Episode 4918: WarRoom Veterans Day Special 2015 Cont.

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Bannon's War Room

Episode 4918: WarRoom Veterans Day Special 2015 Cont.

Date: November 11, 2025
Host: Steve K. Bannon
Guests: Patrick K. O’Donnell, Doug Collins, Paul Shipley, Vice President of the United States
Focus: The history, significance, and meaning of Veterans Day, American military spirit, and honoring veterans past and present, with live coverage from Arlington National Cemetery.

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Episode Overview

This Veterans Day Special centers on the origins and transformation of Armistice Day to Veterans Day, the enduring legacy of American service members, and the sacred observances at Arlington National Cemetery. Steve Bannon leads in-depth discussions with military historian Patrick K. O'Donnell, VA Secretary Doug Collins, National Commander of AMVETS Paul Shipley, and the Vice President. The episode captures both historical context and contemporary issues facing veterans, interwoven with moving live ceremonies and official remarks.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Armistice Day to Veterans Day: Historical Foundations

• Armistice Day Origin and Importance

  • Steve K. Bannon (00:50): Recalls Armistice Day as marking "the armistice that was supposed to end the war... fought to end all future wars."
  • Patrick K. O'Donnell (03:06): Highlights U.S. emergence as a world power post-WWI, the horrors of trench warfare, and the deep impact on the national psyche.

    “Arms to Stay comes about on November 11th at the 11th hour, the 11th minute, where the guns fall silent and they fall silent on the Western Front. And they're searching for a way to sort of commemorate those who have served in the Great War.” (03:35)

• Transition to Veterans Day

  • Steve K. Bannon (04:16): Notes Eisenhower's authority in declaring the day for all veterans, not just WWI.
  • Patrick K. O'Donnell (04:52):

    “We shifted in June 1, 1954, to Veterans Day to honor… all veterans who have served. And the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier…is sort of the ultimate recognition of that service for all veterans.”

2. Commemorating the Fallen and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

• Creation and Symbolism

  • Patrick K. O'Donnell (05:53): Describes the origins: inspired by French and British traditions, driven by public advocacy and key figures like Marie Maloney and Congressman Hamilton Fish.
  • Selection process was painstaking, ensuring anonymity and total representation for the unidentified dead.
  • The honor of selecting the unknown fell to Sergeant Edward F. Younger.

• The Tomb’s Place in American Memory

  • O'Donnell (38:51):

    "Arlington is the most sacred of all sacred grounds... after the American Civil War, Lee's mansion was taken over and the dead of the war were buried in and around its grounds. It continues to this day, the Tomb of the Unknown...is commemorated...bringing together of the country."

  • Describes dramatic transport of remains, processions, and inclusion of diverse American groups, including Native Americans, in the dedication ceremonies.

3. The Spirit and Sacrifice of American Soldiers

• From WWI to Present Conflicts
  • Steve K. Bannon (11:09): Reflects on America’s transformation from a "tiny" post-Civil War army to a formidable force in WWI.
  • Doug Collins (12:33):

    “We win every battle on the battlefield. We win it all. The politicians take the victory away from the American people, not from the soldiers. Because on the ground, we win always.”

4. Veterans in Modern America: Service, Sacrifice, and Support

• VA Secretary Doug Collins’ Reminders

  • (54:13) Shares personal stories of veterans, emphasizing ordinary people performing extraordinary acts.
  • Asserts,

    “Veterans do not get anything from this country. They have earned everything that they are getting, and I am committed to making sure they will always have that from this administration and this VA.” (57:23)

• AMVETS Commander Paul Shipley

  • (50:15) Emphasizes priorities such as suicide prevention, homelessness, POW/MIA awareness, support for veteran families, and challenges listeners to support veterans in actionable ways.

5. Lessons for Leaders and the General Public

• Vice President’s Message (59:31):
  • To veterans:

    "Every single person who put on the uniform of this nation deserves our gratitude on this day especially. But every day."

  • To leaders:

    “...Every time we ask our nation's military to go off to war, we give them the training, we give them the resources, and we give them what they need to kick the enemy's rear end and to come back home safely and quickly.”

  • To the public: Simple gestures of gratitude are powerful, encourage everyday acts like buying a meal for a veteran or expressing thanks.

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Notable Quotes by Timestamp

• Steve K. Bannon:

  • "This is the primal scream of a dying regime. Pray for our enemies because we're going." (00:02)
  • "Ask yourself, what is my task and what is my purpose? If that answer is to save my country, this country will be saved." (00:34)

• Patrick K. O'Donnell:

  • "World War I is where the United States becomes a superpower, a financial superpower, an economic superpower, and it's the American expeditionary force in 1918 that smashes the Hindenburg line and breaks open the Western Front." (03:06)
  • "The Old guard's one of our oldest units. And the guarding of the tomb dates back to the mid to late 1920s..." (20:36)

• Doug Collins:

  • "We win every battle on the battlefield. We win it all. The politicians take the victory away from the American people, not from the soldiers. Because on the ground we win always." (12:33)
  • "Veterans do not get anything from this country. They have earned everything that they are getting, and I am committed to making sure they will always have that from this administration and this VA." (57:23)
  • Tells the story of a deployed new mother, highlighting the selflessness and commitment of today’s soldiers (54:13–56:20).

• Vice President of the United States:

  • "Every single person who put on the uniform of this nation deserves our gratitude on this day especially. But every day." (59:53)
  • "The most important natural resource that we have is that...young people…sign up to put on the uniform and risk their lives for their fellow citizens. That is a resource we cannot squander." (60:30)

• Paul Shipley:

  • "...supporting our veterans is not just a duty, it's a reflection of our gratitude and respect." (52:26)

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:50 – Early discussion: Origin and consequences of Armistice Day, link to WWI and WWII.
• 03:06 – O'Donnell on America’s WWI transformation, meaning of Armistice Day.
• 04:52 – Historical shift to Veterans Day and meaning of the Tomb of the Unknown.
• 05:53 – In-depth process of commemorating unknown soldiers.
• 11:09 – Bannon and O'Donnell: Building and deploying the U.S. Army in WWI.
• 12:33 – Doug Collins: On battlefield victories and frustrations with politics.
• 20:36 – History and importance of The Old Guard at Arlington.
• 38:51 – O'Donnell: Arlington’s significance; Tomb of the Unknown ceremony.
• 54:13 – VA Secretary Doug Collins’ speech: modern veteran stories, VA reforms.
• 59:31 – Vice President's remarks: Gratitude, duty of political leaders, public actions.

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Memorable Moments

• The retelling of Sergeant Younger's selection of the Unknown Soldier and the ceremonial drama of bringing an anonymous hero home (05:53–09:50).
• The live ceremonial interludes and the recitation of the Battle Hymn of the Republic on the Arlington grounds (25:03–28:57).
• Doug Collins’ moving story of a deployed new mother (54:13), highlighting the sacrifices of modern veterans.
• Vice President's threefold directive: to veterans, political leaders, and all Americans—emphasizing gratitude, responsibility, and simple acts of support (59:31–62:00).

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Summary

Bannon’s War Room special Veterans Day episode is a comprehensive, emotionally charged tribute blending history, live ceremony, and reflection. It conveys the profound cost and value of military service, the evolution of remembrance, and the ongoing need for support and gratitude. Through personal stories, penetrating history, and solemn ceremony, the episode embodies the spirit and solemnity of Veterans Day for 2025—honoring those who served, supporting those who still do, and reminding all Americans of the duties tied to freedom.

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Transcript

[Steve Bannon]

This is the primal scream of a dying regime. Pray for our enemies because we're going.

[Steve K. Bannon]

Medieval on these people.

[Steve Bannon]

You're just not going to free shot all these networks lying about the people. The people have had a belly full of it. I know you don't like hearing that. I know you try to do everything in the world to stop that, but you're not going to stop it. It's going to happen.

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

And where do people like that go to share the big lie? MAGA MEDIA I wish in my soul.

[Vice President of the United States]

I wish that any of these people had a conscience.

[Steve Bannon]

Ask yourself, what is my task and what is my purpose? If that answer is to save my country, this country will be saved.

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

WAR ROOM here's your host, Stephen K. Banner.

[Steve K. Bannon]

It's Tuesday, 11th November in the year of our Lord 2025. What heretofore up until after World War II was called Armistice Day because it was brought together by the living to honor the armistice that was supposed to end the war. Because they fought to end all future wars. That's what they thought they had done. Interestingly, the law of unintended consequences was that the treaty that they, that they put together, particularly the economic consequences of the peace, as John Maynard Keynes wrote later, was the foundation for actually what drove a greater and more destructive war. What 20 years later, based upon German rearmament and all the anger and suppression, Taj talked about himself and his own personal journey, but from the Germans and their allies. So we went to a more destructive, even more destructive phase in what I call the short 20th century from 1914 to 1989. Patrick K. O' Donnell President's en route. I guess when he gets there must be some security reason that we're not showing that. But I don't see it right now. My crack staff will it to us as soon as we can find something. You've done a lot of coverage of this. First off, what was Armistice Day? Why was it such a. Not just a commemoration of the dead of World War I, but really hopeful about going forward, that this was the war to end all wars. Remember that was the pitch of the globalists of Wilson and these guys that we now realize was completely gun decked, right with the Lusitanian other situations. Completely gun decked to get us into the war. But if we hadn't gotten into the war at the end, that war may have dragged on forever. You think Ukraine's dragging on World War I could have dragged on for a long time. We were kind of the hammer blow at the end. They couldn't take but Armistice Day. Why was it so important? Why was it seared in the memories of our grandfathers or great grandfathers? And why did it transition to Veterans Day?

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

Sir STEVE World War I is where the United States becomes a superpower, a financial superpower, an economic superpower, and it's the American expeditionary force in 1918 that smashes the Hindenburg line and breaks open the Western Front. I mean, it's an amazing. It's a slaughter. The front was a slaughterhouse of machine guns and gas and poison gas. And then as the final months of the war dragged on, it's a pandemic that just kills tens of millions of people. So it is seared in the minds of those that participated in the Great War. And Arms to Stay comes about on November 11th at the 11th hour, the 11th minute, where the guns fall silent and they fall silent on the Western Front. And they're searching for a way to sort of commemorate those who have served in, in the, in the Great War with Armistice Day.

[Steve K. Bannon]

And then you have Armistice Day. And then after World War II, President Eisenhower, because he had the moral authority of being the. The supreme Allied commander in the European Theater and overseen not just North Africa, Sicily, Italy, but also Normandy. And the drive to Berlin, a drive, I might add, that we stop, I don't know, 50 miles short or 100 miles short to let the Russians take it. That's a topic for another day. But he had the moral authority to shift this. Why did we shift it to Veterans Day?

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

We shifted in June 1, 1954, to Veterans Day to honor, you know, it's 1954, the Cold War is in bloom, and we've already had World War II, so there's a passing of World War I in this memory. And now it's to commemorate all veterans who have served. And the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where we're visiting now, is sort of the ultimate recognition of that service for all veterans.

[Steve K. Bannon]

So this became a, this became a big thing for us to, to, to have this talk about. I think it was memorial day of 1957, 1958, I think I remember, or maybe it's 57. I was a very small boy and actually went to this on the internment of. I guess it was the Korean War veteran then, but the whole situation in Arlington and actually doing a Tomb of the Unknown. This cause the French, I guess the French and the British had done it before us.

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

That's correct, Steve. The French are the first to commemorate the service of veterans, and they choose one soldier that is unidentified in their remains. And then they honor that veteran and then the British followers. And then there were about 2100American soldiers that were not. There were unknowns in World War I and there was a movement here in the United States to bring the boys home. There were tens of thousands of American bodies in Europe. And there was a groundswell of a movement within the United States to bring the boys home. And the army initially said, well, they'll be able to identify the 2100 unknowns. And then there became a movement after seeing the French and the British recognized an unknown soldier within the United States. And a woman editor with a paper called the Delineator. Marie Maloney was a key proponent to bring home the boys along with Congressman Hamilton Fish from New York City. And he was an officer within the. An all black unit that fought on the Western Front. He wanted to recognize his men as well as the unknowns. And there becomes this kind of groundswell to bring home an unknown soldier. And the process begins in September 1921, where they look at the major cemeteries which also mirror the major killing grounds of World War I, where the American Expeditionary Force fought. Like the cemetery at Belleau Wood, for instance, the cemetery at the Meuse Argonne. They sent teams there to identify the remains of unknown soldiers. And they specifically wanted an individual that had no identification whatsoever, no diaries or letters that were on their uniforms, specifically screen them. Then they brought several of those men back to a. To a French town or city. And they lay several caskets with they were flag draped in this room to identify an unknown soldier to bring home within the group. And that honor fell upon a. A young enlisted man, Younger was his name, who was. Who fought with the 2nd Infantry Division. The 4th Brigade of the Marines were part of the 2nd Division. This was the. An elite unit within the. Within the American Expeditionary Force that fought in most of the major battles. And they were just in a decisive sort of a super division, if you will. And Younger is chosen because he's one of the most decorated and actually the most combat experienced soldier. They initially decided they were going to have a German or an American officer, a general officer selected. But the last minute the French said why don't you have it enlisted in? Because they do the fighting and it falls upon Younger. And I tell the story in my book the Unknowns Younger Story, as well as the. The 2nd Infantry Division, but most more specifically the Marine Corps which they have eight men that are body bearers that bring back the remains. And they're the most decorated men in the AF that Pershing Hand selects because they want to tell the story of what, what the Americans did in the, in the af. In the Marine Corps. There's an army individual, the Navy, by.

[Steve K. Bannon]

The way, for Blackjack Pershing, who was our senior, the American Expeditionary Force. And that was the hammer blow that the Germans couldn't take on the Western Front. And quite frankly, MacArthur drove all the way across France to Metz to a city at the time that had never been taken from medieval times. It was kind of a fortress castle or fortress town. Metz had never been taken. And MacArthur drove all the way through there and he got to the. I think it's the Meuse River. I might be wrong in the river.

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

That's when it's the Meuse River. Yeah. Steve, they, they press into Metz and also Sudan where there's the main rail line. And this is, this severs the main rail lines on the Western Front for the, for the Germans. But it pierces the formidable Hindenburg line, which just was laced with machine guns. I've got one here, actually. It's deactivated, obviously, but this is a 08.16, a Maxim machine gun that, that served on the Western Front. I mean, it's camouflaged by the German army. Even has a bullet hole in it. But I mean, this is what these guys faced on a daily basis. This thing was called a light machine gun. It was about 35 pounds, but sent down range 4 to 500 rounds a minute.

[Steve K. Bannon]

No, by the way. So the Americans, remember, they put that army together. The army was tiny post Civil War. It was really a, a police force out on the, out on the, for the Indian wars. But it had gone Spanish American War. Everything had been stood down. As soon as the war was over, you had to really get this up and train it and get it over there. Man, they could fight. Right there on the screen, you see the Secret Service now it looks like they're deployed at Arlington. Momentarily, we're going to blow brakes and cover this wall to wall as we always do. The commander in chief will be out shortly.

[Steve Bannon]

Taj Gill.

[Steve K. Bannon]

What is the. Patrick, hang right there.

[Steve Bannon]

What is the fighting spirit of the.

[Steve K. Bannon]

American forces today on last 600 meters? One of the tensions in there, and I get a lot of comments from people last night coming back to me was how political involvement. You know, you had your Marines, you had your army Special Forces. Every time they're about to win, the politicians step in and take victory from them. And when we had the premier Last week in D.C. the Marines, this is 17 or 19, almost 20 years after the battle. I guess it is 20 years after the battle actually said, if you let us off the chain, we will win. We will win every time. Nobody can defeat us. What's the spirit of your colleagues, the veterans on Veterans Day about political involvement in some of these decisions, sir?

[Doug Collins]

I mean, a lot of the guys are disappointed with politicians. And then some of the guys, some of the guys, I know, they don't even care. They, they, they stay out of it completely. But look, we win every battle on the battlefield. We win it all. The politicians take the victory away from the American people, not from the soldiers. Because on the ground we win always. We win all about. Even if you look back.

[Steve K. Bannon]

Hang on one second. Hang on one second. We're going to go to Arlington. President, United States right there. Can we cut to the audio? Go and do it.

[Doug Collins]

Order.

[Steve K. Bannon]

The president going. The commander in chief going up. That is the Custis mansion. That's now turned into a, the focal point of Arlington National Cemetery. Patrick K. O', Donnell, the Old guard. Tell our audience about that. The history of the unit that does all the commemorations and guards the Tomb of the Unknown. It really guards Arlington National Cemetery, which one would argue is the most sacred soil in this country.

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

PATRICK Absolutely. The Old guard's one of our oldest units. And the guarding of the tomb dates back to the mid to late 1920s because the tomb was created on November 11, 1921 with President Harding presiding. And then for several years it was unguarded. And what happened though, there was a tremendous amount of disrespect to the tomb. People would actually have picnics on and near the tomb. And then they brought in the old guard and the ceremonies and the, you know, the honor that they bring.

[Steve K. Bannon]

PATRICK Hang on. We're going to cut to the, we're going to cut to the musical presentation. Let's go in here.

[Steve Bannon]

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[Steve K. Bannon]

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[Steve Bannon]

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[Steve K. Bannon]

Had.

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

A sword he hath loosed the faithful lighting of his terrible sweet sword his truth is marching on Glory.

[Doug Collins]

Glory, glory, hallelujah Is.

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

Jesus Glory, glory, hallelujah Glory.

[Doug Collins]

Glory Sa.

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

Christ was born across.

[Doug Collins]

The.

[Paul Shipley]

Sea.

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

With our glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me as he died to make man holy.

[Doug Collins]

Let us.

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

Die to make men free While God is marching on Glory, glory, hallelujah Glory, glory, hallelujah Glory, glory, hallelujah.

[Doug Collins]

Glory.

[Steve K. Bannon]

Hallelujah.

[Event Announcer]

Distinguished guests, it is now my distinct privilege to introduce the members of the Veterans Day National Committee. The committee was formed by by presidential order in 1954 to plan this annual observance and support other Veterans Day observances throughout the nation. Please hold your applause until I have introduced each special guest. If you're able, please stand when your name is called. Justin McClure, army and Navy Union, United States of America Gary McClure, Non Commissioned Officers association of the United States of America Dan K. Wiley, the American Legion Tracy Brown, Military Order of the Purple Heart Timothy Morgan, Marine Corps League Michael H. Hoyer, Military Chaplains association of the United States of America Robert Thomas, Paralyzed Veterans of America Victor Binkoski, Legion of Valor of the United States of America David J. Worley, Military Order of the World Wars Justin Jump, Tria, the Enlisted Association Pat Payne, Congressional Medal of Honor, Society of the United States of America Coleman Francis, Knee, Disabled American Veterans Brian D. Anderson, Military Officers association of America Kurt Kestaloot, Commissioned Officers association of the United States Public Health Service Keith Reed, Air Force Sergeants Association David P.I. cook, Polish Legion of American Veterans of the United States of America Jeffrey Brodeur, Korean War Veterans association of the United States of America David Rodriguez, American GI Forum of the United States Michael Collins, Catholic War Veterans Wade Davis, Blinded Veterans Association Kenneth Greenberg, Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America John Reiling iii, Vietnam Veterans of America Carol Whitmore, Veterans of Foreign wars of the United States Maria Beam, Fleet Reserve association the associate and emeritus members of the committee are also with us today. Associate and emeritus members, please stand. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in recognizing our Veterans Day National Committee leadership with your applause.

[Steve K. Bannon]

Okay, we're having a music interlude. The president, I think, is supposed to make a few remarks. We're going to cover all this It's Veterans Day. PATRICK K. O' Donnell, this part of the in back of the Custis House, which is now where on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, the president goes how talk to us about that for a second if you have not had a chance to go to Arlington. And right now in D.C. you've got so many fantastic memorials, obviously Washington Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, but they've added World War II, which is quite stunning. You've got the Korean, which I think is the most the Korean War Memorial is the most haunting of all them. You've got the Vietnam War Memorial, which is very haunting in its own regard. We have the great World War I now memorial that just opened, I think, a couple of years ago. Eisenhower Memorial, I think is close to being open or is just about open for General Eisenhower. Your thoughts on all the war memorials around D.C.

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

Arlington is the most sacred of all sacred grounds, Steve, within the United States. It's just such a special and solemn place. And you know, after, after the American Civil War, Lee's mansion was taken over and the, the dead of the war were buried in and around its grounds. And it, you know, it continues to this day, the Tomb of the Unknown, as I mentioned, it's during the Harding administration on November 11, 1921, that the tomb is commemorated. And this is a very, very special day because it's a bringing together of the country. And you know, here you have the, the great groups of the country meet the naacp, for instance. There are Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War forward that come that line the streets. And then there's a tremendous procession of military leaders from around the world from the victor, the victorious powers of World War I that arrive and they bring the remains down from the Capitol Rotunda where it was lying in state, on a carriage that is escorted by the body bearers. The two, the, the, the remains are first brought, you know, from France on the Olympia. It's the, you know, the great cruiser that still is in, in Philadelphia harbor. And they, they bring the remains back on the Olympia. There's, I mean, there's quite a bit of drama on that voyage. Believe it or not. The, the, the actual casket itself is so large that they lash it to the deck of the Olympia and the Olympia goes through great storms and it nearly is it over goes overboard. But the body bearers and some of the men in the crew actually uplash themselves to the remains and you know, they bring it home. And then there's the procession and many great speakers. WARREN Harding it's the first time that There's a. A nationwide radio address from, you know, these very grounds that we're seeing right now. And there's several speakers, but the final speaker is one of my favorites. And his. His war staff is still in the small museum that is behind the tomb. And this is chief Plenty clues. They. They bring a. A Native American war chief to. To preside over the final part of the ceremony. And it's sort of a. It's a healing in many ways of the nation, you know, it's as he is presiding, it's a healing of, you know, where we had fought Native Americans, you know, in the great west, you know, only decades earlier, and that there are Native Americans that were fighting in the American Expeditionary Force in France for their country. And there's even one of the body bearers is Native American.

[Steve K. Bannon]

I would like to have, you know, Arlington is obviously for our honored dead. I would hope they would start rotating around and bring to life some of these because the memorials for the actions themselves are so powerful. The World War II, which, remember, they went to a huge fight because Arlington is like a place unto itself. In fact, one of the controversies about potentially doing the Ark, this arch. Okay, here we. Let's cut back and we're going to go back to the commemoration.

[Event Announcer]

Distinguished guests, the President of the United States accompanied by the Vice president. Distinguished guests, please remain standing for the procession of our nation's colors and. And those of our veteran service organizations. As we march on the colors, the United States army band will play the national emblem. March. Please place your right hand over your heart or render a hand salute.

[Doug Collins]

It.

[Event Announcer]

Distinguished guests, please remain standing for the invocation given by chaplain Kimberly Willis, Executive Director of Chaplain Service for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

[Chaplain Kimberly Willis]

Good morning. Let us pray. Eternal and ever faithful God, on this sacred morning beneath the quiet majesty of these marble arches, we gather in this hallowed place to pay tribute, to reflect and to recommit. We come before you as a grateful nation, mindful of those who have donned the uniform, answered the call and stood in the breach of on behalf of freedom. You who chart the course of every life, know each one who answer to the distant horizon, to the storm tossed sea, to the far off watch. You have seen the quiet courage and the visible sacrifice, the sleepless nights, the lonely return, the unspoken burdens you have carried, the tears of family, the prayers of caregivers, and the hope of a grateful people. We remember those who fell, whose names rest beneath these stones, silenced and sentinels of our nation's promise. We remember those who yet bear in body or spirit the cost of service. Grant them your healing, your strength and your peace. And to families who waited, who worried, who bore the weight of absence, extend your sustaining grace, O comforter. We give thanks for the Department of Veteran affairs who daily honor our nation's sacred trust. And we bless the veterans service organizations whose devotion ensures that no veteran stands alone. In honor of those who served. Renew our covenant to tend the garden of democracy with vigilance and care, to serve with humility, to lead with integrity, to walk together as one people under your guiding hand. Underpin our labors with hope, our words with true, our action with compassion. Let freedom ring not only on the battlefield, but in the everyday lives of your people. God bless the United States of America that we may be true to the promise entrusted to us. Vigilant in peace, resolute in service, defender of justice, and steadfast in gratitude. It is in your holy name we pray. Amen.

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

Seated.

[Event Announcer]

I am honored to introduce the 2025 National Veterans Day Observance co host organization, the American Veterans, better known as AMVETS. The organization began in 1944 when 18 World War II veterans met in Kansas City, Missouri to form the American Veterans of World War II. Just three years later, President Harry S. Truman signed Public Law 216, making AMVETS the first World War II veterans group chartered by Congress. Over the decades, its charter expanded to include those who served in every era from World War II to today, including members of the National Guard and Reserves. Today, AMVETS focuses on critical veterans issues such as mental health, suicide prevention and ensuring women veterans receive equal recognition and opportunities. Representing AMVETS today is National Commander Paul Shipley, a US army combat veteran who served from 2004 to 2014, including a deployment to Iraq. Commander Shipley is the first post 911 veteran and one of the youngest leaders in AMVETS 80 year history. Please join me in welcoming National Commander of AMVETS and co host of today's ceremony, Mr. Paul Shipley, who will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance and deliver remarks. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

[Paul Shipley]

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Good morning, Mr. President, Mr. Vice President, Secretary Collins and distinguished leaders of the Veterans service organizations of the United States of America. Good morning and happy Veterans Day. Today, as we gather at this hallowed ground at Arlington National Cemetery, we honor the brave men and women who have served our nation with unwavering courage and sacrifice. It is a solemn moment of remembrance, unity and a renewal of our commitment to those that have served. Today is also a special celebration of all who put their lives on the line for the United States States of America. AMBETS has a proud history spanning over 80 years. Today, our top priorities remain clear. We work tirelessly to prevent veteran suicide and veteran homelessness because no veteran should be alone in facing these struggles. We promote awareness prisoners of war and missing in action issues, ensuring that no hero is ever forgotten. And we are committed to supporting veterans families help keeping them united through life's toughest challenges. As the host of this year's Veterans Day National Committee, AMBEST is honored to participate alongside dedicated Department of Veterans affairs staff and our fellow veterans service organizations. Together we organize this event to honor our fallen and to reaffirm our duty to those who have served.

[Doug Collins]

In the.

[Paul Shipley]

Spirit of veterans serving veterans. I challenge each of us, whether here today or watching from home, to find ways to support our veterans, whether through a simple act of kindness, volunteering, or advocating for policies that make a difference. Your efforts matter because supporting our veterans is not just a duty, it's a reflection of our gratitude and respect. Let us remember today that their sacrifices have made the freedoms we enjoy possible and let us pledge to continue serving, protecting and honoring all who have served our nation. Thank you. God bless our veterans and God Bless America. It is now my humble honor to introduce the 12th Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Secretary Doug Collins is an accomplished attorney with more than a decade of legislative experience, representing the people of Georgia in the State Legislature and later the U.S. house of Representatives as a U.S. air Force Reserve Chaplain. Secretary Collins has ministered to our country's military since 2002. He completed a 2008 and 2009 deployment to Iraq while stationed at Balad Air Base. Collins remains a colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve and he previously served in the US Navy Reserve. Please join me in warmly welcoming VA Secretary Doug Collins.

[Doug Collins]

Good morning everyone. Mr. President, Mr. Vice President, all the VSOs, all of our veteran staff here today and welcome you to a place in which we honor our veterans, those who have served. I tell you it was a honor to be here, but it was even bigger honor just over a year ago when President asked me to take this job and I asked him a simple question. I said, Mr. President, what would you like me to do? And he looked at me with a simple phrase. He said, take care of our veterans. I tell all the rest of the cabinet I've got The best job in the world because I get to take care of the best people in the world, the veterans of the United States of America. And this President is firmly committed to making sure this happens. The VA is a different place today than it was just nine months ago. Nine months ago, there was more of an inner reflection. Now it is an outer reflection. The only thing that matters at the VA is that the veteran comes first. All we do is not about a bureaucracy or where we're from. It's about the veteran who walks through our door. Without the veteran, we have no job. The VA now understands that. We do nothing else except take care of the veteran and do things for them. And under that direction from the President, we have lowered backlogs, we have increased wait Times. And yes, Mr. President, we get them to community when they want to go to the community to see those doctors. And that's all just in the first nine months. But the best part of this is that there is something to understand, is that Veterans Day, unlike the others we celebrate, is about everyday people doing extraordinary things. Veterans Day is about men and women who come from small towns, hamlets, villages, and big towns. And they make a decision in their life to raise their right hand and say, I'm committing to something bigger than myself. I am stepping forward where many will not. I am raising my right hand and committing myself to service to a country, as I said just the other day, to make and ensure that our military is the biggest and baddest in the world. Our veterans make that possible. It comes from people all over as I served with in Iraq. What I love about Veterans Day is it tells the story of a young girl. She was in her early 20s. I met her on the fields in a wind just like this in the desert of Iraq. She had showed up late and I was on the night chaplain run, and I'd always saw everybody else, but I didn't recognize her. And I walked up to the gate and she said, I said, where have you been? And I said, I haven't seen you here. She said, sir, I'm a little bit late deploying with my troops. I said, well, what was the reason? And I figured, I said, you could, you know, I figured, why are you coming in three or four weeks later? She said, well, sir, just about two months ago, I had my daughter and I looked at her and I said, and you came anyway. She I said, you know, you could probably got into firm with that. She said, no, sir. She said, I, I'd go where my troops go, I go where they go. And she that for the rest of the time I was there, we shared pictures of one growing up, a little one taking first crawls and moves and sharing it in the night sky over Iraq. That is a veteran who serves because they want to serve others. I remember an A1C who was on deployment. He came back and he said, I'm now making big money. He said, I can actually help my family and I can buy Christmas presents for those that didn't get any last year. It's about the stories of those. As a young man, and just a little bit young because he's in his 80s at one of our VA hospitals in hospice, who. I walked in on him just the other day, and he was playing on a keyboard. Just a closer walk with thee. Veterans Day is about veterans that were not special necessarily when they came up, but they saw a vision and a calling, and they said, I want to be a part of our armed services. So when they raised their hand, they made a choice to become one of our favorite in the world, and that is a veteran who serves this country. So as we come to this day of service, this day of Happy Thanksgiving for people who are willing to serve, I would just have one word from the half of this administration, and I want everyone to hear it clearly, whether you're in the media, Congress, or anywhere else. A little bit tired of people saying that veterans keep getting stuff. Nope. Veterans do not get anything from this country. They have earned everything that they are getting, and I am committed to making sure they will always have that from this administration and this va and that is my promise and this president's promise to you. And with that, it is my honor to introduce to you a father, a husband, and yes, for those in the audience, a Marine. Oh, come on, Marines. There we go. My Marines ain't letting me down on this one, because now I get to introduce the great Vice President of the United States. It is his honor. It is his honor, Marine, and I'm making him. Wait just a minute. It is Mr. Vice President. He is ready to use.

[Vice President of the United States]

Well, thank you, Doug. You're doing a great job at the va. And I want to say just a couple things. I've learned a couple things from working so closely with the President United States. The first thing is that he loves our nation's veterans and has committed our nation's administration to. To putting our veterans first every single day. And the second thing I've learned about the President United States is that he really hates when somebody who's speaking before him goes on for too Long. And so with that in mind, I have prepared, prepared a very brief and very inspiring 1 hour and 45 minute speech on this beautiful Veterans Day out here in the cold. But let me just give three very brief messages. First, to our nation's veterans, thank you. Thank you for serving and sacrificing. We've all got so many good stories of people that we served with over the years. During my four years of the Marine Corps, I met the very best of America. People who are willing to put on a uniform and risk their lives for their entire country. Just yesterday morning, I met people who lost limbs, who lost very, very important family members, who lost their psychological health going out there and serving the United States of America. So whether you gave a little bit or whether you gave a lot, every single person who put on the uniform of this nation deserves our gratitude on this day especially. But every day. And so, from the Vice President and the entire administration, to our nation's veterans, thank you for your service, thank you for your sacrifice, and thank you for making us proud every single day. The second message is to the nation's political leaders. I happen to believe that the most valuable resource that we have isn't the incredible wealth of natural resources of this country. As amazing as it is, the most important natural resource that we have is that we have hundreds of thousands of young people every single month who sign up to put on the uniform and risk their lives for their fellow citizens. That is a resource we cannot squander. That is a resource we must protect. And so to every elected official who's here today, our obligation, our sacred responsibility to our veterans is to make sure that the American military is the bravest and best fighting force anywhere in the world. And to make sure that, that every time we ask our nation's military to go off to war, we give them the training, we give them the resources, and we give them what they need to kick the enemy's rear end and to come back home safely and quickly. That is our obligation to you. And my third and final message to the American people. I'm asked all the time how to best honor our veterans. And this day in particular gives you an opportunity. And it doesn't have to be difficult and it doesn't have to be complicated. If you find yourself at a restaurant this evening and you see somebody wearing a uniform, buy them a meal if you're able, or buy them a beer. If you see a veteran of our nation's armed forces, if you know somebody in your family, give them a call and say thank you. I heard already this morning for my mother in law who sent me a message early California time. And it touched my heart just knowing that we have loved ones who recognize our service, who care about it and who care enough to go out and say thank you so to the American people. If we want to keep on ensuring that the very best and brightest sign up for our military, the very best way to do it is to make sure that the veterans know that we are grateful to them. And so it's with grace, great pride that I am introducing a man who is proud of our veterans, who fights every single day for the veterans and who is proud to be okay, let's be honest.

[Steve K. Bannon]

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[Steve Bannon]

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