愛薇塔樂學英文

【美國總統電臺演講】2013-05-25（雙語）

美國總統每週電臺演講：華盛頓白宮奧巴馬演講

WEEKLY ADDRESS: Giving Thanks to our Fallen Heroes this Memorial Day

WASHINGTON, DC— In this week’s address, President Obama commemorated Memorial Day by paying tribute to the men and women in uniform who have given their lives in service to our country.  The President said that America has always risen to meet and overcome its challenges because of their brave sacrifice, and asked all Americans to honor our fallen heroes and to stand with our veterans and military families as we come together this weekend.

Remarks of President Barack Obama 
Weekly Address
The White House
MAY 25, 2013

Hi, everybody. This week, I've been speaking about America's national security – our past, our present, and our future.

On Thursday, I outlined the future of our fight against terrorism – the threats we face, and the way in which we will meet them.

On Friday, I went to Annapolis to celebrate the extraordinary young men and women of the United States Naval Academy's Class of 2013 – the sailors and Marines who will not only lead that fight, but who will lead our country for decades to come.

And on Monday, we celebrate Memorial Day. Unofficially, it's the start of summer – a chance for us to spend some time with family and friends, at barbecues or on the beach, getting a little fun and relaxation in before heading back to work.

It's also a day on which we set aside some time, on our own or with our families, to honor and remember all the men and women who have given their lives in service to this country we love.

They are heroes, each and every one. They gave America the most precious thing they had – “the last full measure of devotion.” And because they did, we are who we are today – a free and prosperous nation, the greatest in the world.

At a time when only about one percent of the American people bear the burden of our defense, the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform isn't always readily apparent. That's partly because our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and coast guardsmen are so skilled at what they do. It's also because those who serve tend to do so quietly. They don't seek the limelight. They don't serve for our admiration, or even our gratitude. They risk their lives, and many give their lives, for something larger than themselves or any of us: the ideals of liberty and justice that make America a beacon of hope for the world.

That's been true throughout our history – from our earliest days, when a tiny band of revolutionaries stood up to an Empire, to our 9/11 Generation, which continues to serve and sacrifice today.

Every time a threat has risen, Americans have risen to meet it. And because of that courage – that willingness to fight, and even die – America endures.

That is the purpose of Memorial Day. To remember with gratitude the countless men and women who gave their lives so we could know peace and live in freedom.

And we must do more than remember.

We must care for the loved ones that our fallen service members have left behind.

We must make sure all our veterans have the care and benefits they've earned, and the jobs and opportunity they deserve.

We must be there for the military families whose loved ones are in harm's way – for they serve as well.

And above all, we must make sure that the men and women of our armed forces have the support they need to achieve their missions safely at home and abroad.

The young men and women I met at the Naval Academy this week know the meaning of service. They've studied the heroes of our history. They've chosen to follow in their footsteps – to stand their watch, man a ship, lead a platoon. They are doing their part. And each of us must do ours.

So this weekend, as we commemorate Memorial Day, I ask you to hold all our fallen heroes in your hearts.

And every day, let us work together to preserve what their sacrifices achieved – to make our country even stronger, even more fair, even more free. That is our mission. It is our obligation. And it is our privilege, as the heirs of those who came before us, and as citizens of the United States of America.

Thanks.

大家好。本周，我一直在談論美國的國家安全—我們的過去、現在和未來。

週四，我勾勒了我們的反恐戰鬥的未來—我們面對的威脅和我們應對它們的方略。

週五，我到安納波利斯慶祝傑出的美國海軍學院2013屆畢業—這些水兵和陸戰隊員們不僅在反恐戰鬥中一馬當先，而且也在未來幾十年的國家建設中一馬當先。

週一，我們將慶祝陣亡將士紀念日。這是約定成俗的夏日的開始—我們能有機會擠出一點時間和親人朋友來的水邊會一起燒烤，享受一下放鬆和愉快，然後重新投入工作。

今天也是我們和家人放下其它事緬懷所有為我們熱愛的國家以身殉職的優秀兒女們的時刻。

他們每個人都是英雄。他們為美國奉獻了最珍貴的一切—“最後能奉獻的一切”。因為他們的奉獻，我們才能成為今天的我們—一個自由和繁榮的國家，世界上最偉大的國家。

在一個僅僅需要百分之一的美國人擔當保家衛國的重任的時代，我們的優秀兒女們並不用時刻準備投身前線獻身殺敵。這部分地因為我們的陸軍、海軍、空軍、海軍陸戰隊和海岸警備隊員們殺敵本領的高超。這也是因為他們選擇了默默無聞地奉獻。他們不謀求站在聚光燈下。他們不是為了我們的仰慕、甚至不是為了我們的感謝而奉獻。他們捨生忘死，有些人獻出了他們的生命，是為了超越了他們自己和我們每個人的東西：使美國成為全世界希望的燈塔的自由和公平的理想。

這是整個我們的歷史長河中顛撲不破的真理—從早期力量微薄的革命家們在一個強大的帝國面前揭竿而起到我們的9/11一代，他們把奉獻和犧牲續寫到今天。

每到危機凸顯的時候，美國人民都挺身而出迎戰它。因為這個勇氣—殊死而戰的意願—美國才長盛不衰。

這就是陣亡將士紀念日的目的。以感恩的心情緬懷無數讓我們能感受和平和生活在自由中而為國捐軀的優秀兒女們。

我們不能僅僅緬懷。

我們必須關愛那些為國捐軀的人們留下的親人們。

我們必須保證我們的退伍軍人們享受他們應得的關愛和，獲得他們應得的工作和機會。

我們必須幫助身處險境的軍人的家屬們—也因為他們的奉獻。

最重要的是，我們必須保證我們的軍中兒女們得到他們在國內外安全地完成任務所需要的支援。

我本周在海軍學院遇見的男女學員們深知從軍的意義。他們以我國歷史上的英雄為榜樣。他們選擇了踏著他們的足跡—站在他們的崗位、駕駛他們的軍艦、到基層起步。他們將盡忠職守。我們也該如此。

這個週末，在我們紀念陣亡將士紀念日的時刻，我希望你們銘記所有為國捐軀的英雄們。

讓我們每天都共同努力維繫他們流血犧牲所換來的一切—使我們的國家更加強大、更加公平、更加自由。這是我們的使命。這是我們的責任。這是我們的作為先人的後代和美利堅合眾國公民的無尚榮光。

多謝！(冬日之陽博客)