美国国家公共电台 NPR 特朗普出席美国阵亡将士纪念活动（在线收听）

AZUZ: Next today, Monday was a day of remembrance in the U.S. The Memorial Day holiday honors those who died while serving in the nation's conflicts.

The tradition began during the U.S. civil war. It was originally known as Decoration Day because it's when mourners decorated the graves of those who've been killed. After World War I, the name was changed to Memorial Day. And now, on the last Monday in May, it's marked with parades, public events, speeches and church services nationwide.

As part of the tradition, the U.S. president lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We only hope that every day, we can prove worthy, not only of their sacrifice and service, but of the sacrifice made by the families and loved ones they left behind.

AZUZ: And at an event benefitting veterans and first responders, Vice President Mike Pence summed up the holiday by saying: their duty was to serve, our duty is to remember.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: We come every Memorial Day when we can, and we thank Arlington for letting CNN be here and bring you these images. This is the place where so many of those fallen on the battlefield since 9/11 have come to their final resting place, 890 souls killed in action since the 9/11 attacks buried here.

The passage of time, the years, is quite remarkable. The latest who have fallen on the battlefield is just 22 years old. So, back on 9/11, very small children on that day.

Here today, we see what we have seen every year we have been here. Families, parents, grandparents, small children, battle bodies, they come, they pause, they pay their respects. And, of course, this is going on at cemeteries in towns and cities all across this country today as people remember those who served.

It is here though that it becomes a national moment, so many of those who are buried fell in places that become part of national conversation, places like Fallujah, Ramadi, Diyala Province in Iraq. In Afghanistan, places like Kandahar, and if you'll permit me, a special shoutout to some of those how fought in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan. They're good buddies.

So, this is a very special place. It's very meaningful. We have seen the same families in some cases year after year. We've watched their children grow up. Many of them have come up to me this morning for a bit of a chat.

What these families want is what military families want across this country. They just want to make sure they are never forgotten.