
WHY HIM? WHY NOT ME?"
THERE WAS THIS ONE TIME I WAS LEADING THE SQUAD
ACROSS A FROZEN RIVER.
WE WERE TAKING FIRE FROM RIGHT IN FRONT OF US
AND ON EITHER SIDE.
I HEARD THE WORD "RETREAT."
ABOUT 6 GUYS HAD ALREADY CROSSED THE RIVER,
AND MOST OF MY SQUAD THAT TURNED TO GO BACK GOT HIT.
3 DAYS LATER, WE WENT BACK TO RETRIEVE THE BODIES.
FOUND THEM STRIPPED AND FROZEN SOLID.
EVERY ONE OF THEM HAD BEEN MACHINE-GUNNED,
BUT THERE WAS NO BLOOD BECAUSE IT WAS SO COLD.
YOU DON'T FORGET SOMETHING LIKE THAT. NOT EVER.
WAR IS HELL. IT JUST IS.
THERE'S NOTHING PRETTY ABOUT IT.
IN MARCH OF '51, THEY ATTACHED THE 2nd RANGERS
TO THE 187th AIRBORNE REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM
AS PART OF OPERATION TOMAHAWK.
IT WAS GOOD FRIDAY.
OUR COMMANDER SAID TO US, "MEN, WE'RE GONNA MAKE HISTORY."
AND WE DID.
THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN THE U.S. ARMY
THAT A BLACK UNIT WAS INCLUDED IN AN AIRBORNE COMBAT JUMP.
EVERY 2nd RANGER WANTED TO BE PART OF IT.
A FEW GUYS EVEN GOT THEMSELVES DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL EARLY
JUST SO THEY WOULDN'T MISS THE CHANCE.
WE ALL KNEW IT WAS DANGEROUS.
GUYS DID DIFFERENT THINGS BEFORE THE MISSION.
SOME WROTE LETTERS. I READ MY BIBLE.
IT WASN'T THE JUMP THAT BOTHERED ME.
IT WAS WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN NEXT.
HUH, PEOPLE SAY YOU CAN'T SEE TRACER BULLETS COMING TOWARD YOU.
DON'T BELIEVE IT.
I WAS GLAD TO HIT THE GROUND IN ONE PIECE.
BUT I LANDED RIGHT NEXT TO A CHINESE SOLDIER.
DIDN'T EVEN SEE HIM UNTIL AFTER A BROTHER RANGER SHOT HIM DEAD
AND SAVED MY LIFE.
I DOVE FOR COVER.
A WHITE SOLDIER DUG IN RIGHT NEXT TO ME
AND WE HEARD THE ARTILLERY WHISTLING OVERHEAD.
WE BOTH HUGGED THE GROUND A LITTLE BIT HARDER.
HUH, THERE'S NO DISCRIMINATION IN A FOXHOLE.
THE 2nd RANGERS TOOK OUR OBJECTIVE THAT DAY.
WE PROVED TO OURSELVES AND THE REST OF THE ARMY
THAT WE WERE GOOD AS ANYBODY.
IN KOREA, IT DIDN'T MATTER WHAT YOU BELIEVED
OR WHAT COLOR YOUR SKIN WAS.
WE WERE ALL AMERICANS... ONE NATION UNDER GOD.
THAT'S THE COUNTRY THE 2nd RANGERS FOUGHT FOR.
ON MEMORIAL DAY, I REMEMBER ALL THE MEN I KNEW WHO WE LOST.
I ALSO THINK OF THE NORTH KOREAN AND CHINESE SOLDIERS WE FOUND DEAD.
SOMETIMES THEY HAD PHOTOS OF THEIR FAMILIES
PINNED INSIDE THEIR UNIFORMS.
THAT MOVED ME DEEPLY.
I'VE HEARD KOREA CALLED "THE FORGOTTEN WAR,"
BUT NONE OF US WHO FOUGHT AND SUFFERED OVER THERE WILL EVER FORGET IT.
WE DID OUR COUNTRY PROUD.
AND WE REMEMBER.
[APPLAUSE]
MANTEGNA: AND NOW, HERE IS THE INCOMPARABLE GLADYS KNIGHT.
THIS SONG IS DEDICATED TO THE 2nd RANGERS
AND ALL OUR HEROES WHO FOUGHT IN THE KOREAN WAR.
AND I SAY THIS...
♪ IT MUST HAVE BEEN COLD THERE IN MY SHADOW ♪
♪ TO NEVER HAVE SUNLIGHT ON YOUR FACE ♪
♪ YOU WERE CONTENT TO LET ME SHINE ♪
♪ YOU ALWAYS WALKED A STEP BEHIND ♪
♪ WHOA-OA, I WAS THE ONE WITH ALL THE GLORY ♪
♪ MM-HMM ♪
♪ BUT YOU WERE THE ONE WITH ALL THE STRENGTH ♪
♪ A BEAUTIFUL FACE WITHOUT A NAME, OH, YEAH ♪
♪ AND I NEVER ONCE HEARD YOU COMPLAIN ♪
♪ WHOA OHH ♪
♪ DID YOU EVER KNOW THAT YOU'RE MY HERO, UH-HUH ♪
♪ AND EVERYTHING I'D LIKE TO BE? ♪
♪ OOH OOH ♪
♪ I CAN FLY HIGHER THAN AN EAGLE ♪
♪ 'CAUSE YOU ARE THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS ♪
♪ IT MIGHT HAVE APPEARED TO GO UNNOTICED ♪
♪ BUT I'VE GOT IT ALL RIGHT HERE ♪
♪ RIGHT HERE IN MY HEART ♪
♪ OHH, I WANT YOU TO KNOW I KNOW THE TRUTH ♪
♪ OH, YEAH ♪
♪ OH, AND I WOULD BE NOTHING WITHOUT YOU ♪
♪ WHOA-OA ♪
♪ DID YOU EVER KNOW THAT YOU'RE MY HERO? ♪
♪ UH-HUH, AND EVERYTHING I'D LIKE TO BE ♪
♪ OOOH ♪
♪ I COULD FLY HIGHER ♪
♪ HIGHER ♪
♪ HIGHER THAN AN EAGLE ♪
♪ FOR YOU ARE THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS ♪
♪ DID YOU EVER KNOW? ♪
♪ OH, YEAH ♪
♪ I'LL FLY SO HIGH ♪ ♪ DID YOU EVER KNOW? ♪
♪ MMM ♪
♪ YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW ♪
♪ YOU ARE THE WIND BENEATH ♪
♪ MY WINGS ♪
ONCE AGAIN, FROM ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY,
HERE IS GENERAL COLIN POWELL.
[APPLAUSE]
WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE 3 MEMBERS OF THE 2nd RANGERS
WHO ARE WITH US TONIGHT.
ON BEHALF OF ALL AMERICANS,
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS SERVICE.
THE 2nd RANGER INFANTRY COMPANY SHATTERED STEREOTYPES.
THESE RANGERS MADE AN HISTORIC CONTRIBUTION
TO RACIAL EQUALITY IN THE MILITARY
AND PROVED THE ABILITY OF BLACK SOLDIERS.
THEIR STORY, AND THAT OF OTHER AFRICAN-AMERICANS
WHO FOUGHT IN THE KOREAN WAR, INSPIRED ME,
HELPED ME TO IMAGINE A CAREER IN THE MILITARY
AND SET THE STAGE FOR ME AND SO MANY OTHERS TO SUCCEED.
THEY SHOWED THE WAY.
AND IT IS FOR THEIR COURAGE AND THEIR WILLINGNESS
TO FIGHT FOR THE VALUES OF OUR NATION THAT WE HONOR THEM.
TONIGHT, WE PAY TRIBUTE TO THE HEROISM OF ALL OUR KOREAN WAR VETERANS.
WE RENEW OUR PROMISE ALWAYS TO REMEMBER THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY
AND THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE OF THE MORE THAN 36,000 SOLDIERS
THAT GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THIS FIERCE AND BRUTAL WAR.
WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE DISTINGUISHED VETERANS
OF THE KOREAN WAR HERE WITH US.
WE SALUTE YOU AND ALL YOUR FELLOW BROTHERS IN ARMS.
AND NOW, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING THESE TRUE AMERICAN HEROES.
[APPLAUSE]
[NO AUDIO]
THANK YOU, GENERAL POWELL.
THE GULF WAR BEGAN 30 YEARS AGO
WHEN OUR NATION LAUNCHED OPERATION DESERT STORM.
WE THANK ALL THOSE WHO FOUGHT AND SACRIFICED IN THAT CONFLICT,
AND WE REMEMBER ALL THE GOLD STAR FAMILIES
OF THOSE WHO WERE LOST.
IT'S SO HARD FOR THOSE WHO ARE DEPLOYED OVERSEAS
AND MISSING THEIR LOVED ONES.
AND IT IS EQUALLY HARD FOR THEIR FAMILIES HERE AT HOME.
THERE'S AN ACHE, A LONGING, A NEED TO CONNECT
AND TO ALWAYS SHOW EACH OTHER THEIR SUPPORT AND LOVE,
NO MATTER HOW FAR APART.
WITH A SONG THAT SPEAKS TO THAT,
HERE ARE RECIPIENTS OF THE GRAMMY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD,
THE FOUR TOPS.
THE FOUR TOPS: ♪ OOH OOH OOH OOH ♪
AMERICA, TO ALL THE TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES,
TO THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY SERVED,
FROM THE FOUR TOPS ON MEMORIAL DAY...
♪ OOH OOH OOH OOH ♪
♪ BABY, I NEED YOUR LOVIN' ♪
♪ I REALLY NEED ♪
♪ BABY, I NEED YOUR LOVIN' ♪
♪ ALTHOUGH YOU'RE NEVER NEAR ♪
♪ I REALLY NEED ♪
♪ YOUR VOICE I OFTEN HEAR ♪
♪ I REALLY NEED ♪
♪ ANOTHER DAY, 'NOTHER NIGHT ♪
♪ I REALLY NEED ♪
♪ I LONG TO HOLD YOU TIGHT ♪
♪ 'CAUSE I'M SO LONELY ♪
ALL: ♪ BABY, I NEED YOUR LOVIN' ♪
♪ GOT TO HAVE ALL YOUR LOVIN' ♪
♪ BABY, I NEED YOUR LOVIN' ♪
♪ GOT TO HAVE ALL YOUR LOVIN' ♪
♪ SOME SAY IT'S A SIGN OF WEAKNESS ♪
♪ FOR A MAN TO BEG, YEAH ♪
♪ THEN WEAK I WOULD RATHER BE ♪
♪ IF IT MEANS HAVING YOU TO KEEP ♪
♪ 'CAUSE LATELY I'VE... I'VE BEEN LOSING SLEEP ♪
♪ WELL, BABY, I NEED YOUR LOVIN' ♪
♪ GOT TO HAVE ALL YOUR LOVIN' ♪
♪ BABY, I NEED YOUR LOVIN' ♪
♪ GOT TO HAVE ALL YOUR LOVIN' ♪
♪ OOH OOH OOH OOH ♪
♪ EMPTY NIGHTS ECHO YOUR NAME, YEAH ♪
♪ SOMETIMES I WONDER, I WONDER, I WONDER ♪
♪ IF I'LL EVER BE THE SAME ♪
♪ OH, YEAH! ♪
♪ AND, BABY, I NEED YOUR LOVIN' ♪
♪ GOT TO HAVE ALL YOUR LOVIN' ♪
♪ BABY, I NEED YOUR LOVIN' ♪
♪ GOT TO HAVE ALL YOUR LOVIN' ♪
THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
2021 MARKS THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER
AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY...
A FOCAL POINT TO BRING ALL AMERICANS TOGETHER
TO REFLECT UPON AND REMEMBER THOSE
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR OUR COUNTRY.
AND 2021 ALSO MARKS THE 80th ANNIVERSARY
OF THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR
THAT BROUGHT AMERICA INTO THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT CALLED DECEMBER 7th 1941
A DATE THAT WOULD LIVE IN INFAMY.
FOR US, ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY,
THIS 80th ANNIVERSARY YEAR IS A CHANCE TO REFLECT
AND REMEMBER THE 2,400 LIVES LOST
AND TO BE GRATEFUL TO THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS
WHO UNITED TO SAVE THE WORLD.
WE RECENTLY REACHED OUT TO VETERANS WHO WERE THERE AT PEARL HARBOR
AND ASKED THEM TO BE PART OF THIS CONCERT.
WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE
AND FOR GIVING US A FEW MOMENTS OF THEIR PRECIOUS TIME.
7 MINUTES TO 8:00, THE PHONE RANG.
I PICKED UP THE PHONE THERE,
AND THE GUY SAYS, "THE JAPANESE ARE ATTACKING PEARL HARBOR."
MAN: WHEN THE SHIP BLEW UP IN 7, 8 MINUTES THERE,
1,177 WERE KILLED IMMEDIATELY.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW. THEY DIDN'T HAVE TIME.
THEY GOT TO THEIR BATTLE STATIONS, AND THAT WAS ALL.
BY THE TIME I GET UP THERE, PLANES ARE BUZZING AROUND,
BUILDINGS ARE BURNING HERE... IT'S CHAOS.
I'M NOT A HERO, I JUST DID MY JOB THE BEST I COULD.
AND PEARL HARBOR IS ALWAYS A DATE TO REMEMBER
THE 2,403 KILLED HERE THAT SUNDAY,
OF WHICH 1,177 WERE MY SHIPMATES ABOARD THE "ARIZONA."
YOU'LL NEVER... YOU'LL NEVER FORGET 'EM, NEVER.
MAN: I'M PROUD OF MY SERVICE. I'M PROUD OF MY COUNTRY.
I'D DO IT AGAIN,
BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DIED FOR THIS COUNTRY.
THEY DIED FOR LIBERTY THERE,
AND THEY DIED FOR YOU.
MEMORIAL DAY IT'S AN IMPORTANT DAY
TO HONOR ALL THE ONES THAT ARE PASSED.
60 YEARS AFTER PEARL HARBOR,
OUR NATION WAS ONCE AGAIN UNDER ATTACK ON OUR HOME SOIL.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, SHATTERED OUR SENSE OF SECURITY AND PEACE.
IT TOOK SOME TIME FOR THE BUILDINGS TO RISE AGAIN
FROM THE ASHES AND DUST OF THAT DAY 20 YEARS AGO,
BUT MORE IMPORTANT, AS THE DAYS WENT BY,
SO ROSE THE AMERICAN SPIRIT.
WE WERE REMINDED OF OUR SHARED VALUES AND OF OUR UNITY AS A PEOPLE.
THE HEALING BEGAN, AND IT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY,
BUT THE SCARS WILL NEVER FULLY FADE...
FOR WE ALL KNOW THAT OUR MEMORIES OF SEPTEMBER 11th
WILL BE SEARED IN OUR MINDS AND HEARTS FOREVER.
WHERE WERE YOU THAT DAY?
I WAS AT HOME IN LOS ANGELES WHEN I GOT A CALL FROM A FRIEND TO TURN ON THE TV.
LIKE EVERYONE, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO THINK.
I WAS IN SHOCK.
WHILE THE BOMBING OF PEARL HARBOR
WAS AN ATTACK ON OUR MILITARY, OUR PACIFIC FLEET,
THE TERRORIST ATTACK ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001,
WAS AN ATTACK ON BOTH OUR MILITARY AT THE PENTAGON
AND OUR CIVILIAN POPULATION AS WELL.
IT SHOOK THE WORLD, AND IT WAS A DAY THAT I'LL NEVER FORGET.
WHAT ABOUT YOU JOE?
I WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN MY FIRST DAY OF SHOOTING ON A NEW TV SHOW.
AND AS I WAS GETTING READY,
MY WIFE RAN INTO THE ROOM SAYING, "TURN ON THE TV".
AS I WATCHED, I FELT SO HELPLESS.
A FEW MONTHS LATER, I WAS ASKED IF I WANTED TO TAKE PART
IN THE "NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT"
TO SHARE THE STORY OF 4 NEW YORK CITY FIREFIGHTERS
WHO LOST THEIR SONS THAT DAY.
I DID THAT, AND HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS CONCERT EVER SINCE.
SEPTEMBER 11th FOREVER CHANGED HOW I THINK OF MEMORIAL DAY.
FOR ME, IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY WE HAVE AS A NATION.
THE TRAGIC EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11th CHANGED THINGS FOR SO MANY AMERICANS.
AMONG THEM WAS AN ACTOR WHO HAD ONCE WORKED AS A NEW YORK CITY FIREFIGHTER.
IN THE DAYS AFTER THE ATTACK,
HE VOLUNTEERED TO HELP HIS FORMER COLLEAGUES AT THE FIREHOUSE
TRY AND LOCATE BODIES OF THE MISSING.
COMING TO US FROM GROUND ZERO,
OVERLOOKING THE 9/11 MEMORIAL IN MANHATTAN
IS THAT FORMER FIREFIGHTER,
THE ACCLAIMED ACTOR STEVE BUSCEMI.
WE WOKE TO A BRIGHT SEPTEMBER DAY FULL OF PROMISE.
ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE WERE TAKING KIDS TO SCHOOL,
GOING TO WORK, HAVING COFFEE WITH FRIENDS,
AND THEN THE PHONE CALLS BEGAN.
"OH, MY GOD, A PLANE HIT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER?"
"HOW COULD THAT HAPPEN?"
"ARE YOU WATCHING THIS?" "TURN ON YOUR TV."
AND A MORNING THAT BEGAN SO SUNNY AND BRIGHT
WAS THE BEGINNING OF AMERICA'S DARKEST HOURS.
[SIRENS]
WE WATCHED IN DISBELIEF AT THE FLAMES FROM THE NORTH TOWER
SHOOTING INTO THE SKY, THE AIR FILLING WITH SMOKE,
AND THEN FLIGHT 175
FLIES FULL FORCE INTO THE SECOND TOWER.
[CRYING]
THE CITY'S BRAVEST AND FINEST RUNNING TOWARDS DANGER
TO HELP SAVE THOSE FLEEING FROM IT...
IMAGES THAT CAN NEVER BE ERASED FROM MEMORY,
PICTURES THAT WILL NEVER BE LOST TO TIME.
THERE'S CONFUSION AND CHAOS,
AND EVERY PASSING MINUTE BRINGS A NEW TRAGEDY.
[CRASH]
A THIRD JET VEERS INTO D.C. AIRSPACE AT GROUND LEVEL,
EXPLODING IN THE NERVE CENTER OF OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE,
KILLING OVER 200 PEOPLE.
HEROES IN UNIFORM AND CIVILIAN WORKERS RUSH TO THE RESCUE,
LEADING THOUSANDS TO SAFETY
AND EVACUATING CHILDREN IN THE PENTAGON DAY CARE CENTER.
OVER A HUNDRED MILES AWAY, IN THE SKY OVER PENNSYLVANIA,
PASSENGERS ON FLIGHT 93 CALL THEIR LOVED ONES TO SAY GOOD-BYE
AND THEN LAUNCH A COURAGEOUS ATTACK TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE PLANE.
IT PLUNGES INTO AN ISOLATED FIELD IN SHANKSVILLE,
BUT THE SACRIFICE OF THOSE ON BOARD THAT DAY
SAVES COUNTLESS LIVES IN OUR NATION'S CAPITAL.
THEN, AS THOUSANDS WATCH FROM THE STREETS
AND TENS OF MILLIONS WATCH AT HOME,
THE SOUTH TOWER COLLAPSES.
[SIRENS]
102 MINUTES AFTER THE FIRST ATTACK, THE NORTH TOWER FALLS.
MAN: LOTS OF SMOKE BUILDING UP ABOVE THE TOWER...
IN LESS THAN 2 HOURS, ALMOST 3,000 HUMAN SOULS WERE LOST.
THEY WERE MOMS AND DADS, SONS AND DAUGHTERS,
SENIOR CITIZENS WITH FOND MEMORIES OF DAYS PAST,
YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DREAMS OF TOMORROW.
AND IT DIDN'T MATTER THEIR COLOR OR RELIGION,
WHO THEY WERE OR WHERE THEY WERE FROM,
FOR ON THAT DAY, THEY ALL WERE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
AT MANHATTAN'S ENGINE COMPANY 55 WHERE I WORKED FOR A FEW YEARS,
THE GUYS I SERVED WITH EACH KNEW 20 TO 30 FIREFIGHTERS
WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.
5,000 CHILDREN LOST A PARENT THAT DAY.
5,000!
880 OF THEM WERE FIREFIGHTER'S KIDS.
IN THE HOURS THAT FOLLOWED, WE DID MORE THAN MOURN.
OUR GRIEF AND ANGER WERE THE CATALYSTS
TO BRING AMERICANS TOGETHER,
DOING WHATEVER WE COULD TO HELP...
DONATING BLOOD, GIVING COMFORT TO FRIENDS AND TO STRANGERS ALIKE,
SEARCHING FOR SURVIVORS,
BUT THERE WERE SO FEW TO FIND.
AS DAY TURNED INTO NIGHT THAT SEPTEMBER 11th,
20 YEARS AGO A SKYLINE AND A NATION WERE FOREVER CHANGED,
BUT THE FIRES THAT BURNED HELPED FORGE A SPIRIT OF UNITY.
FROM THE DUST AND DEBRIS, HEROES AROSE,
AND THE MEMORIALS THAT STAND TODAY ON THOSE HALLOWED GROUNDS
REMIND US OF THE PROMISES WE MADE TO THOSE WE LOST
AND TO THEIR FAMILIES THAT WE WILL NEVER FORGET.
AND NOW WITH A SONG THAT RESONATED SO POWERFULLY
WITH SO MANY AMERICANS BACK THEN, AND TODAY,
HERE IS ALAN JACKSON.
[SONG INTRO PLAYING]
♪ WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THE WORLD STOPPED TURNIN' ♪
♪ ON THAT SEPTEMBER DAY? ♪
♪ WERE YOU IN THE YARD WITH YOUR WIFE AND CHILDREN ♪
♪ OR WORKIN' ON SOME STAGE IN L.A.? ♪
♪ DID YOU STAND THERE IN SHOCK AT THE SIGHT OF THAT BLACK SMOKE ♪
♪ RISIN' AGAINST THAT BLUE SKY? ♪
♪ DID YOU SHOUT OUT IN ANGER, IN FEAR FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR ♪
♪ OR DID YOU JUST SIT DOWN AND CRY? ♪
♪ DID YOU WEEP FOR THE CHILDREN THAT LOST THEIR DEAR LOVED ONES ♪
♪ PRAY FOR THE ONES WHO DON'T KNOW? ♪
♪ DID YOU REJOICE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WALKED FROM THE RUBBLE ♪
♪ AND SOB FOR THE ONES LEFT BELOW? ♪
♪ DID YOU BURST OUT WITH PRIDE FOR THE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE ♪
♪ AND THE HEROES WHO DIED JUST DOIN' WHAT THEY DO? ♪
♪ DID YOU LOOK UP TO HEAVEN FOR SOME KIND OF ANSWER ♪
♪ AND LOOK AT YOURSELF AND WHAT REALLY MATTERS? ♪
♪ I'M JUST A SINGER OF SIMPLE SONGS ♪
♪ I'M NOT A REAL POLITICAL MAN ♪
♪ I WATCH CNN, BUT I'M NOT SURE I CAN TELL YOU ♪
♪ THE DIFFERENCE IN IRAQ AND IRAN ♪
♪ BUT I KNOW JESUS, AND I TALK TO GOD ♪
♪ AND I REMEMBER THIS FROM WHEN I WAS YOUNG ♪
♪ FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE ARE SOME GOOD THINGS HE GAVE US ♪
♪ AND THE GREATEST IS LOVE ♪
♪ AND WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THE WORLD STOPPED TURNIN' ♪
♪ ON THAT SEPTEMBER DAY? ♪
♪ TEACHIN' A CLASS FULL OF INNOCENT CHILDREN ♪
♪ OR DRIVIN' DOWN ON SOME COLD INTERSTATE? ♪
♪ DID YOU FEEL GUILTY 'CAUSE YOU'RE A SURVIVOR? ♪
♪ IN A CROWDED ROOM, DID YOU FEEL ALONE? ♪
♪ DID YOU CALL UP YOUR MOTHER AND TELL HER YOU LOVED HER? ♪
♪ DID YOU DUST OFF THAT BIBLE AT HOME? ♪
♪ DID YOU OPEN YOUR EYES AND HOPE IT NEVER HAPPENED ♪
♪ CLOSE YOUR EYES AND NOT GO TO SLEEP? ♪
♪ DID YOU NOTICE THE SUNSET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN AGES ♪
♪ AND SPEAK TO SOME STRANGER ON THE STREET? ♪
♪ DID YOU LAY DOWN AT NIGHT AND THINK OF TOMORROW ♪
♪ GO OUT AND BUY YOU A GUN? ♪
♪ DID YOU TURN OFF THAT VIOLENT OLD MOVIE YOU'RE WATCHIN' ♪
♪ AND TURN ON "I LOVE LUCY" RERUNS? ♪
♪ DID YOU GO TO A CHURCH AND HOLD HANDS WITH SOME STRANGER ♪
♪ STAND IN LINE TO GIVE YOUR OWN BLOOD? ♪
♪ DID YOU JUST STAY HOME AND CLING TIGHT TO YOUR FAMILY ♪
♪ THANK GOD YOU HAD SOMEBODY TO LOVE? ♪
♪ I'M JUST A SINGER OF SIMPLE SONGS ♪
♪ I'M NOT A REAL POLITICAL MAN ♪
♪ I WATCH CNN, BUT I'M NOT SURE I CAN TELL YOU ♪
♪ THE DIFFERENCE IN IRAQ AND IRAN ♪
♪ BUT I KNOW JESUS, AND I TALK TO GOD ♪
♪ AND I REMEMBER THIS FROM WHEN I WAS YOUNG ♪
♪ FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE ARE SOME GOOD THINGS HE GAVE US ♪
♪ AND THE GREATEST IS LOVE ♪
♪ THE GREATEST IS LOVE ♪
♪ AND WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THE WORLD STOPPED TURNIN' ♪
♪ ON THAT SEPTEMBER ♪
♪ DAY? ♪
WE ALL THANK ALAN.
WE KNOW HOW BUSY HE'S BEEN WITH HIS NEW ALBUM "WHERE HAVE YOU GONE,"
BUT BEING A PART OF THIS TRIBUTE WAS SO IMPORTANT TO HIM
THAT HE WANTED TO SHARE HIS POWERFUL SONG
THAT RESONATED WITH SO MANY AMERICANS BACK THEN AND TODAY.
SINCE 9/11, OVER 3 MILLION MEN AND WOMEN
HAVE SERVED IN OUR ARMED FORCES AROUND THE GLOBE.
THE WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN
HAVE CLAIMED THE LIVES OF OVER 7,000 SERVICEMEMBERS
AND LEFT TENS OF THOUSANDS WOUNDED, ILL, AND INJURED.
AS THE END TO AMERICA'S LONGEST WAR APPEARS IN SIGHT,
WE LOOK FORWARD TO OPENING OUR ARMS TO THOSE
WHO WILL SOON BE RETURNING HOME.
WE SALUTE THOSE WHO GAVE THE LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION
IN THEIR COUNTRY'S SERVICE,
AND WE GRIEVE WITH THE FAMILIES LEFT BEHIND.
A GENERATION OF MEN AND WOMEN INSPIRED BY LOVE FOR THEIR COUNTRY...
A GENERATION WHO PUT FEAR BEHIND THEM...
A GENERATION AT WAR.
SOLDIER: GO! [GUNFIRE]
SINISE: FOR 20 YEARS, OUR PATRIOTIC SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN
HAVE BRAVED MULTIPLE DEPLOYMENTS,
FACED THE BRUTALITY OF UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE...
SNIPERS, UNCEASING GUERRILLA ATTACKS, AND IEDs.
SOME HAVE RETURNED TO THE TEARFUL, LOVING EMBRACE OF THEIR FAMILIES.
[SOLDIERS SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]
OTHERS BEAR THE TERRIBLE SCARS OF BATTLE
AND THE INVISIBLE WOUNDS OF POST TRAUMATIC STRESS.
[EXHALES] GOT AWAY, MAN... AGAIN.
SINISE: TOO MANY HAVE MADE A FINAL HOMECOMING
SHROUDED IN HONOR AND SACRIFICE.
EVERY LOSS TEARS A HOLE IN A DELICATE FABRIC OF RELATIONSHIPS.
PARENTS, CHILDREN, FRIENDS.
THEY WAITED, WHILE A GENERATION AT WAR CONTINUED TO SERVE.
STAFF SERGEANT JOSEPH PHANEUF WAS A VOLUNTEER CITIZEN-SOLDIER
IN THE CONNECTICUT NATIONAL GUARD WHEN HE FELL IN LOVE WITH HIS WIFE, MICHELE.
HERE TO SHARE THE STORY OF THE PHANEUF FAMILY,
ACCLAIMED ACTRESSES MARY McCORMACK AND BAILEE MADISON.
[APPLAUSE]
[AS MICHELE PHANEUF] JOE LIVED TWO TOWNS OVER FROM OURS.
HIS HIGH SCHOOL WAS OUR ARCH RIVAL.
SO I KNEW WHO HE WAS.
HE WAS CUTE. NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
BUT, BOY, COULD HE BE COCKY.
ONE DATE WITH JOE WAS ALL IT TOOK.
FAST FORWARD, AND WE'RE MARRIED
AND RAISING RYAN, DANIELLE AND JORDAN.
JOE BECAME A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER UNDER MY DAD,
AND COACHED BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL.
I WAS WORKING AS AN EMT AND TAKING CARE OF THE KIDS.
AFTER A WHILE, JOE DECIDED TO END HIS STINT WITH THE GUARD
TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH US.
ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, JOE CALLED ME FROM WORK, BESIDE HIMSELF.
HE WANTED TO GO RIGHT AWAY TO HELP,
BUT I TALKED HIM OUT OF IT.
A FEW WEEKS LATER, WE DROVE INTO THE CITY.
EVERYTHING WAS STILL COVERED IN DUST.
WHEN JOE SAW THE GUARD PATROLLING,
THAT'S WHEN HE STARTED THINKING HE NEEDED TO GET BACK IN.
HE WAS DETERMINED TO HELP TRACK DOWN THE TERRORISTS.
YOU WEREN'T GOING TO MESS WITH HIS AMERICA,
NOT WITH HIS WORLD, NOT ON HIS WATCH.
[AS JORDAN PHANEUF] DAD WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR US.
I LOVED HIS LAUGH MOST OF ALL.
I WAS ONLY 6 THE FIRST TIME THAT HE LEFT FOR DEPLOYMENT.
HE TRIED TO ACT TOUGH, BUT CRIED WHEN HE HUGGED US.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF IT, NOT THEN.
JOE KEPT IN TOUCH AS OFTEN AS HE COULD FROM IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.
HE'D CALL OR EMAIL, NO MATTER WHERE HE WAS,
AND HE'D ALWAYS SEND PHOTOS.
MADISON, AS JORDAN: THERE'S PICTURES OF HIM IN THE BARRACKS,
WEARING THESE FUNNY COSTUMES.
HE WOULD GIVE CANDY TO THE KIDS OVER THERE.
HE WAS ALWAYS TRYING TO LIFT PEOPLE'S SPIRITS,
THAT WAS MY DAD.
JOE FELT INVINCIBLE.
THE LAST EMAIL I GOT FROM HIM SAID, "HEY, HONEY...
"I'LL TEXT YOU WHEN I GET BACK FROM THE MISSION.
I'M OFF TO DISCOVER NEW AND UNCHARTED LANDS."
IT WAS EARLY MORNING, DECEMBER 16th.
JORDAN HAD FALLEN ASLEEP ON MY BED.
I HEARD A CAR DRIVE UP.
WE HAD THIS GRAVEL DRIVEWAY,
AND YOU COULD HEAR THE ROCKS CRUNCHING
AS IT ROLLED PAST THE WINDOW.
I JUMPED UP TO SEE WHO IT WAS.
[INHALES]
WHEN I STEPPED OUTSIDE, I SAW TWO MEN IN ARMY UNIFORMS
GETTING OUT OF THE CAR JUST LIKE YOU SEE IN THE MOVIES.
I KNEW RIGHT THEN.
THEY CAME UP THE STEPS,
"MICHELE PHANEUF... CAN WE COME IN?"
I GOT UP AND WENT INTO THE LIVING ROOM.
I SAW MY SISTER DANNY, AND I WAS, LIKE, "WHAT'S GOING ON?"
AND SHE SAID..."DAD."
I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT CAME OUT OF MY MOUTH.
I REMEMBER MY DANNY SCREAMING.
SHE JUST STARTED SCREAMING.
I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW, AND I SAW MY AUNT CRYING.
THEN SHE COLLAPSED ON THE DRIVEWAY.
I WAS SO OVERWHELMED.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
HOW DO YOU TELL YOUR CHILDREN THEIR WORLD,
THEN AND THERE, IS NEVER GONNA BE THE SAME?
IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
IT NEVER WILL.
I MEAN, DAD'S BIRTHDAY HAD ONLY BEEN A FEW DAYS AGO.
IT WAS RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
AND WE HAD JUST HUNG HIS FAVORITE ORNAMENT ON THE TREE.
ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS CURL UP IN BED AND SOB MY HEART OUT,
BUT I HELD IT TOGETHER FOR THE FUNERAL.
JOE DESERVED THAT,
AND THE KIDS NEEDED TO SEE THAT.
JOE ALWAYS STOOD PROUD FOR WHAT HE BELIEVED IN,
AND I WAS GOING TO HONOR THAT.
SO I STOOD TALL.
PEOPLE KEPT MOVING PAST ME IN THE LINE.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO A SAD LITTLE KID.
BUT THEN THIS MAN THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
GOT DOWN ON HIS KNEES SO HE COULD LOOK ME INTO THE EYES.
AND HE SAID, "YOUR DAD WAS A HERO.
YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU'RE OLDER HOW GREAT HE WAS."
AND I... I STARTED CRYING BECAUSE,
BECAUSE HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO REALLY SEE ME IN THAT MOMENT.
[AS MICHELE PHANEUF] JOE LOVED ARLINGTON CEMETERY...
THE SOLEMNITY, THE SENSE OF SACRIFICE.
HE TOLD ME HE WANTED TO BE BURIED THERE.
PEOPLE FROM EASTFORD, TWO WHOLE BUSLOADS,
CAME TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS.
I KEEP MY DAD'S PICTURE BY MY BED.
MOM MADE US THESE SCRAPBOOKS WITH ALL THE PICTURES OF US AS A FAMILY.
AND WHENEVER I HAVE A REALLY SAD DAY,
I TAKE IT OFF THE SHELF TO HELP ME REMEMBER.
WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HIM. WE JUST DO.
AND I HOPE THAT I'VE HELPED INSTILL IN MY CHILDREN
THAT HE'S STILL HERE...
NOT IN THE WAY YOU WANT HIM TO BE HERE, I TELL THEM,
BUT IN YOUR HEART.
THAT'S WHERE YOUR FATHER IS.
I DEFINITELY WISH THAT HE HAD BEEN THERE FOR THINGS LIKE
GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE OR MY 21st BIRTHDAY.
BUT I KNOW THAT HE'S WATCHING OVER ME.
I KNOW HE'D WANT ME TO BE STRONG.
IT MEANS SO MUCH TO US TO KNOW THAT JOE'S OFFICERS AND FELLOW SOLDIERS
CALLED HIM A HERO FOR THE GOODNESS IN HIS HEART TO HELP OTHERS.
THEY COULD COUNT ON HIM.
HIS COUNTRY COULD COUNT ON HIM, JUST LIKE WE ALWAYS DID.
THAT'S WHY MEMORIAL DAY IS SO IMPORTANT TO US,
TO OUR FAMILY.
IT'S A TIME FOR US TO CLOSE OUR EYES AND REMEMBER.
WE REMEMBER MY DAD.
WE REMEMBER WHY WE HAVE THIS DAY AND HOW WE GOT HERE.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO ALL STOP WHATEVER WE'RE DOING,
EVEN IF FOR ONLY A MOMENT,
FOR JOE, AND ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES... TO REMEMBER.
[APPLAUSE]
McCORMACK: OH, NOW YOU'VE DONE IT AGAIN.
THAT'S OK.
THANK YOU.
I REALLY JUST WANT TO HUG YOU.
[TALKING INDISTINCTLY]
AND NOW, WITH A SONG DEDICATED TO THE PHANEUF FAMILY
AND ALL AMERICA'S GOLD STAR FAMILIES
WHO LOST A LOVED ONE TO WAR,
HERE IS BRIAN D'ARCY JAMES.
[SONG INTRO PLAYING]
♪ COME STOP YOUR CRYING, IT'LL BE ALL RIGHT ♪
♪ JUST TAKE MY HAND AND HOLD IT TIGHT ♪
♪ I WILL PROTECT YOU FROM ALL AROUND YOU ♪
♪ I WILL BE HERE, DON'T YOU CRY ♪
♪ FOR ONE SO SMALL, YOU SEEM SO STRONG ♪
♪ MY ARMS WILL HOLD YOU, KEEP YOU SAFE AND WARM ♪
♪ THIS BOND BETWEEN US CAN'T BE BROKEN ♪
♪ I WILL BE HERE, DON'T YOU CRY ♪
♪ 'CAUSE YOU'LL BE IN MY HEART ♪
♪ YES, YOU'LL BE IN MY HEART ♪
♪ FROM THIS DAY ON, NOW AND FOREVER MORE ♪
♪ DON'T LISTEN TO THEM 'CAUSE WHAT DO THEY KNOW? ♪
CHORUS: ♪ WHAT DO THEY KNOW? ♪
♪ WE NEED EACH OTHER TO HAVE, TO HOLD ♪
♪ THEY'LL SEE IN TIME ♪
♪ I KNOW ♪
♪ WHEN DESTINY CALLS YOU, YOU MUST BE STRONG ♪
CHORUS: ♪ YOU GOTTA BE STRONG ♪
♪ I MAY NOT BE WITH YOU, SO YOU'VE GOT TO HOLD ON ♪
♪ THEY'LL SEE IN TIME ♪
♪ I KNOW ♪
♪ WE'LL SHOW THEM TOGETHER ♪
♪ 'CAUSE YOU'LL BE IN MY HEART ♪
♪ BELIEVE ME, YOU'LL BE IN MY HEART ♪
CHORUS: ♪ I'LL BE THERE... ♪
♪ FROM THIS DAY ON, NOW AND FOREVER MORE ♪
♪ YOU'LL BE IN MY HEART ♪
♪ NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY ♪
♪ YOU'LL BE HERE IN MY HEART ALWAYS ♪
♪ ALWAYS ♪
[APPLAUSE]
FROM ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, ONCE AGAIN, GENERAL COLIN POWELL.
IN HONOR OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN SERVICE TO OUR NATION,
PLEASE RISE AT HOME, IN BODY OR IN SPIRIT,
WITH HAND ON HEART OR SALUTE FOR THE PLAYING OF "TAPS."
[TRUMPETER PLAYING "TAPS"]
MANTEGNA: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, VINCE GILL.
[SONG INTRO PLAYING]
♪ I KNOW YOUR LIFE ON EARTH WAS TROUBLED ♪
♪ AND ONLY YOU COULD KNOW THE PAIN ♪
♪ YOU WEREN'T AFRAID TO FACE THE DEVIL ♪
♪ YOU WERE NO STRANGER TO THE RAIN ♪
♪ GO REST HIGH ON THAT MOUNTAIN ♪
♪ SON, YOUR WORK ON EARTH IS DONE ♪
♪ GO TO HEAVEN A-SHOUTIN' ♪
♪ LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND THE SON ♪
♪ OH, HOW WE CRIED THE DAY YOU LEFT US ♪
♪ WE GATHERED 'ROUND YOUR GRAVE TO GRIEVE ♪
♪ WISH I COULD SEE THE ANGELS' FACES ♪
♪ WHEN THEY HEAR YOUR SWEET VOICE SING ♪
♪ GO REST HIGH ON THAT MOUNTAIN ♪
♪ SON, YOUR WORK ON EARTH IS DONE ♪
♪ GO TO HEAVEN A-SHOUTIN' ♪
♪ LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND THE SON ♪
♪ YOU'RE SAFELY HOME IN THE ARMS OF JESUS ♪
♪ ETERNAL LIGHT, MY BROTHER'S FOUND ♪
♪ THE DAY WILL COME, I KNOW I'LL SEE YOU ♪
♪ THAT SACRED PLACE ON THAT HOLY GROUND ♪
♪ GO REST HIGH ON THAT MOUNTAIN ♪
♪ 'CAUSE, SON, YOUR WORK ON EARTH IS DONE ♪
♪ GO TO HEAVEN A-SHOUTIN' ♪
♪ LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND THE SON ♪
♪ GO TO HEAVEN A-SHOUTIN' ♪
♪ LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND THE SON ♪
THANK YOU, VINCE. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE.
GARY, I KNOW THE EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11th
ARE WHAT LED YOU TO DO SO MUCH FOR WOUNDED WARRIORS, VETERANS,
MILITARY FAMILIES AND FIRST RESPONDERS.
THANKS, JOE.
WE OWE IT TO ALL OUR VETERANS,
TO ALL THOSE WHO WEAR THE SCARS OF WAR,
WHETHER THOSE SCARS ARE VISIBLE OR NOT,
TO REACH OUT, TO LISTEN, TO HELP THEM HEAL,
TO LEND A HELPING HAND.
ON OUR WEBSITE, YOU'LL FIND LINKS TO ORGANIZATIONS
DEDICATED TO HELPING VETERANS, ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY,
AND THEIR FAMILIES.
IF YOU ARE A WOUNDED, ILL, OR INJURED VETERAN IN NEED OF HELP
OR WANT TO GIVE HELP, PLEASE REACH OUT.
AND IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW
IS EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS,
FEELING ESPECIALLY ISOLATED DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC,
OR HAVING THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE,
IMMEDIATE HELP IS AVAILABLE AT THE NUMBER ON OUR SCREEN.
DON'T SUFFER IN SILENCE. REACH OUT.
AS ALWAYS, AT THE "NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT,"
WE HONOR ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ARMED SERVICES.
THIS YEAR, GENERAL MARK A. MILLEY,
THE 20th CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
AND THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
HAVE PREPARED THIS SALUTE TO ALL OF THOSE WHO SERVE OR HAVE SERVED.
FROM THE 9/11 MEMORIAL AT THE PENTAGON,
HERE ARE THE CHIEFS OF THE MILITARY SERVICES,
JOINED BY MAESTRO JACK EVERLY,
THE NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA,
AND MILITARY CHORUSES AND SERVICE COLOR TEAMS
FOR THE "ARMED FORCES MEDLEY."
[ORCHESTRA PLAYING]
THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD!
CHORUS: ♪ WE'RE ALWAYS READY FOR THE CALL ♪
♪ WE PLACE OUR TRUST IN THEE ♪
♪ THROUGH SURF AND STORM AND HOWLING GALE ♪
♪ HIGH SHALL OUR PURPOSE BE ♪
♪ SEMPER PARATUS IS OUR GUIDE ♪
♪ OUR FAME, OUR GLORY, TOO ♪
♪ TO FIGHT TO SAVE OR FIGHT AND DIE ♪
♪ AYE! COAST GUARD, WE ARE FOR YOU! ♪
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE!
♪ OFF WE GO INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER ♪
♪ CLIMBING HIGH INTO THE SUN ♪
♪ HERE THEY COME ZOOMING TO MEET OUR THUNDER ♪
♪ AT 'EM NOW, GIVE 'EM THE GUN ♪
♪ GIVE 'EM THE GUN! ♪
♪ DOWN WE DIVE SPOUTING OUR FLAME FROM UNDER ♪
♪ OFF WITH ONE HELLUVA ROAR ♪
♪ WE LIVE IN FAME OR GO DOWN IN FLAME ♪
♪ HEY! NOTHING'LL STOP THE U.S. AIR FORCE ♪
UNITED STATES NAVY!
♪ ANCHORS AWEIGH, MY BOYS ♪
♪ ANCHORS AWEIGH ♪
♪ FAREWELL TO FOREIGN SHORES ♪
♪ WE SAIL AT BREAK OF DAY, OF DAY-AY ♪
♪ THROUGH OUR LAST NIGHT ASHORE, DRINK TO THE FOAM ♪
♪ UNTIL WE MEET ONCE MORE ♪
♪ HERE'S WISHING YOU A HAPPY VOYAGE HOME ♪
UNITED STATES MARINES!
♪ FROM THE HALLS OF MONTEZUMA TO THE SHORES OF TRIPOLI ♪
♪ WE FIGHT OUR COUNTRY'S BATTLES IN THE AIR, ON LAND, AND SEA ♪
♪ FIRST TO FIGHT FOR RIGHT AND FREEDOM ♪
♪ AND TO KEEP OUR HONOR CLEAN ♪
♪ WE ARE PROUD TO CLAIM THE TITLE OF UNITED STATES MARINE ♪
UNITED STATES ARMY!
♪ FIRST TO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT AND TO BUILD THE NATION'S MIGHT ♪
♪ AND THE ARMY GOES ROLLING ALONG ♪
♪ PROUD OF ALL WE HAVE DONE, FIGHTING TILL THE BATTLE'S WON ♪
♪ AND THE ARMY GOES ROLLING ALONG ♪
♪ THEN IT'S HI! HI! HEY!, THE ARMY'S ON ITS WAY ♪
♪ COUNT OFF THE CADENCE LOUD AND STRONG ♪
♪ 2, 3! ♪
♪ FOR WHERE'ER WE GO, YOU WILL ALWAYS KNOW ♪
♪ THAT THE ARMY GOES ROLLING ALONG, ROLLING ALONG ♪
IT IS OUR HONOR TO INTRODUCE THE DISTINGUISHED CHAIRMAN
OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GENERAL MARK A. MILLEY.
THIS MEMORIAL DAY, WE PAUSE TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE MADE
THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF OUR NATION.
WE REMEMBER THEIR COURAGE,
WE REMEMBER THEIR SELFLESS SERVICE,
WE REMEMBER HOW THEY LIVED AND THE VALUES THEY EMBODIED.
THIS YEAR MARKS 20 YEARS SINCE THAT CLOUDLESS AUTUMN MORNING
IN SEPTEMBER THAT CHANGED THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY.
HERE AT THE PENTAGON, THOSE IN UNIFORM AND THEIR CIVILIAN COLLEAGUES
SETTLED INTO THE RHYTHMS AND ROUTINES OF A NORMAL TUESDAY MORNING.
36 MINUTES AFTER THE SECOND PLANE STRUCK THE TWIN TOWERS
IN NEW YORK CITY, AT 9:37 A.M.,
184 MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN WERE MURDERED
IN A VIOLENT IMPACT AND FIERY BLAST RIGHT BEHIND WHERE I'M STANDING NOW.
26 MINUTES LATER, A FOURTH PLANE CRASHED INTO AN OPEN FIELD
IN SHANKSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.
THE INNOCENT RANGED IN AGE FROM 3-TO 71 YEARS-OLD.
THOSE WHO PERISHED HERE, ALONG WITH ALMOST 3,000 MORE
IN NEW YORK CITY AND SOMERSET COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA,
WERE KILLED FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVED,
FOR WHAT THEY REPRESENTED,
JUST FOR BEING AMERICANS.
SINCE THAT DARK DAY IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY,
OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM HAVE FOUGHT TIRELESSLY
TO DEFEAT TERRORISTS FOR ALMOST TWO CONSECUTIVE DECADES.
SINCE 9/11, 5,475 OF OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS
WHO WEAR THE CLOTH OF OUR NATION
HAVE GIVEN THE LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION
TO ENSURE THAT THIS REPUBLIC FOR WHICH WE STAND REMAINS UNBREAKABLE.
THEY PAID IN BLOOD FOR THE FREEDOMS WE ALL EXERCISE EACH AND EVERY DAY.
TODAY, WE HONOR THE EXTRAORDINARY SACRIFICE
OF THOSE SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES,
ESPECIALLY OUR GOLD STAR FAMILIES.
EACH INDIVIDUAL LOSS BRINGS AN ABSENCE THAT CAN NEVER BE FILLED.
EACH LOSS OF LIFE IS ETERNAL. THE PAIN NEVER FULLY HEALS.
EVERY HUSBAND OR WIFE, MOTHER OR FATHER,
BROTHER OR SISTER, SON OR DAUGHTER TAKEN TOO SOON
IS A GRIEF ONLY THEIR LOVED ONES CAN FULLY COMPREHEND.
FOR THE FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN, EVERY DAY IS MEMORIAL DAY.
AND WE THE LIVING SHOULD ALWAYS HONOR THEM,
ALWAYS HONOR THEIR FAMILIES NOT JUST ON MEMORIAL DAY,
BUT EVERY DAY,
HONOR WHAT THEY STOOD FOR AND WHY THEY DIED,
TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THE IDEA THAT IS AMERICA.
ON BEHALF OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF AND ALL OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM,
THANK YOU FOR REMEMBERING THOSE WHO HAVE SACRIFICED IT ALL
ON THE ALTAR OF FREEDOM AND GIVEN THEIR TOMORROWS FOR OUR TODAYS.
MAY GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES,
AND MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA.
THANK YOU, GENERAL MILLEY, AND THANK YOU, EVERYONE,
FOR JOINING US FOR THIS, THE 32nd ANNUAL
"NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT."
AND BOTH JOE AND I ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO
BEING WITH YOU BACK IN OUR NATION'S CAPITAL NEXT YEAR.
IF THERE IS ONE WORD THAT DEFINES THIS CONCERT AND MEMORIAL DAY ITSELF,
IT IS THE WORD "REMEMBER."
AND ON THIS DAY, WE REMEMBER TO ALWAYS HOLD IN OUR HEARTS
WHAT TRULY MATTERS AND TO FOCUS NOT ON WHAT
MAY TEMPORARILY DIVIDE US BUT ON WHAT PERMANENTLY UNITES US...
OUR CHERISHED AMERICAN VALUES, OUR LOVE OF COUNTRY,
AND OF OUR DESIRE TO LIVE TOGETHER IN PEACE.
AND NOW, WITH A SONG THAT SPEAKS TO THAT HOPE,
ONCE AGAIN, HERE IS GLADYS KNIGHT.
♪ LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH ♪
♪ AND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME ♪
♪ LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH ♪
♪ THE PEACE THAT WAS MEANT TO BE ♪
♪ WITH GOD AS OUR FATHER ♪
♪ BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE WE ♪
♪ LET ME WALK WITH MY BROTHERS IN PERFECT HARMONY ♪
CHORUS: ♪ LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH ♪
♪ AND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME ♪
♪ OOOH ♪
♪ LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH ♪
♪ THE PEACE THAT WAS MEANT TO BE ♪
KNIGHT: ♪ I WANT TO TAKE ♪ ♪ EACH MOMENT ♪
♪ AND LIVE EACH MOMENT ♪
♪ IN PEACE ETERNALLY ♪
♪ LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH ♪
♪ AND LET IT BEGIN ♪
♪ WITH ME ♪
♪ LET THERE BE PEACE ♪
[PLAYING "GOD BLESS AMERICA"]
CHORUS: ♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA, LAND THAT I LOVE ♪
♪ STAND BESIDE HER AND GUIDE HER ♪
♪ THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH THE LIGHT FROM ABOVE... ♪
ANNOUNCER: TO HONOR THE SACRIFICE
OF OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN IN MILITARY SERVICE
AND THEIR FAMILIES,
AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
THE "NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT,"
PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/MEMORIALCONCERT
OR JOIN US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
ANNOUNCER: THE "NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY...