PBS高端访谈:老兵纪念日活动（在线收听）

JUDY WOODRUFF: We close tonight with a tour of commemorations on this Veterans Day, from the president's visit to New York City, the vice president's trip to Arlington National Cemetery, and beyond, as America halted to express its gratitude to the men and women who have defended the United States.

GEN. DAVID BERGER, U.S. Marine Corps Commandant: Today, we gather to recognize the service of everyday patriots who have dedicated their lives to our country, men and women who raised their hand and took a solemn oath.

VINCENT MCGOWAN, President Emeritus, United States Veterans Council: The veterans community really stands for solidarity, regardless of the things that separate Americans, service to our country, honor amongst our relationships with one another, trust and respect of one another.

MIKE PENCE, Vice President of the United States: You put on the armor. You stood in the gap. You defended our freedom. You counted our lives more important than your own. You stood for a cause greater than yourselves.

CMDR. FRANK KOWALSKI, National President, Catholic War Veterans: In particular, we salute those who came home with the scars of war, who continue to fight daily against mental, emotional and physical disabilities. We can never thank them and support them enough. They are an inspiration to us all.

GOV. J.B. PRITZKER (D-IL): When our veterans complete their service, it becomes the shared duty of all Americans to serve our veterans, to listen to them, to honor them and to ensure that they receive the care and support that they need.

BRIG. GEN. KRIS BELANGER, U.S. Army Reserve: Their service and sacrifice from the gas-filled trenches of World War I to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq chronicle much of the history of the century just passed and the one we are in now.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States: On Veterans Day, our nation rededicates itself to our most solemn duty. While we can never repay our warriors for their boundless service and sacrifice, we must uphold with supreme vigilance our sacred obligation to care for those who have borne the battle. To every veteran here today and all across our land, you are America's greatest living heroes, and we will cherish you now, always and forever.

JUDY WOODRUFF: And we do salute all of America's veterans.

朱迪·伍德拉夫：今晚节目的最后，我们将来了解一下老兵节当天的纪念活动。这一天，特朗普总统参观了纽约市，副总统到访了阿灵顿国家公墓，此外还有其他的纪念活动。这一天，整个美国都停下脚步，来表达对那些曾捍卫过美国的人的感谢。

美国陆战队指挥官大卫?伯杰将军：今天，我们齐聚一堂来纪念那些把生命奉献给祖国的爱国人士，他们曾举起手，做了庄严的宣誓。

美国退伍军人事务部主席文斯·麦克高恩：老兵社群是团结的象征。虽然有一些因素在分裂着美国人，但对国家的忠诚、对彼此的尊重和信任。

迈克·彭斯，美国副总统：你们穿上盔甲，站在沟壑间，捍卫着我们的自由。你们把我们的生命看得比自己的还要珍贵。你们把奋力追求的事业也看得比自己珍贵。天主教战争退伍军人指挥官弗兰克：我们尤其要向那些从战场带着疤痕归来的人致敬，他们每天都要克服精神、心灵、肉体受到的伤害。我们再怎样感谢他们都不为过，为他们提供再多的支持也都不为过。而且他们还在持续不断地启发着我们。

普里茨克：老兵们已经完成了自己对国家的奉献，现在该轮到我们所有美国人来履行对他们的义务，倾听他们的声音，尊重他们，确保他们能得到所需的关爱和支持。美国陆军预备役克里斯将军：老兵们在一战期间就在充满烟气的战壕里做出了自己的奉献，他们也穿山越岭，在阿富汗的山林和伊拉克的沙漠里坚持了很久，才有了我们今天的幸福。

美国总统唐纳德·特朗普：在老兵节这一天，我们整个美国都要重新履行我们最庄严的责任。对于战士们的巨大牺牲，我们无以为报，所以我们必须严守自己庄严的使命，关爱老兵们。我们要对今天美国的每一位老兵、每一位伟大的英雄说，我们会永远珍惜你们。

朱迪·伍德拉夫：我们也向所有美国老兵致敬。