>> george prescott bush marks grandfather was shot down over the pacific. of the national parks service and friends of the national world or to memorial host of the event.

>> we salute those of the greatest generation. we also offer a special salute to this generation. another great generation. a generation of men and women who are presently serving in the ongoing war on terrorism. there services greatly appreciated. to all of these veterans past and present, we are grateful. we have a lasting appreciation for their service to our country. i want to thank you all for being here today. special thanks to our veterans for their service and sacrifices for our nation.

to introduce the official party for today's commemoration. is mr.note speaker george prescott bush. [applause] it is a long walk. the chairman of the board for friends of the national world war ii memorial. [applause] district, theary corporal chaplain. [applause] it is a warm day and we will try to make this brief. i think you'll find it impressive.

presentationor the of the colors and the plane of the national anthem and the invocation. ♪

♪ ♪

>> please be seated. youso want to introduce to robert vogel, the superintendent

of the national mall. this the chaplain to give the invocation. >> let us pray. it, today we gather in remembrance and thanksgiving. andmbrance of a great costly victory over a tyranny that threatened america and the world. we gather in thanksgiving for the men and women who served both home and on distant pacific waters and shores and lands. sacrificed so much to achieve that victory. , gratefulu thanks that you inspired so many countrymen in unselfish service. many to the cost of their own

lives, we commemorate at this memorial. their courage and valor insured the freedoms we enjoy today. they provide an inspiration an example to those of us who strive to add our contributions to the security, prosperity, and peace of our beloved country. bless our commemoration here and all of its participants. render aobservance true honor to those who made it possible and foster true devotion to you, to our country, and to the divine a and democratic values of freedom, justice, and the peace we hold so dear. amen. >> thank you, sir. i am so pleased to be with you today.

vj day is a special day for this country. we commemorate the end of world war ii. we celebrate the unity and spirit of the american people. we helped to end the war. we can celebrate the same unity and spirit that has allowed us to turn our enemies into allies and friends. mention, i heard produced a documentary in hawaii to commemorate the attack on pearl harbor. one of the people i interviewed was an old sea dog. officer,navy petty john finn grabbed a machine gun and mounted on an extraction stand -- instructions 10. thatred on aircraft from exposed position for two hours.

ofwas awarded the medal honor for his heroic actions that day. when i asked him for an interview he said ok. he said none of that hero stuff. "stuff",t use the word either. he would not stay in line at the parade. he would run off to shake cans of people -- hands with people. i fell in love the guy. he had five foster kids at home. in 2010 at the age of 100. he was a member of the greatest generation. many thanks to superintendent vogel and the national parks service for their exemplary efforts to maintain this memorial and to bring honor to the greatest generation.

we are pleased to partner with the national parks service to preserve the legacy of this memorial and to cohost these events with them. vogel.ert [applause] thank you and good morning. on behalf of the national parks service, it is my great honor to welcome you to your world war ii memorial and to the national mall and memorial parks. memorial10 years, this has stood on the national mall to commemorate in bronze and granite the undying gratitude of a nation. to those veterans of world war ii who are here with us today, and to all of those who have so valiantly served their nation

cents -- thank you -- since, we thank you. on this special victory over japan day, we are honored to have with us businessman and civic leader mr. george prescott bush as our keynote speaker but we've welcome you to the world war ii memorial. i would like to recognize a couple of other people read we have general kelly who is the former chairman of the american battle memorial commission and someone who was a key leader in the creation of this wonderful memorial. he did not just stop then. as a key leader in the friends of the world war ii memorial.

like to recognize the chairman of the friends of the national world war ii memorial. he has served our nation for more than 50 years. andt as an army officer after his retirement at the departments of state, defense, and veterans administration. the friends are trusted partners in the shared mission to ensure that the legacy and sacrifice of the world war ii generation are never forgotten. i would also like to take a special opportunity to recognize the wonderful men and women who are here today and are here the yellowearing it hats and the yellow shirts. i would ask you to take a moment and to thank them for their

service as volunteers here at the world war ii memorial. [applause] not do it without you. 69 years ago today, the battleship uss missouri sat in tokyo harbor. an iron witness to a quiet and to the most destructive conflict in human history. supreme commander of the allied forces, general macarthur, ,ummed up the occasion saying quotation mark the guns are silent. a great tragedy has ended. a great victory has been one. the sky is no longer raining death. the seas bear only commerce. upright inere walk the sunlight. the entire world is quietly at

peace. thiseace that followed greatest generation did not rest , going on to build the interstate highway system and step foot on the moon. as the superintendent of the national mall and as the route son of a world war ii veteran, i behonored every day to entrusted with the care and protection of this memorial. thank you very much. [applause] thank you mr. vogel. an undistinguished member of golf company, the infamous golf company. i don't think that is a compliment. today to with us

,epresent the ceremony lieutenant general kicklighter. [applause] >> good morning and on behalf of friends of the national world war ii memorial, but may also extend my welcome that you have come to commemorate the 60 night anniversary of the allied victory of world war ii as the world came to an end and the pacific. today, the japanese formally surrendered a board the uss missouri. and world waro an ii.

mr. peterson at, thank you so much for being our master of ceremonies. you have done this before. i can't add to all of the great things that were said about you when you are introduced. you are marine veteran. you have taken a special interest in taking care of those men and women who are serving our country and you have done a great deal for our veterans. admiral luther, i know you are a busy man. it is great to have you with us as well. , we look forward to hearing your remarks. especially about your grandfather's service in world war ii. today marks the 70th anniversary of president bush's miraculous rescue when he was shot down in the pacific. occurred,scue had not

there would be a lot of bushes that would be out of our history. we know that among the many things you have done in your life, you are serving in the reserves as a naval officer and you have had one tour of duty in afghanistan. it is always an honor to welcome a special friend. one of my heroes that i admire, the former chairman of the board of the american monuments .ommission the four week came in he said to me that they haven't of his career was today's that up on tos platform and said president bush 43, it is my high honor to present this memorial to the american people.

let's give general kelly around of applause. [applause] there are so many other distinguished guests. we gather at this magnificent memorial tonational member those who served in world war ii and their families. commemorate, an estimated 60 million people lost their lives in that war. mostly they were women and children and the elderly who got overrun by the war. millions were murdered in slave labor cap's. today we remember those 16

million americans who walked away from a civilian wife and put a uniform on to defend this nation. 400,000 whomber the gave all their tomorrow's and that is a high price to pay would you are 18 or 19 years old. we can live in this beautiful america that we are proud to call home. me.e are represented behind they fought that war against great odds. the outcome was not certain. the world war ii generation fought and won that war and , theythis nation literally save the world. have beene friends involved with this memorial from

inception to the dedication. they continue to work to support it. to accomplish this mission, we work closely and proudly with anddepartment of defense the military district of washington and the national parks service. we share this sacred memorial with all of our world war ii veterans and their families. a special thanks to mr. robert vogel and that great service of of this --care

this magnificent memorial. this is a great place to come and toember and reflect commemorate the defining moments of that war. we honor those who served. would the world war ii veterans stand or raise their hand so we greaty thank you for this nation that you gave us. would you raise your hand or please stand? [applause] we can never repay you for the great sacrifice service that you provided in such a time of peril. thank all of you for coming this morning to help us honor our

world war ii veterans and their families. god bless all of our veterans and all of their families. please bless the men and women who are serving today and coming off the battlefields of iraq and afghanistan. what a magnificent job they have done and are doing. god bless america. thank you very much. [applause] thank you very much. thank you veterans. what youpreciative of have done and continue to do to thank our veterans and their families. i've reached an age where people asked me why fought in world war ii. i tried to enlist but i was only three years old and my mother wouldn't sign for me.

that is a regret that you carry with you. we are privileged to have with us today the navy band who will now perform a musical patriotic salute to our veterans. ♪

[applause] >> it is my privilege to introduce our keynote speaker. mr. bush is part of the next generation of texas leaders. he is a successful businessman, tolanthropist, n dedicated pushing conservative values.

he is known to his friends as a ,eader with broad convictions broad experience and fresh perspective. navy06 he joined the reserves. in 2010 he began an eight-month tour of duty in afghanistan. among other service decorations, metal.given the --is now my pleasure to work welcome george prescott bush to the podium. [applause] good morning and thank you for having me. you thishonor to join

honor. i want to recognize all of our distinguished guests and visitors. it is truly an honor to have been invited to represent my family and join you on this morning here in d.c. 69 years ago, the guns fell silent in the pacific. a new world truly had emerged. against huge's and an enemy that refused to surrender, america emerged victorious in world war ii. it was important that america won the war, it was just as important that america won the peace. the heroes of the greatest generation did not just defeat japan, they rebuilt japan. they did not fight against

tyranny, they fought for freedom. that fight goes around the world as american troops remain the last and best hope for preserving freedom. the nevis would be here today if america had not one in the pacific theater. it was due to the countless american men and women who wore the uniform and bore the burden of fighting in the greatest war. because i have an important mission this morning. i came here bearing a clear message that i want each and everyone of you to hear it loudly and clearly. it is a message from my generation to yours. that is, thank you. thank you for all the you have done to preserve the great freedoms that we as americans sometimes take for granted. thank you for putting time on hold, both on the home front and the front lines to preserve the many freedoms that we enjoy

today. thank you for pressing on in the tremendous difficulties ahead of thend pressing against rising tide of tyranny. again our nation once faces groep threats from the forces of evil. we have been called into the breach to answer that call that americans have always heard. that is to do the hard work of freedom. standing before this greatest generation, my generation will not fail you. we will not drop the baton. your example and selflessness and love of country that led you to the valley of war and destruction to the greener pastures of peace and prosperity.

it will remain an inspiration. i hope you'll forgive a very proud grandson this morning and noted that the young men and uss georgeng on the h w bush is in an area of hostility. her crew continues to drop on the inspiration of her ship's namesake on a daily basis. this is not about him. this is about you. may god bless each and every one of them and may god bless all who serve in where the uniform. may god bless you and your families on this special anniversary in this special place. thank you. [applause] part in theot take wreath laying ceremony. please be seated as our veterans get in position.

we will hear from the band. ♪ ♪

>> we will now begin the wreath presentation ceremony. represent united states of america is mr. george prescott

bush. representing the national parks service is mr. robert vogel,

superintendent of the national veteran,world war ii one of the original members of s.e women's corp [applause] representing friends of the world war ii memorial is general

kicklighter. a navyvins is construction mechanic chief, retired. aboard the uss o'brien in both the atlantic and pacific theaters from normandy to tokyo. [applause]

representing it states army is and veteran clarence faulkner. in thea staff sergeant 10th mountain division from december 1945. he received many awards including the italian metal. he saved 20 soldiers by throwing a live grenade that had fallen out of someone's backpack. [applause]

representing the marine corps, , he serves as the president and ceo of the national association of uniform services. accompanying him is mr. russell jenkins. mr. jenkins is a world war ii oldran and was 17 years when he joined the navy during world war ii. he served at sea in the atlantic as well as on land and as a

medic with the third wave of forces that hit omaha beach on d-day. [applause] representing the navy is brian operations.ctor of he was the first commander of the uss george bush ship that is now in the mediterranean. is apanying admiral luther man who enlisted in 1939 in virginia.

he was a torpedo man throughout the war. andeceived numerous medals his wife for 65 years. he had four children who are with him today. [applause] representing the air force, colonel ed shack. by a world wared and a teske airmen.

representing the coast guard is mr. gordon peterson. he is a former marine officer and served during the vietnam era.

representing the merchant kevin m per car ski.

ladies and gentlemen please rise for the plane of taps.

but isn't a woman, please be seated. -- ladies and gentlemen please be seated. branches of service. medley the armed forces by the navy ceremonial band. please stand when you hear your song being played to be recognized. the navy ceremonial band.

united states army. ♪ the united states air force. ♪

the united states marine corps. ♪ the united states coast guard. ♪

the united states navy. ♪ navy hear it for the ceremonial band. [applause] this concludes our ceremony today. you are welcome to go to the

freedom wall and meet and greet the veterans and congratulate them and thank you for coming. have a wonderful day and god bless america. >> you are watching american history tv all weekend, every weekend on c-span 3. >> c-span is turning cities across the country and exploring american history. next, look at our visit to st. paul minnesota. you are watching american history tv on c-span 3.