VOA常速英语2020--美国退伍军人节（在线收听）

Next, an editorial reflecting American ideals and institutions.

以下是一篇反映美国理想与制度的社论。

During the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln called on his countrymen in his famous Gettysburg Address to ensure that liberty "shall not perish from the earth." His words have inspired many over the years, including millions in our nation's armed services who fought to preserve not only America’s freedom, but that of other nations as well. Today, Veterans Day, America pauses to honor these men and women, and the values of duty and sacrifice they represent. Long after they leave uniform, they symbolize what it means to be a citizen of a free land.

美国内战期间，总统亚伯拉罕·林肯在著名的《葛底斯堡演说》中呼吁他的同胞们确保自由“不会从地球上消失”。多年来，他的这番话激励了很多人，包括数百万美国军人，他们不仅为维护美国自由而战，也为维护其他国家自由而战。今天是退伍军人节，美国在这一天纪念这些男女军人以及他们所代表的职责和牺牲的价值。他们卸下戎装很久之后，还一直是自由国家公民的象征。

The holiday, observed every year on November 11, originated with the armistice that ended The First World War in 1918. The conflict, fought in Asia, Africa, scattered islands in the Pacific and the waters off South America, as well as on the battlefields of Europe, was seen as "the war to end all wars." But other wars followed, and in 1954 President Dwight Eisenhower expanded the holiday to honor all who have served in uniform both in war and peace. Our government continues this effort to this day, with program to help veterans leaving the military to find employment and ease their transition into civilian life. Our government continues this effort to this day, with program to help veterans leaving the military to find employment and ease their transition into civilian life. At its core, though, Veterans Day isn't about war. It commemorates no battlefield victory or defeat, it celebrates no advancement of political or territorial ambition. Rather, it's a day of remembrance, echoing similar holidays in Great Britain, Canada, South Africa and other nations that honor military veterans for their service and sacrifice.

美国每年在11月11日庆祝退伍军人节，这个节日起源于结束1918年第一次世界大战的停战协定。第一次世界大战的战火蔓延亚洲、非洲、太平洋岛屿、南美洲沿海和欧洲战场，被认为是“终止所有战争的战争”。可随后还是发生了其他战争。德怀特·艾森豪威尔总统在1954年将退伍军人节的纪念对象扩大到战时与和平时期所有服过役的军人。我们的政府将这一努力一直延续到今天，并推出了一项计划，帮助退伍老兵找到工作并向平民生活过渡。不过，退伍军人节的核心并不是关于战争。它不是去纪念战场的胜利或失败，也不是去庆祝推动政治或领土上的雄心壮志。相反，它是纪念的日子，就像英国、加拿大、南非和其他国家那样用类似的节日去纪念老兵们的功劳和牺牲。

That was an editorial reflecting American ideals and institutions.

这是一篇反映美国理想与制度的社论。