2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Calls on Americans to Remember Members of

By Marissa Melton
Washington
26 May 2007

President Bush has called on Americans to rededicate themselves to the cause of freedom, as the nation remembers its war dead on this Memorial Day weekend. Marissa Melton reports from Washington.

In his weekly radio address, President Bush urged Americans to honor those who have given their lives in service to the nation as well as those who are defending freedom around the world today. He told the story of Sergeant¹ David Christoff of Ohio, a U.S. Marine² who enlisted³ immediately following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

"Asked why he made the decision to serve, David said: 'I don't want my brother and sister to live in fear,'" he said.

Mr. Bush said Christoff earned a medal for wounds suffered in street battles in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, and later requested a second tour in Iraq because he believed there was a job to finish there. Christoff died in Anbar province a year ago. But Mr. Bush said, even in death, Christoff found a way to express his concern and support for his fellow soldiers.

 

"When his family received his belongings⁴, his mother and his father each found a letter from David. He asked that they pray for his fellow Marines and all those still serving overseas," he said.

Scout5 sits in front of a World War II soldier's head stone at Long Island National Cemetery6 in Farmingdale, New York, 26 May 2007" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070607/1034420.jpg" width="163" vspace="2" border="0" />

A flag placed by a Boy Scout sits in front of a World War II soldier's head stone at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York, 26 May 2007

Mr. Bush said on Memorial Day, celebrated⁷ Monday, the nation will honor Christoff's request by praying for those serving overseas and their families and loved ones. He said Memorial Day is a time for Americans to rededicate themselves to freedom's cause. He said it is also a time to pay tribute to Americans from every generation who have given their lives for freedom.

In the Democrats⁸' radio address, former Marine Elliott Anderson, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, said he was proud to serve his country but that he and some of his fellow service members oppose U.S. involvement in Iraq.

"I know I speak for many of my friends overseas when I say that the best way to honor the troops is to responsibly end our involvement in Iraq's civil war," he said.

President Bush is spending Memorial Day weekend at Camp David, the presidential mountain retreat near Washington. Before he left Friday, he presented five Purple Heart medals to wounded service members at the National Naval⁹ Medical Center. Monday, he returns to the nation's capital to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.

1 sergeant   

n.警官，中士

参考例句：

• His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
• How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹？

2 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

3 enlisted   

adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持）

参考例句：

• enlisted men and women 男兵和女兵
• He enlisted with the air force to fight against the enemy. 他应募加入空军对敌作战。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 belongings   

n.私人物品，私人财物

参考例句：

• I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
• Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。

5 scout   

n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索

参考例句：

• He was mistaken for an enemy scout and badly wounded.他被误认为是敌人的侦察兵，受了重伤。
• The scout made a stealthy approach to the enemy position.侦察兵偷偷地靠近敌军阵地。

6 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。

7 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

8 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。