English subtitles for clip: File:2013-05-25 President Obama's Weekly Address.webm

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The President:
Hi, everybody.

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This week, I've been speaking
about America's national

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security -- our past, our
present, and our future.

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On Thursday, I outlined the
future of our fight against

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terrorism -- the threats we
face, and the way in which we

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will meet them.

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On Friday, I went to Annapolis
to celebrate the extraordinary

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young men and women of the
United States Naval Academy's

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Class of 2013 -- the sailors and
Marines who will not only lead

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that fight, but who will lead our
country for decades to come.

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And on Monday, we
celebrate Memorial Day.

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Unofficially, it's
the start of summer --

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a chance for us to spend some
time with family and friends,

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at barbecues or the beach,
getting a little fun and

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relaxation in before
heading back to work.

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It's also a day on which
we set aside some time,

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on our own or with our families,
to honor and remember all the

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men and women who have given
their lives in service to this

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country we love.

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They are heroes,
each and every one.

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They gave America the most
precious thing they had --

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"the last full
measure of devotion."

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And because they did, we
are who we are today --

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a free and prosperous nation,
the greatest in the world.

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At a time when only about 1% of
the American people bear the

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burden of our defense, the
service and sacrifice of our men

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and women in uniform isn't
always readily apparent.

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That's partly because our
soldiers, sailors, airmen,

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Marines and coast guardsmen are
so skilled at what they do.

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It's also because those who
serve tend to do so quietly.

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They don't seek the limelight.

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They don't serve
for our admiration,

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or even our gratitude.

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They risk their lives,
and many give their lives,

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for something larger than
themselves or any of us:

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the ideals of liberty and
justice that make America a

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beacon of hope for the world.

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That's been true
throughout our history --

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from our earliest days, when a
tiny band of revolutionaries

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stood up to an Empire,
to our 9/11 Generation,

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which continues to serve
and sacrifice today.

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Every time a threat has risen,
Americans have risen to meet it.

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And because of that courage
-- that willingness to fight,

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and even die -- America endures.

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That is the purpose
of Memorial Day.

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To remember with gratitude the
countless men and women who gave

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their lives so we could know
peace and live in freedom.

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And we must do
more than remember.

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We must care for the loved ones
that our fallen service members

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have left behind.

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We must make sure all our
veterans have the care and

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benefits they've earned,
and the jobs and opportunity

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they deserve.

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We must be there for the
military families whose loved

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ones are in harm's way --
for they serve as well.

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And above all, we must make sure
that the men and women of our

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armed forces have the support
they need to achieve their

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missions safely at
home and abroad.

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The young men and women I met at
the Naval Academy this week know

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the meaning of service.

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They've studied the
heroes of our history.

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They've chosen to follow
in their footsteps --

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to stand their watch, man
a ship, lead a platoon.

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They are doing their part.

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And each of us must do ours.

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So this weekend, as we
commemorate Memorial Day,

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I ask you to hold all our
fallen heroes in your hearts.

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And every day, let's work
together to preserve what their

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sacrifices achieved -- to make
our country even stronger,

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even more fair, even more free.

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That's our mission.

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It's our obligation.

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And it is our privilege, as the
heirs of those who came before

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us, and as citizens of the
United States of America.

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Thanks.