Americans are marking the Memorial Day holiday weekend - a time set aside to honor the nation's war dead. In Washington, this is also a time for the roar of motorcycle engines - as one group of veterans remembers not just the dead, but the missing.
美国人民本周末纪念阵亡将士纪念日，缅怀战争中阵亡的美国军人。在华盛顿，这个周末也是摩托车引擎发出震耳欲聋的声音的时候，其中有一个退伍军人组织不仅纪念阵亡将士，也缅怀那些至今仍然失踪的军人。
They call it rolling thunder - the din created when thousands of high-powered motorcycles fill the streets of Washington for an annual act of remembrance.
为纪念每年一度的阵亡将士纪念日，数千辆大马力的摩托车在首都华盛顿街上行驶，这些摩托车手把摩托车那震耳欲聋的声音叫做“滚雷”。
The drivers are military veterans - many from the Vietnam War era - accompanied by family and friends.
这些摩托车手是退伍军人，其中很多人是越战时期的老兵，他们在家属和朋友的陪伴下参加纪念活动。
They converge on Washington every year on Memorial Day weekend to honor their fallen colleagues and to call attention to those still listed as missing in action.
每逢阵亡将士纪念日，他们都汇集在首都华盛顿，缅怀阵亡的战友，并提醒人们不要忘记那些仍被列为失踪的军人。
Leaders of the Rolling Thunder event began this year's observance at the White House, where they got an official send-off from President Bush.
滚雷的领导人在白宫拉开今年纪念活动的序幕，布什总统为他们举行了正式的欢送仪式。
"You've done a lot for the country," said President Bush. "The troops appreciate you. The veterans appreciate you. And your president appreciates you."
布什说：“你们为国家做出很大贡献，我们的军队感谢你们。退伍军人感谢你们。你们的总统感谢你们。”
Mr. Bush will make a formal Memorial Day address Monday at Arlington National Cemetery, just across the Potomac River from Washington.
布什星期一将在华盛顿波多马克河对面的阿灵顿国家公墓发表正式的阵亡将士纪念日讲话。
Smaller scale events are expected in cities and towns across the country on Memorial Day - a holiday that is also seen by many as the start of the summer season in the United States.
在阵亡将士纪念日这一天，预计全美国各地城镇会举行各种不同的小规模纪念活动。很多美国人也认为阵亡将士纪念日这一天是夏季的开始。
America's military leaders say they hope the real meaning of Memorial Day will not be lost this year. Major General Mark Hertling, the commander of multi-national forces in northern Iraq, says at a time when political and economic matters dominate the headlines, Americans run the risk of forgetting the men and women now serving far from home.
"I hope everybody just takes a few minutes on this Memorial Day to just thank a soldier - or more importantly, thank a family member of a soldier, because they are sacrificing just as much," said General Hertling.
Hertling appeared on CNN's Late Edition program. |