* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:01:24] GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MATT BAILEY AND IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE THE MC FOR THE 2026 MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE ON THIS SIGNIFICANT DAY AS WE GATHER TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE AMERICAN ARMED FORCES WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. TODAY WE PAUSE IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE HEROES WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES DEFENDING THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY EVERY DAY. THEIR COURAGE, SELFLESSNESS, AND DEVOTION TO DUTY WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE HERE WITH US THE JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE COLOR GUARD TO CONDUCT THE PRE PRESENTATION OF COLORS. FOLLOWING THAT, THE FIRE SERVICES DIRECTOR STEVEN GIROS, WILL LEAVE US IN THE, IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THE INVOCATION WILL BE DELIVERED BY REVEREND KATHY RADKEY STORY. FOLLOWING THE INVOCATION, WE WILL HEAR SPECIAL REMARKS FROM JEFFERSON PARISH ELECTED OFFICIALS. OUR GUEST SPEAKER FOR TODAY IS THERESA BOA GOLD STAR MOTHER AND FOUNDER OF JOEY'S HOPE NOLA. OUR BENEDICTION WILL BE DELIVERED BY PASTOR ROBERT. STORY MUSIC THROUGHOUT TODAY'S CEREMONY WILL BE PERFORMED ONCE AGAIN BY THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 3 7 7 BAND. WE'RE ALWAYS SO THRILLED TO HAVE THE BAND HERE WITH US AND FOLLOWING OUR GUEST SPEAKER. THE BAND WILL PERFORM THE ARMED SERVICES SALUTE AND FOLLOWING THE BENEDICTION. THE CEREMONY WILL CONCLUDE WITH THE PLAYING OF TAPS AND A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE OF AMAZING GRACE BY BAGPIPE, BY BAGPIPER SEAN BURO. AND NOW THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, [00:05:01] INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. I AM THE PROUD DAUGHTER OF A WORLD WAR II VETERAN WHO CONTINUED TO SERVE HIS COMMUNITY ONCE HE CAME HOME AND HE INSTILLED THAT IN HIS CHILDREN. TODAY I AM THE HEAD CHAPLAIN FOR THE SHERIFF OF JEFFERSON PARISH. MY DAD BROUGHT ME TO PRISON WHEN I WAS 14 YEARS OLD, NOT TO LEAVE ME THERE, BUT TO TEACH ME TO SERVE. AND TODAY I'M OVERALL PRISON MINISTRY FOR THIS PARISH. AND WE'VE STARTED A LAW ENFORCEMENT CHAPLAINS PROGRAM 15 YEARS AGO WHERE WE SERVE OUR OFFICERS. AND SO I'M VERY PROUD OF THE, THE LEGACY THAT MY DAD HAS LEFT ME AS A VETERAN, AND MANY OF YOU WHO ARE VETERANS TODAY, YOU MAY BECAME FROM A, A LINEAGE OF VETERANS OF THOSE WHO SERVE. AND I ENCOURAGE EACH OF US TO CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN THE WAY GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO. LET'S BOW OUR HEADS FOR PRAYER. THE HEAVENLY FATHER WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THE PRIVILEGE AND FREEDOM TO GATHER HERE TODAY. WE WANT TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ARMED FORCES WHO HAVE LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES SO WE CAN LIVE IN FREEDOM, MADE THEIR TORCH OF COURAGE, SACRIFICE, AND DEVOTION BE PASSED ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION. MAY THEIR SERVICE ALWAYS BE HONORED AND THEIR MEMORY NEVER FADE. WE PRAY FOR YOUR BLESSINGS ON THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS TODAY WHO MOURN THEIR LOSS. WE PRAY THAT YOUR COMFORTING PRESENCE WOULD SUSTAIN THEM IN THEIR TIMES OF GRIEF. YOUR WORD SAYS YOU'RE NEAR TO THE BROKEN HEARTED AND YOU REVIVE THOSE WHO ARE CRUSHED IN SPIRIT. LORD, HELP THEM AS THEY HEAL AND MOVE FORWARD IN WAYS THAT HONOR THEIR LOVED ONE'S MEMORY. HELP US NEVER FORGET THE COST OF FREEDOM. TEACH US TO LIVE WITH GRATITUDE, COMPASSION, AND UNITY, SEEKING PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND NATION. WE PRAY YOUR PROTECTION TODAY ON THOSE WHO SERVE IN OUR ARMED FORCES AT HOME AND ABROAD, WHERE WE LIVE IN TROUBLED TIMES AND WE SEE UNREST AROUND THE WORLD. WE PRAY FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR NATION TO SEEK YOUR FACE AND TURN TO YOU FOR GUIDANCE AND WISDOM. MAY WE FIND TRUE PEACE AND COMFORT FOR OUR SOULS IN KNOWING THAT YOU OWE GOD OR OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TIMES OF TROUBLE FOR YOUR WORD SAYS, I WILL RESCUE THOSE WHO LOVE ME. I WILL PROTECT THOSE WHO TRUST IN MY NAME. WE ASK ALL THESE THINGS IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST. AMEN. AMEN. YOU MAY BE SEATED. LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL THE GUESTS WHO HAVE JOINED US HERE TODAY. TODAY WE REMEMBER THE EXTRAORDINARY SACRIFICE MADE BY GENERATIONS OF AMERICAN SERVICE MEMBERS WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN DEFENSE OF OUR NATION. MEMORIAL DAY IS MORE THAN A HOLIDAY. IT'S A SOLEMN REMINDER THAT FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE. BEHIND EVERY NAME ETCHED ON A MEMORIAL BEHIND EVERY FOLDED FLAG PRESENTED TO A GRIEVING FAMILY IS A STORY OF BRAVERY, LOVE, AND SACRIFICE. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE FAMILIES LEFT BEHIND THE SPOUSES, PARENTS, CHILDREN, AND LOVED ONES WHO STRENGTH AND SACRIFICE CONTINUE LONG AFTER THE BATTLEFIELD GROWS QUIET AS AMERICANS, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HONOR THESE HEROES, NOT ONLY WITH WORDS, BUT THROUGH SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITIES CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER AND REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO GAVE EVERYTHING FOR OUR COUNTRY. WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOME OF OUR JEFFERSON PARISH ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE WITH US TODAY, AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE THEM AND TO INVITE THEM TO SHARE A FEW WORDS. I BELIEVE WE HAVE COUNCIL CHAIRWOMAN, JENNIFER VAN FRANKEN AND COUNCILWOMAN ARITA BOHANNON. GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING, MS. TERESA. UM, I WANNA JUST READ THREE NAMES. MICHAEL GUILLORY, JUSTIN CLEESE, AND JONATHAN REED. AND I UNDERSTAND JONATHAN WAS WITH JOEY. SO YOU'RE GONNA HEAR MUCH MORE ABOUT JOEY THIS MORNING, JO, JOEY BOA. BUT THESE WERE THREE NAMES THAT WERE RECOGNIZED AT A LUNCHEON [00:10:01] YESTERDAY. THREE FAMILY MEMBERS LOST THREE SERVICE MEMBERS FROM OUR COMMUNITY FROM HERE, FAMILY MEMBERS JUST LIKE US GATHERED HERE TODAY WHO HAVE PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR OUR COUNTRY, OUR FREEDOM. AND SO WE JUST REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE, UM, TO LET THE FAMILIES KNOW THAT WE WILL NEVER FORGET. MS. TERESA, THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF ALL OF JEFFERSON PARISH BECAUSE I KNOW YOUR SON CHOSE TO GO WHEN HE DIDN'T HAVE TO. AND THAT'S REALLY HALLMARK OF SO MANY OF THE HEROES THAT WE HONOR AND REMEMBER THIS WEEKEND IN A MEMORIAL DAY, THEY CHOSE TO SERVE, THEY CHOSE TO GO EVEN WHEN THEY DIDN'T NEED TO AND TO STEP UP FOR OUR COUNTRY. AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING THIS WEEKEND. IT'S NOT ABOUT PICNICS, IT'S NOT ABOUT, UM, ANY OF THOSE THINGS. IT IS ABOUT GATHERING WITH FAMILY. IT IS ABOUT REMEMBERING HOW HONORED AND BLESSED WE ARE TO BE AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY IN THIS 250TH ANNIVERSARY. SO AGAIN, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING HERE THIS MORNING BECAUSE IT PUTS US ALL IN THE FRAME OF MIND OF WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO REMEMBER ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY. AND TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE SERVED AND ALL OF THOSE FAMILIES WHO KNOW WHAT SERVING REALLY MEANS. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. UM, I'M AMITA BOHANNAN AND I AM AN ARMY BRAT. I WAS BORN INTO THE ARMY AND MY FATHER STAYED THERE 24 YEARS AND WE HAD SOME SCARY DAYS, YOU KNOW, LIKE IN GERMANY WHEN THE ALARMS GO OFF AND HE'S RUNNING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. BUT WE HAD A LOT OF DAYS THAT WERE MAINLY JUST FILLED WITH PRIDE. AND I DON'T KNOW, SOME OF YOU OLDER TIMERS MIGHT REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CERTAIN MILITARY BASES THAT WHEN TAPS WOULD PLAY AT 6:00 PM SHARP, EVERYONE GOT OUT OF THEIR CAR AND SALUTED. AND I JUST REMEMBER WATCHING MY DAD THERE SALUTING WITH JUST NOTHING BUT PRIDE. SO, YOU KNOW, I, I DISAGREE A LITTLE WITH MY COLLEAGUE. I THINK IT IS ABOUT THE BARBECUES AND THE PICNICS. I THINK THAT THEY SACRIFICED SO THAT WE COULD DO THAT AND WE COULD DO IT WITHOUT FEAR. SO I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF MY DAD, SERGEANT FIRST CLASS RETIRED PETER THOMAS LIPS, AND, UH, AND I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF EVERYONE WHO MADE THOSE SACRIFICE THOSE SACRIFICES FOR US. SO AS WE ENJOY OUR MEMORIAL DAY, LET US REMEMBER IT. BUT LET US, LET US NOT JUST REMEMBER THIS WEEKEND, IT'S EVERY DAY. YOU KNOW, THOSE WHO ARE IN THE MILITARY, THOSE WHO ARE FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE MILITARY, THE WIVES, THE CHILDREN, THEY SERVE JUST AS HARD, JUST IN A DIFFERENT WAY. SO LET'S ENJOY OUR TIME TOGETHER THIS WEEKEND AND THANK THEM FOR LETTING US DO IT. I'M NOW HONORED TO INTRODUCE OUR GUEST SPEAKER FOR TODAY'S CEREMONY. THERESA BOA THERESA IS A NEW ORLEANS AREA GOLD STAR MOTHER AND FOUNDER OF JOEY'S HOPE NOLA, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SHE ESTABLISHED IN 2011 TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF HER SON, US MARINE CORPS, SERGEANT JOSEPH FOIA, WHO WAS KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN IN 2010 THROUGH JOEY'S HOPE, NOLA THERESA AND HER AND HER ORGANIZATION PROVIDE ESSENTIAL FOOD, CLOTHING, AND SHELTER TO LOCAL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN NEED THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. HER DEDICATION TO HONORING HER SON'S LEGACY THROUGH SERVICE TO OTHERS IS AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL. PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME THERESA BOA. GOOD MORNING. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. GOTTA PUT ON GLASSES 'CAUSE I'M THAT AGE, RIGHT? . UM, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AS WE GATHER TO HONOR THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. UM, THEY WERE SERVING OUR COUNTRY. AND MEMORIAL DAY REALLY IS, AS MANY OF OTHERS HAVE SAID, MORE THAN A LONG WEEKEND. UM, COOKOUTS FLAGS, UM, CEREMONIES LIKE THIS, IT'S A SACRED REMINDER THAT FREEDOMS WE ENJOY EVERY DAY WERE PER, WERE PURCHASED AT AN UNIMAGINABLE COST FOR OUR FAMILY. THIS IS DEEPLY PERSONAL. OUR SON, JOSEPH BOBIER, JOINED THE MARINE CORPS WHEN HE WAS 18 YEARS OLD, STRAIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL. AND BY THE TIME HE WAS 24, HE HAD SERVED TWO TOURS IN IRAQ AND HAD BEEN PROMOTED TO SERGEANT LIKE MANY WHO WORE THE UNIFORM. HE BELIEVED IN SOMETHING THAT WAS BIGGER THAN HIMSELF. HE BELIEVED IN SERVICE. HE BELIEVED IN PRACTICING AND PROTECTING OTHERS. THAT, AND THAT OUR FREEDOM WAS WORTH DEFENDING. ALTHOUGH JOEY'S ENLISTMENT WAS COMING TO AN END, HE VOLUNTEERED FOR ANOTHER TOUR. HIS THIRD TOUR DEPLOYED HIM TO AFGHANISTAN IN, UM, SUPPORT OF OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. [00:15:01] IT WAS DURING THAT DEPLOYMENT THAT HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION WHILE SERVING HIS COUNTRY. THERE ARE REALLY NO WORDS THAT CAN FULLY DESCRIBE THE GRIEF OF LOSING A CHILD. NO PARENT REALLY CAN IMAGINE BEING HANDED A FOLDED FLAG. NO FAMILY IS EVER TRULY PREPARED FOR THE SILENCE THAT COMES AFTER THAT KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND ALL OF THE FANFARE IS OVER. BUT EVEN IN GRIEF, THERE'S PRIDE. PRIDE IN HIS COURAGE, PRIDE IN HIS SACRIFICE, AND PRIDE IN THE MAN THAT HE CHOSE TO BECOME. MY SON STOOD ALONG, COUNTLESS OTHERS WHO ANSWERED A CALL THAT MOST PEOPLE TRULY NEVER UNDERSTAND, THIS WILLINGNESS TO STEP INTO DANGER SO THE REST OF US CAN LIVE IN PEACE. AND SOME LIKE JOEY NEVER CAME HOME. SO TODAY WE REMEMBER THEM WELL. THIS, FOR OUR FAMILY, WAS AN UNDESCRIBABLE TRAGEDY. AN EVEN GREATER TRAGEDY WOULD BE ALLOWING THEIR SACRIFICE TO FADE FROM OUR MEMORY OR BECOME MEANINGLESS OVER TIME. SO PLEASE DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN. WE CAN PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AND HONOR THEM NOT ONLY WITH WORDS OR BY ATTENDING CEREMONIES LIKE THIS, BUT INSTEAD THE WAY WE LIVE OUR LIVES. WE CAN HONOR THESE BRAVE HEROES BY BEING GOOD CITIZENS, BY LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS, BY STANDING UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, NO MATTER THE COST. BY TEACHING OUR CHILDREN THE VALUE OF SACRIFICE, SERVICE, AND GRATITUDE. NOT EVERYBODY IS CALLED TO WEAR A MILITARY UNIFORM, BUT EVERYBODY CAN SERVE SOMEONE. IN GALATIANS FIVE 13, WE'RE REMINDED, SERVE ONE ANOTHER HUMBLY IN LOVE. SO SERVING IS NOT JUST AN ACT OF KINDNESS, IT'S WHAT WE'RE CALLED TO DO. WE CAN SIMPLY SHARE A KIND WORD, HOLD, OPEN A DOOR, AND YES, EVEN LET SOMEBODY MERGE IN FRONT OF US. IN TRAFFIC, WE CAN VOLUNTEER, HELP MENTOR SOMEONE, UM, HELP SOMEBODY THAT IS STRUGGLING OR JUST PROVIDE COMFORT IN TOUGH TIMES. EVERY ACT OF COMP, KINDNESS, AND COMPASSION AND RESPONSIBILITY TRULY HELPS STRENGTHEN OUR COUNTRY THAT THESE MEN AND WOMEN DIED DEFENDING. THIS IS HOW WE MAKE SURE THEIR DEATH IS NOT IN VAIN. SO TODAY AS WE BOWED OUR HEADS, WE PLACE FLOWERS ON GRAVES, WE WAVE OUR FLAGS AND ATTEND FAMILY BARBECUES AND HEAR THE PLAYING OF TAPS. LET US REMEMBER THOSE WHO GAVE EVERYTHING. LET US CARRY THEIR MEMORY FORWARD WITH GRATITUDE INSTEAD OF INDIFFERENCE. AND LET US TODAY LEAVE HERE COMMITTED TO SERVING OUR COUNTRY BY SERVING, UM, AND BY SERVING OTHERS AND LIVING OUR LIFE IN A WAY THAT IS WORTHY OF THEIR SACRIFICE. TO MAKE IT EASIER TO REMEMBER, WE SHOULD HE HEED THE WORDS OF JESUS WHO SAID, YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND. THIS IS THE FIRST AND GREATEST COMMITMENT. AND THE SECOND IS THE SAME. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF. SO DO ALL OF OUR HEROES. WE REMEMBER YOU TODAY. WE HONOR YOU. AND TODAY, SON, WE WILL NEVER FORGET. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE WORDS. AT THIS TIME, THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 3 7 7 BAND WILL PERFORM THE ARMED SERVICES SALUTE. SO I THINK ALL OF YOU VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR SERVICES SONG PLAYED. STAND PROUDLY. [00:23:01] WONDERFUL JOB AS ALWAYS. LET'S GIVE ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THE BAND FOR OUR CLOSING PRAYER. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE PASTOR ROBERT STORY FORWARD FOR THE BENEDICTION. MY WIFE'S FATHER WAS IN THE PACIFIC. MY DAD FLEW 56 MISSIONS IN A P 51 OVER GERMANY IN WORLD WAR II. AND SO VERY PROUD OF ALL OF OUR VETERANS. AND FORTUNATELY HE CAME HOME, BUT HE HAD SOME, SOME FRIENDS THAT DIDN'T. SO LORD, ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY, WE GATHER WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS TO HONOR THOSE WHO GAVE COURAGEOUSLY, GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR FREEDOMS THAT WE ENJOY HERE TODAY. WE THANK YOU GOD FOR THEIR BRAVERY, FOR THEIR SACRIFICE, AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO STAND IN THE GAP FOR EACH ONE OF US. FATHER, WE PRAY FOR EVERY GOLD STAR FAMILY, EVERY GRIEVING FRIEND, EVERY VETERAN, CARRY MEMORIES OF LOSS. BRING COMFORT WHERE THERE IS SORROW HEALING, WHERE THERE IS PAIN AND HOPE WHERE HEARTS FEEL HEAVY. TEACH US TO VALUE THE BLESSINGS PURCHASED AT SUCH A HIGH PRICE. HELP US TO LIVE WITH HUMILITY, UNITY, AND GRATITUDE. AND LORD, MAY WE NEVER FORGET THAT FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE. WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU PROTECT THE MEN AND WOMEN CURRENTLY SERVING OUR COUNTRY. GIVE THEM COURAGE AND DANGER, WISDOM AND DECISIONS AND PEACE IN THEIR HEARTS. LORD, LET THIS DAY ALSO REMIND US OF THE GREATEST SACRIFICE OF ALL WHEN JESUS CHRIST GAVE HIS LIFE SO THAT WE COULD HAVE ETERNAL FREEDOM AND PEACE WITH GOD. MAY WE LIVE LIVES WORTHY OF BOTH EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY SACRIFICE. LORD BLESS OUR NATION, GUIDE OUR LEADERS AND TURN OUR HEARTS TOWARDS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUTH. IT'S IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS THAT WE PRAY. EVERYBODY SAID TOGETHER. AMEN. [00:25:03] AS WE CONCLUDE TODAY'S CEREMONY, THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 3 7 7 BAND WILL PERFORM TAPS IN HONOR OF THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE AND SERVICE TO OUR NATION. AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY AMAZING GRACE, UM, BY SEAN BURO ON THE BAGPIPES. WOULD EVERYONE STAND FOR THE PLAYING OF TAPS? YOU MAY BE SEATED. ON BEHALF OF JEFFERSON PARISH, I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO TOOK TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY TODAY TO COME HERE AND BE PART OF THIS VERY SPECIAL CEREMONY. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO MADE TODAY'S CEREMONY POSSIBLE, THE JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE, COLOR GUARD, FIRE SERVICES DIRECTOR, STEVEN GIROS, PASTOR ROBERT STORY, REVEREND KATHY RADKEY STORY, MS. THERESA BOER, THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 3 7 7 BAND, SEAN BURO, AS WELL AS JEFFERSON PARISH DEPARTMENT'S, RECREATION, PARKWAYS, GENERAL SERVICES, AND THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE. AS WE CONCLUDE TODAY'S CEREMONY, LET US ALWAYS REMEMBER THE FALLEN HEROES WE HONOR ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY. MAY WE MAY WE NEVER FORGET THEIR SACRIFICE, THEIR COURAGE, AND THEIR UNWAVERING DEVOTION TO OUR COUNTRY. THANK YOU. AND MAY GOD BLESS OUR MILITARY FAMILIES, OUR VETERANS, AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THANK YOU. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.