President Donald Trump made an unannounced visit to Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday to honor America\u2019s fallen as thousands across the country laid wreaths on\u2026<\/b>
\nPresident Donald Trump made an unannounced visit to Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday to honor America\u2019s fallen as thousands across the country laid wreaths on veterans\u2019 graves.
Trump paid his respects as volunteers for \u2018 Wreaths Across America \u2018 waited in long lines to place a Christmas wreath on the tombs of America\u2019s greatest heroes. The event, which is held every December, aims to \u201cremember, honor, and teach\u201d about those who served, and perished, fighting for America\u2019s freedom. In addition to Arlington National Cemetery, Wreaths Across America Day is observed at more than 1,400 cemeteries in all 50 states, as well as at sea and abroad.
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The president made the surprise visit to the military cemetery roughly an hour after the wreath-laying event began. He walked through the grounds and viewed firsthand, in the rain and wind, the tributes that were given to America\u2019s veterans. (RELATED: Melania Takes Time To Speak With Military Child In Wheelchair)
Trump faced criticism in November for not attending a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day and later admitted that despite attending a memorial service for World War I soldiers in Paris, France, the day earlier, he should have also gone to Arlington on the federal holiday.
\u201cAs you know, I just left the day before the American Cemetery, and I probably think \u2014 and that was one where it was raining as hard as you can imagine, and I made a speech at the American Cemetery the day before, and I probably \u2014 you know, in retrospect I should have,\u201d Trump said at the time. \u201cI did last year, and I will virtually every year.\u201d
President Donald Trump visits Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery on December 15,2018. Trump is visiting the cemetery for the annual wreath-laying ceremony. (Yuri Gripas-Pool\/Getty Images)
Trump praised Wreaths Across America organizers and the volunteers for their dedicated and honorable work in the gloomy weather.
\u201cThey do a great job, a really great job,\u201d Trump said during his visit. \u201cThank you.\u201d
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