>> set your dvr for 6:00 a.m. eastern every morning so you never miss a minute of fox & friends. >> remember our warriors, honor them, live worthy of their sacrifice. steve? >> sandra: defense secretary mark esper will be dying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier as americans pause to remember the brief servicemen and women to give the ultimate sacrifice for our country. good morning, everyone. i'm sandra smith. >> ed: president trump at first lady melania trump will take part in the traditional wreath laying that happens here live next hour before heading to baltimore for a ceremony, it will be her memorial day like no other. due to the covid-19 pandemic, mark meredith is live at the white house this morning with more details.

>> we expect to see the president and first lady make the trip to arlington national cemetery expected to take place in the wreath laying ceremony. is close to the public because of coronavirus but families of those fallen are still allowed to visit the grounds for the vice president says even during this pandemic, should pause for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. >> communities large and small generally come together, get their arms around those gold star but today, there will be more separation and more distance, and i just want them all to know that they are in our hearts today. >> after the arlington visit, both the president and the first lady will be going to historic shrine in baltimore, has been publicly urging the president not to visit, the trip is still on the schedule saying it's possible that the republican national convention may not be happening in

north carolina later on this summer. this is an event that has still been on the books. the president has made it clear he still wants to hold a convention but says the rnc is not getting the information it needs to go ahead and go forth with planning. this is what the president tweeted moments ago. he wrote "he must be immediately given an answer by the governor on whether or not the space will be able to be fully occupied. not, we will be reluctantly forced -- it brings another republican national convention site." the president did not say which other cities may be up for consideration the white house is still planning on holding g7 summit with world leaders later on next month. >> we will watch that in a few moments and watch the defense secretary live at the pentagon. you can see arlington cemetery

right there, just the live look at the tomb of the unknown soldier. watching it all morning long in the meantime. >> sandra: we look forward to that. meanwhile, former vice president joe biden facing increasing fallout for a comment he made about black voters last week telling a radio host that if voters can't decide between him and president trump president trump then, "you ain't black." he is said to walk back that remarked with a controversy is not rippling into his search for a running mate. let's bring in byron york on all of this, chief political correspondent for the "washington examiner" and a fox news contributor. good morning to you. >> good morning, sandra. >> sandra: it was quite a moment last week, because quite a stir, biden tried to walk back those remarks. your thoughts this morning is now the conversation turns towards the vice presidential pick for a running mate for joe biden? >> the democratic party has not

chosen a white man as its presidential nominees in his john kerry in 2004, so now that joe biden has the nomination, he is under pressure to choose a minority candidate. he's already said he has guaranteed he is going to choose a woman and he is under increasing pressure now for it to be a woman of color, and he was already under pressure when last week he made this gaffe in his interview with the host in which he basically said, "if you're a black american and you don't vote for me, then you ain't really black." so he's under pressure now to choose a minority woman candidate, and we have heard about kamala harris, stacey abrams, val demings, and has said they are all on his list right now. >> sandra: said this, black activists worn do not pick

amy klobuchar as vp. the former prosecutor has problems with communities of color that another top white contender elizabeth warren does not. so what does that mean for the potential pick of amy klobuchar versus the potential elizabeth warren picked? >> it's not good for amy klobuchar now. these problems arose when amy klobuchar was running herself for the democratic nomination, and they would've gotten bigger had she gotten further in the nominating process. she has been a prosecutor in her own state of minnesota, came under criticism from minority communities for not being aggressive enough against police shootings and that has stayed with her the whole time. right now, she is trying to make amends and build bridges, pretty clear that she is campaigning to get this choice to be joe biden's vice presidential candidate. but clearly, you have some minority leaders essentially saying you've got to veto

amy klobuchar as a possible choice. >> sandra: these comments on that radio interview played about this time friday morning although the interview happened thursday night. this is about the time friday we got word of that. since then, joe biden has tried to walk back those remarks, called them cavalier, said he shouldn't have been trying to be a wise guy. meanwhile, the interviewer said this yesterday about what he wants to see from joe biden's campaign. >> i do hear people say we want him to have a black woman running mate, but not just any black woman running mate, one that is aptly going they get in office and care that black people benefit from the presidency. we need something significant and he's already committed to putting a black woman on the supreme court so i just want him in the democratic party to know that it's time to give back to the black community in a very tangible way. >> sandra: so what can joe biden do to turn a higher minority voter turnout?

>> he's tried to stress his commitment over his career to minority issues, but this is a huge deal because when barack obama won the presidency in 2008 and 2012, democrats thought they had created a new coalition that was going to win it for many, many years in the future, a coalition of minorities, women, and young people. but that coalition depended on very high turnout, especially from minorities and what we saw in 2016 is that hillary clinton could not get that same level of turnout to minority voters that barack obama had, and she lost. so this is a big question for joe biden because you would have to guess that he's going to have trouble getting that level of minority turnout when compared to what barack obama got in '08 and '12. this is a huge, huge issue so for biden to alienate any significant part of minority communities is a really bad idea

right now. to make very interesting. we will see where it all goes. we are awaiting the ceremony, arlington national seven terry. byron, thank you. >> ed: meantime, memorial day weekend bringing massive crowds from coast-to-coast and testing america's ability to continue to social distance as americans kick off the unofficial start of summer amid this pandemic. >> we just wanted to get away, have the kids have some fun and not have this ruin such a big holiday. >> it's really crowded. it's beautiful out. it's fun, everybody's having f fun. >> we chose a secluded corner to stay away, it could be better, the social distancing, but you can only do so much. >> there's been a lot of people but everyone's been very responsible. everyone is keeping the distance i think it's been a good start.

>> ed: laura ingle is life on the beach outside of new york city, looks a little cloudy but for many americans, nice just to get out and get some fresh air. >> it is, from california to long island, we are seeing a wide range of compliance when it comes at social distancing, wearing masks, and people taking the advice from health officials on how to handle this new coronavirus era and a beach date is of course the unofficial kickoff to summer which is led a lot of people ahead to the surf and sand. here in the northeast despite some cooler weather as you mentioned, we have seen people out and about getting back on the stands, some abiding by the rules, others getting a little too close to covid comfort and one of the more egregious examples of rule breaking appears to have happen this weekend at the lake of the ozarks in missouri this weekend. a lot of people checking out this video with hundreds of

people going shoulder to shoulder with hardly a mask inside, that's getting a lot of play. has huge crowds of people make a break from two months of isolation and being asked to keep at least 6 feet apart while at the beach. many beachgoers are taking a cautious approach to getting back onto the sand it into the water, some with their masks on. >> i think it's also just having a positive attitude but also being realistic about what is going on and just being careful, being mindful again about who will or won't wear it. >> we want to mention that health officials say you shouldn't wear a mask in the water, try to socially distance when you were in those waves. many beaches nationwide are allowing only partial access, some only allowing half the capacity and while there is no one-size-fits-all for the rules across america, here in new york, governor cuomo says this is a trial run for the summer months ahead. >> we have not reached 50% of

max, so no one has been turned away, but as the weather gets warmer, i expect more people will come. >> you're right, the cloud cover is really keeping people away. you can see here behind me, we don't have a big crowd as of yet. that could change throughout the day. you've got to be 10 feet apart while you are on the sand, so we will see how that goes as we wrap up on manorial day. >> ed: laura ingle, thank you for starting us off. >> sandra: vice president mike pence and defense secretary mark esper said to take place in a wreath laying ceremony just a few moments from now. a president trump and the first lady expected to honor our fallen soldiers in about an hour. we will bring you those events alive. meanwhile, events across the nation will be looking very different on this monday, michael waltz to discuss how

covid-19 is impacting the some traditions. plus, the judge overseeing the michael flynn case now hiring his own high-profile attorney. what this could mean for the former national security advisor. >> president obama, jim comey, and others agree that any investigation conducted would be by the book. i don't know what book they were reading. the book that applies to this did not follow the justice manual. [norm] and we live in columbia, missouri. we do consulting, but we also write. [szasz] we take care of ourselves constantly; it's important. we walk three to five times a week, a couple miles at a time. - we've both been taking prevagen for a little more than 11 years now. after about 30 days of taking it, we noticed clarity that we didn't notice before. - it's still helping me. i still notice a difference. prevagen. healthier brain. better life.

>> sandra: a wet and windy holiday weekend for millions in the heartland, severe thunderstorms blowing through texas, oklahoma, and arkansas dropping hail the size of softballs in some areas. some communities reported tornadoes. of more severe weather in that part of the country is expected again today. i>> ed: the coronavirus outback is changing how americans honor the fallen as time-honored traditions adapt to new safety precautions. many ceremonies moving online. the spring and congressman michael waltz, member of the house armed services committee and a former green beret commander who served in afghanistan. good morning, and we certainly think you for your service to this great nation. good morning.

>> thank you, good morning. >> ed: your thoughts on this memorial day. >> i think it's every day about memorial day, to be honest with you because every day is memorial day for the families, and i wake up every day personally thinking about the green berets that i lost. and they were my responsibilities. i was there commander, survivor skills is a very real thing, and i look at the mirror, put on this bracelet with one of my green berets and say you worthy. that's my message to america today is be worthy of their sacrifice. everything that we are enjoying right now, the freedoms that we have is because of their sacrifice, but i also think take an extra step and think that gold star family that doesn't have their loved one right now and that are out there at those cemeteries right now doing

without. >> ed: absolutely, and james mattis of course a retired four-star marine corps general has an op-ed in "the washington post"'s morning saying in part, "memorial day this year, we may be keeping social distance but that cannot detract from the sense of closeness and community and shared sacrifice that we feel for one another on a day when we come face-to-face with the human cost of freedom. your reaction? >> i think that's absolutely right and again, i can't go back to the gold star families enou enough. for everybody who knows one, my message to everyone washing his reach out to them. they need your support, they appreciate your support, and we should all appreciate them and we can give back by continuing to serve. serve your neighbor, serve your community, serve your country, step up as they did and those that are no longer with us data.

for this great nation as reagan said we are but one generation from losing our freedoms. doesn't pass down in the bloodstream. has to be fought for. every single generation and with isis, al qaeda, iran, north korea, russia, china, we face unprecedented threats and this virus doesn't care about republican or democrat. today is not the day for that. just cares that we are all american, and those enemies bullets only care that we are american down in the foxhole and we have to come to gather to appreciate, to recognize and to step up and serve. >> ed: as you speak, we are showing a live at the tomb of the unknown culture at arlington national cemetery. vice president and the defense secretary are at the pentagon will be heading there in a moment and we will go there live but i want to get back to your thought quickly about these threats, specifically china when you have the president's national security advisor talking about potential sanctions if china continues to crackdown in hong kong.

the virus, the fact that our intelligence community is still investigating whether it started in this wuhan lab, china assembling on the matter. there's a conflict brewing here. not talking necessarily about a hot war of course, but as you mention, it is a threat that is looming. in >> you are right, it is not necessarily that it's brewing, it's already here. the chinese communist party has been in a cold war the united states for some time, just read their leadership speeches bear they seek to dominate a new world order where china calls the shots in america doesn't, and i think of the wake of this virus, this will be a wake-up call for the country on what's going on bro they don't seek to do it militarily. they seek to do it by stealing our technology, dominating us economically so that any type of military conflict is just to complete. i did not almost die for this country and we didn't just lose so many americans to grow up and

future generations to grow up in a world led by chinese communist party. is not the future that i fought for and that we lost americans for. >> ed: and as we reflect on that sacrifice, americans always pushing ahead as you know better than i in terms of whether it's a space race, new technologies and you are going to see that in your home state of florida this week. a couple of astronauts getting ready to take flight later this week. president trump expected to be there along with you. this is something different. i you see the two astronauts right there, the first-ever manned commercial launch in your state working with nasa. reflect a little bit as well on what we should see later this week. >> this is just a huge moment for the country, huge moment for florida, relaunching america, relaunching our economy, relaunching american dominance in space. a few people realize for the last decade we've had the mother may ins the russians to get our astronauts up in the space, no

longer. when i talk to the president again, never again are we going to have to ask the russians, this is relaunching american astronauts from american soil, on the 21st century space race is on. they have a satellite circling the moon, not going to let this happen, president leading the way with a space for a cent now with the private sector, spacex leading the launch this wednesday from florida. it'>> ed: i can tell you're excited about it. an exciting moment we are looking forward to. a poignant moment ahead with the vice president and defense secretary. congressman michael waltz, we appreciate your thoughts, emotional about your own colleagues that you lost as a green beret commander. we thank you for your service and your reflections this morning. sandra? >> sandra: thank you.

of taking a live look at arlington national cemetery what we will see the vice president a short time from now, mike pence and karen pence and defense secretary mark esper set to take part in a wreath laying ceremony there. president trump also expected to honor our fallen soldiers about one hour from now. we will bring you both of those events when they begin. meanwhile, the city of chicago set to hold a different kind of rally this memorial day. a live report on that coming up, plus we are awaiting president donald trump as i just mentioned he is set to appear there at arlington cemetery. we will bring that to you live when it begins. we will be right back.

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>> the federal rules of criminal procedure govern this type of motion to dismiss from the government, and there's no discretion in this type of case for the judge, so it was very unusual for not only him to take it under consideration but also to appoint someone to argue in favor of maintaining this case open. i've never seen anything like this before. to my former acting attorney general matt whitaker reacting to the news yesterday that the federal judge overseeing the michael flynn case has hired a prominent attos refusal or delay to drop charges against the former national security advisor. as requested by the justice department. in beth wilkinson represented

brett kavanaugh during his supreme court nomination. joining us now is former doj prosecutor. thank you for being here. so do you think ultimately, we will get an explanation from this judge from the delay? >> we are going to get a lot. it's starting to sound like a little bit of a bad joke like how many lawyers does it take to dismiss a case, this is typically a very ministerial type thing with a judge can very easily sign off on an order may be without any sort of hearing that says this case is dismissed on motion of the government. this judge for whatever reason has been very invested in this case, so it sounds like we are heading towards a fairly sensational hearing with an awful lot of arguing going on about something that typically doesn't require much. remember, judge sullivan presided over the case which ended with a huge amount of hoopla for dismissal based on prosecutoprosecutorial miscondu.

doesn't seem like he is focusing as much on that as general flynn's character, so it's going to be a very interesting ride including his representation by a very high-powered lawyer. >> sandra: let me ask you the same question that i asked matt whitaker in the interview. how unusual is this? >> is extremely unusual. the only case law that really supports the notion of a judge denying the notion to dismiss is very narrow. is something where the prosecution is harassing by dismissing a case in recharging and dismissing it and rechargi recharging, but never heard of it actually happening that there a reported case on it but his order reporting the amicus attorney mentioned the case that establishes just how narrow it is where a judge would deny a motion to dismiss, then the points in amicus attorney who is on record saying never mind, i think we can go to sentencing so that's really odd that you have

him hiring beth wilkinson to represent his views to the appellate court which seem to be sending a message of nonsense. they got inside of the case telling him that you need to respond by next week to what's going on. >> sandra: all right, so i also spoke with andy biggs, house judiciary yesterday hot all of this and asked him first and foremost about the actual opening of an investigation on the part of christopher wray and into the fbi's handling of the case, but also why now? listen. >> i think it's long overdue, this is an internal affairs investigation, but any kind criminal conduct or misconduct and they are going to take internal discipline. the timing of it is what is most dubious. the action itself is appropriate but should have been done a long time ago. >> sandra: the point is christopher wray had to have known all the things he knows

now to open an internal investigation, why does he wait so long? >> i don't know why he waited so long, but i welcome it either way. maybe there was more going on behind the scenes that we know about this gets back to the culture of jim comey. they were engaging in misconduct because they felt self-righteous about going after the trump administration. it's as simple as that. they victimize the fisa court and the doj hearing things like sally yates being caught off guard by what the fbi was doing, and they had this culture of the rules didn't apply to fbi management or this particular part of management compared to a field agent out there anywhere else in the country. so whatever the scrutiny is whether it's late or not, it is overdue to look at how they are handling themselves and what should have been the most professional objective public corruption type of investigation we should never have. >> sandra: very interesting. now that that internal

investigation has been open, appreciate your time this morning, thank you. >> ed: then returned to chicago where a different kind of rally is scheduled for this memorial day honoring heroes that have given their lives for our freedom while also calling for the state of illinois to reopen. mike tobin has details. good morning. >> you've got people descending on the millennium park, the area of the iconic ham fountain for a demonstration where the memorial day demonstration organized by a group called to reopen. reopen illinois has demonstrated chicago in the past, thus far have all been peaceful. the event organizer tells me the primary focus of today's to prevent is to remember those who gave their lives in defense of the nation's freedom. he says you cannot ignore what is happening. the rights of the many ingrate ingrained, the right to peacefully assemble, those rights have been canceled based on the recommendations of the field. demonstrators and speakers at

the event will get up to hammer the point that local orders and ordinances, even executive orders do not override what is guaranteed in the constitution. as far as the argument that gathering together could spread the virus and therefore create a need to extend lockdown as the sciences doesn't back that up. he believes fresh air and sunlight will ultimately prove healthy. a lot of the angst will be directed at illinois democratic governor j.b. pritzker who has enacted some of the most strict guidelines of the nation. at one point, he sought to charge business owners with a misdemeanor and he says withdrew that while he is facing in the use of restrictions, still one of the most cash-strapped states in the nation with business is really suffering under the lockdown. illinois has had over 100,000 krone virus cases. for those who are afraid, says that that is their right, their right to stay home and also their right to stay in their cars, and honk their horns.

ed? >> ed: mike tobin, thank you. >> sandra: tiger woods getting a bit of revenge against the longtime rival in their second match dubbed champions for charity. the legends of golf joined by two superstar quarterbacks with peyton manning on team tiger and tom brady on team fail. ultimately, woods and manning walked away with the big when raising a total of $20 million for coronavirus belief efforts and what around that was. there was rain delays, tom brady getting his ball out of the hole, unbelievable. >> tom brady is human, the greatest quarterback ever, but charles barkley was teasing him, now he had one big shot to help his team but other than that, he was in the water, he split his parents under armour, has a big deal, there's going to be an ad about this or something. >> sandra: tweeting who's

going to tell him? and then eli manning joined twitter yesterday to then cheer on his brother and that was really something to watch as well. was a fun day. >> you've got to love that too. all for a good cause. >> ed: meanwhile, now urging the president to ensure that national guard troops receive benefits after serving on the front lines of the pandemic. new york congressman max rose who deployed with the national guard during the peak of the states outbreak joins us with his thoughts on that straight ahead. plus, american stepping up for the holiday weekend as parks and beaches across america reopen for the unofficial start of summer. health experts have some stern warnings for those venturing outside, that is next. >> we know being outside does help. we know son does help him killing the virus, but that doesn't change the fact that people need to be responsible and maintain that distance.

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a memorial ceremony is underway at arlington national cemetery. we await the defense secretary as well as mike pence are vice president, let's pause and remember our nation's heroes. it' >> advanced the color!

>> ed: you're watching with us as we get ready for the vice president mike pence, the second lady as well as the defense secretary mark esper honoring so many who have sacrificed for all of us for our freedom this morning. as we mark memorial day together with our audience. >> sandra: that's right, mike pence and mark esper will

be leading their wreath laying ceremony there at arlington national cemetery as you saw colors just a moment ago, we will be seeing the president and the first lady a short time after expected around 10:00 a.m. eastern time, and while this memorial day has looked so different to so many, and we are remembering in so many different ways, this is a traditional ceremony that we can all take in here, streaming live in many ways, carrying it here on the fox news channel, such an important moment for this country to stop and remember those who have served and paid the biggest sacrifice. >> ed: these dead shall not have died in vain that this nation under god should have a new birth of freedom, and you think about this morning in particular as we mark on "fox & friends" this morning more than 98,000 americans who have died from covid-19 as well, we certainly do not want to

forget about them as we honor the men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for this country while wearing the uniform of our great military, and it's a very solemn occasion as always but particularly as we go through this pandemic. >> sandra: arlington national cemetery, we will look and see how much on this memorial day as well. will only be open to family members of the people that are buried there. so this ceremony is something that we can bring to families across the country as we remember today. we await the vice president and the defense secretary mark esper, they will be leading this wreath ceremony and you spoke to michael waltz just a short time ago and this is a day that we can all reflect and we can hear from those who have known those and served alongside those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. >> ed: what really stuck with me was when he said he doesn't

just think about all of this on memorial day obviously, he thinks about it every single morning when he gets up, the fact that he was a green beret commander and there were other green berets that he lost on his watch, he thinks about them and prays for them every single day, not just on memorial day, so something for all of us to think about, certainly this is the occasion every year when we mark those who have died and paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country, but it's every single day that these gold star have to think about those who we lost, those who are no longer in their lives, and you don't wanted to just be morbid, certainly congressman walt was not talking about honoring all of those sacrifices as we celebrate the freedom that we do have. >> sandra: we await the vice president of the defense secretary there, we know the president will also join in on this wreath laying ceremony, he

and the first lady will be making two appearances today, one at arlington in a few moments from now and a bit later ron at baltimore's historic fort mchenry honoring the fallen military members while the president clearly sends a signal that he will continue with his agenda to continue to fight this pandemic, the coronavirus pandemic in this country, something that is drastically changing the way we are celebrating this holiday today. >> ed: absolutely. i mentioned with congressman walt, the james mattis op-ed in "the washington post" this morning, he talks specifically about a memorial day in the middle of the pandemic that keeping social distance from one another, but that cannot detract from the sense of closeness, and a sense of community, the sense of shared sacrifice that we feel for one another on a day when we come face-to-face with the human cost of freedom, those are the words of james mattis of course the former defense secretary i'm a retired four-star marine corps general.

he ends his piece adapted from a speech that he gave in his hometown in washington state to mark memorial day this weekend when he says many of us enjoy america's freedom by an accident of birth, yet we all live free in this land by her own choice, it is our responsibility to show respect and genuine friendship to each other as fellow citizens. those are the words of james mattis, the president's former defense secretary. >> sandra: coming up, we've got retired four-star general jack keane joining us has the ceremonies go on this morning. also, the va secretary will be our guest live coming up. we are going to take a quick break and we will rejoin the ceremony, stay with us, we will be right back.

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>> sandra: taking another live look at arlington national cemetery on this memorial day where president trump will be taking part in a wreath laying ceremony to honor our fallen soldiers. our next guest was wounded while helping a treat and rescue injured soldiers in the vietnam war. he was awarded the medal of honor in 1973 for his heroism. gary by kirk joining us now this morning, he is out with a brand-new book my blades of light. we appreciate you coming on with us this morning, thank you so much, and we await the beginning of the ceremony there at arlington national cemetery. as you look on and you remember, your thoughts and reflections this morning? >> it is a blessing and honor to be here and share with you. when i came home from vietnam, i came home remembering a saying that we heard in vietnam that said to really live, you must

almost die. life has a meaning to protect it will never know, and for those of us, we did come home, we came home changed and different and many times, it was just difficult to find the words to express to others and what it was of what it taught us, what we as a nation need to know about life, about liberty. to those that fight for it, life does have a meeting and i came home with a new appreciation and understanding about life, but i also came home with a new appreciation and understanding about something else, and that was love, a love for freedom and the love for our country, a love the ma men and women who stay beside me. we have valentine's day and other days that we exchange gifts hoping to show that we

love one another, but for me, memorial day is a day that celebrates love too. but it's a different kind of love. there's a quote that's often heard on memorial day, and it comes from the new testament, the gospel of john. and it is greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life or his friends. life does have a meeting that's different. but also so does love. war has taught me about love. it's taught me that love is not about getting, it is about giving. also taught me that love is about sacrifice, giving up something that you value to attain something greater, so for me on this memorial day, i think about sacrifice, i think about that greater love that is mentioned.

in i give honor and thanks to those men and women who have made us a nation. >> sandra: it is a beautiful message, that message this morning, i think that we can all agree that this is the moment where we need to stop and remember people like you who sacrificed so much for this country. >> thank you. >> ed: what an inspiring message indeed talking about love. a live look now what arlington national cemetery. we will be right back as we await president trump's arrival. stay with us. [squawks] only pay for what you need. ♪ liberty. liberty. liberty. liberty. ♪

>> ed: will take part in the annual wreath laying ceremony as you seek it there, waiting for the president's arrival honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice this year amid the coronavirus pandemic, the cemetery will only be open to family members buried there and they must wear a face covering for the president and first lady will later attend memorial day ceremony at fort mchenry in baltimore as well. we will bring you both of these five as soon as they begin. >> ed: president trump with more coronavirus related travel restriction suspending travel to the u.s. by foreigners who have

been to brazil. welcome to a brand-new hour of "america's newsroom" on this memorial day, i am sandra smith. >> ed: brazil now has a second highest number of covid-19 cases in the entire world, over 350,000. the only country with more where they have been flocking to beaches this holiday weekend as the white house coronavirus task force chlorinator concerned about his possible spike in new cases. >> i am very concerned when people go out and don't maintain social distancing. we now have excellent scientific evidence of how far droplets go when we speak, and we know that it's important for people to socially interact, but we also know it's important that we have to have masts on if you are less than 6 feet, and that we have to maintain that distance. >> ed: steve harrigan live in atlanta, he is five this morning, good morning, steve. >> the white house issued a

travel ban for any non-u.s. citizens who have been in brazil any time within the past two weeks. this comes as brazil has become a global hot spot for the coronavirus, more than 22,000 dead. the administration has hinted more travel ban's could be down the road and other nations in south and central america as well. in the meantime, a number of u.s. churches open this weekend for the first time for in person services. issued by the cdc on friday. despite this, some governors are pushing back saying it is still too early at this time for indoor gatherings of more than 25 people. >> i would hope we get two houses of worship sooner than later, doing it too fast. and >> business as usual in many tourist areas, including lake of the ozarks in missouri where some video showed a real lack of social distancing, has said that

the virus is not likely to spread through water, but it does spread through proximity and has more than 11,000 positive cases. back to you. >> ed: steve harrigan, thank you. >> sandra: we are watching arlington national cemetery where a ceremony is underway on this memorial day. we are awaiting them at a wreath laying the ceremony there. the ceremony is underway. we expect to see the president and the vice president and the defense secretary mark esper short time from now. we will continue to bring about life. >> ed: we've been waiting for this to get going, seeing various military leaders in place, secretary of state mike pompeo is as well. this is an annual tradition for the commander-in-chief to come to the tomb of the unknown soldier on memorial day. the president will be there with the first lady as you noted and

then they are on to baltimore as well next hour, so this is a full morning of live events that we will be on top of as well. making sure that we honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. >> sandra: is we've been talking about it, this memorial day will look and feel so different and so will mike for so many here amid the coronavirus outbreak appear to others venturing out, seeing that beast is where people are trying to safely return to those activities. what a remarkable story that we just heard from gary by kirk. he was awarded the medal of honor in 1973 for his heroism, and now a chaplain of the congressional medal of honor society talking about what he learned from battle, from being in war, what it means to love, what it means to sacrifice, what it means to serve next to someone who is willing to die for you. it was a remarkable story, and so important as we wake up

knowing that we are remembering today so differently, to remember to reflect on all of those heroes find also important for all of us as young children at home to tell those stories and to talk to them about those sacrifices. let's watch this together. >> ceremonial.

>> the president of the

united states, the honorable donald j. trump has arrived and is being greeted by the honorable mark esper. the chairman of the joint chief of staff, executive director, army national secretary. a commanding general of the united states army military district of washington, united states awaiting the president placing a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier.

>> ed: as you can see, they are still getting ready for this very important and solemn ceremony on memorial day, president of the united states donald j. trump and the first lady melania trump, their motorcade has now arrived at arlington national cemetery and will be joined by the national security advisor robert o'brien, the chief of staff mark meadows you heard as well and announcing that mark esper the secretary of defense, mike pompeo, the secretary of state, the chair of the joint chiefs all will be in attendance as well for the very important moment here for the

commander in chief to honor the sacrifice of all that we have lost leading up to memorial day over with many wars many years. >> sandra: historic shrine that will be in baltimore, that is happening around the noon eastern time hour today. this is the full camera shot that we have of arlington national cemetery, the wreath is laid before the tomb of the unknown soldier, and we do know the president has arrived greeted by joint chief mark esper has you just mentioned, and this is a ceremony that we all look forward to every year as americans. we stop and remember and pause to reflect on those that paid the ultimate sacrifice for this country, and this is a ceremony that will look and feel a little bit different. we can have the families

present, only a family member of those that are buried at arlington national cemetery can actually go there today. will not be open for others to walk around and remember, but at least this tradition, the ceremony will continue today. we will have that for our viewers. >> ed: always important to remember those who were still missing my missing service personnel, the tomb of the unknown soldier is an empty crypt at arlington national cemetery inscribed with these words, "honoring and keeping faith with america's missing servicemen. and when you talk to the leaders of rolling thunder now known as rolling to remember, it's been a virtual event of folks on their motorcycles trying to remember not just those who have died head we haven't gotten there remains, properly buried but also always quick to point out and mentioned that they do not want to forget pows as well as as well as those missing in

action. >> sandra: just a short time from now, we are watching this image as you saw folks in the background scrambled there, secret service is now present. the president has arrived, been greeted by members of his staff and his administration right now we are told we are seeing the first lady arrive as you can see just past the wreath there we should see the president arrived shortly. >> ed: they are all getting into place as you noted in and going on to baltimore fort mchenry as well. a series of events this morning we can't forget that we've also lost more than 98,000 americans now who have died from covid-19, vice president mike pence is also there at arlington national cemetery on fox and friends this morning noting for that very reason has you see the first lady right there as well that for this reason of losing so many americans that it is a

particularly poignant memorial day, karen pence as well joining the first lady, and this is a moment now where we see the first lady walked out with a second lady as well, they should be out i in the moment as well as several members of the president's cabinet. to make a day that we all pause to remember and reflect and saying this is extremely important for her amid this pandemic when so much has changed to bring this consistency to arrive at the ceremony today as she walks up the steps there along with karen pence and you will start to see others gathered on the steps there as well, mention mike pompeo on the steps as well is elaine chao and others that have gathered to pay their respects. >> ed: robert o'brien, secretary of defense mark esper joining as well as the chair of the joints chiefs. we will positively hear them

start the ceremony of course, but we had congressman michael waltz on at the start of this program noting that even as we mark this solemn occasion, there were many threats around the world to china that is something the president is national security defense team is keenly focused even as they remember those who have lost. >> sandra: the white house did respond to some who question the president heading out to the ceremonies in multiple locations today, putting out a statement from the white house yesterday saying the brave men and women who have preserved our freedom did not stay home and the president will not either has he honors their sacrifice by visiting such a historic landmark in our nation's history. as we mentioned first off, arlington national cemetery, and then he will move on along with the first lady to baltimore a bit later on. a beautiful day there at arlington national cemetery.

>> ed: certainly beautiful and hollowed ground as you noted, much different year now to mark memorial day where only families of those who are actually buried there can visit. normally, many americans go and pay tribute all around, not just on memorial day as you see a close-up look in there at the first lady preparing for the ceremony, we should be seeing the president and the vice president in just a moment from now, the first lady on social media sharing some thoughts earlier this morning saying that this is an important occasion to mark all of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for america. >> sandra: we should see the president shortly, retired four-star general jack keane joining us now. it's wonderful to have you here on this memorial day, thank you for your service, and your thoughts as we look on at the ceremony about to be underway in arlington? >> we have over 400,000 buried there, quite extraordinary in

this funeral is occurring every day. i think what is so fitting here is i've always felt that it is a most sacred ground we have in america. i was there this weekend walking among those graves because i have teammates going back to when i was a young company commander throughout my entire time of service, i have teammates who are buried there, and the last group was the 85 army teammates that i was within the pentagon, and we put many of them in a very special place as a group actually overlooking the pentagon. the superintendent of the cemetery made that arrangement and walked among those graves as well. is certainly a very, very special place, and it is what this country is about. we do not forget those who have sacrificed so much.

this country is never really looking for a fight. we have always gone to help others. that is with the sacrifice is so extraordinary about. usually in places and countries that many of the troops that go there have never been and largely to help someone else who is in trouble. that has been the story of america and its remarkable pageantry in history that we have, and we can forget the gold star families who every single day is a day of memory, but today we honor their loved ones and we also honor them for the sacrifice they've made. >> ed: certainly important to mark the ceremonies but when you spoke a moment ago about walking through arlington and remembering some of your teammates as you called them, how do you remember them? do you speak out loud?

do you pray to yourself, what are your thoughts, what's going for your mind as you walk through arlington? >> that's pretty personal, but you asked a question on national television, so i'll answer it. i talked to them. i think that's the best way to deal with it. i have unbelievable memories of them, all of those memories are good memories right up until the time that they were killed, but even those are good memories because what we were doing. none of those troops that i talked to wanted to die. quite the contrary, they wanted to live, but what makes it different as they were willing to. they were willing to give up everything that they cared about to have a long life, friends and parents, to be a parent themselves, to have love in their life, to love them to be

loved. and they were to put all of that at risk and why did they do that? i think they did it out of a simple yet profound sense of duty, and i think they also did it for one another as the medal of honor so eloquently put it, a lot of love and the love is the willingness to sacrifice, and what it's about and why soldiers move forward into the gunfire of the enemy despite the fear, sometimes i fear that makes your body shake it is so intimidating the lighter they keep moving forward? because they don't want to let their teammates down. and that is the essence than the cohesion that is in our fighting organizations. and what i'm talking about here is true honor, and here, look at america here honoring them, and will never take that kind of

devotion for granted, not in this country, and i think on this particular memorial day weekend, we are not doing as much as we normally do in our lives, and i think it is actually giving americans a little bit more time for reflection on the significance of this day and also to remember the health care professionals who didn't want to die either, but who lost their lives doing their duty and taking care of one another, the very same thing that our troops did. and i think we can share this moment with them as well, and i know our troops were honoring the certainly would welcome th that. >> sandra: it is such a powerful message on this memorial day as we await the president as you can see the first lady there has arrived,

president should be making his way shortly and how important it is to see our country honor our fallen soldiers in this way as we do every day, but on this day particularly, we have these ceremonies, we have these remembrances. something that stuck with me is talking about the newest generation, and still seeing the willingness from the men and women in this country to go sign up to fight for our freedoms. i talk to about my nephew who just went through basic training in oklahoma. still willing to go out there and how important it is that we show them that we honor our fallen on this day. >> the profession of arms and academic society like we have.

we would not likely have volunteerism we do in our country for people who want to serve. you want to be a part of something where they're able to give back to america something. not everybody has the aptitude to do this but for those who believe that they can do it and they are willing to do it, we welcome them with open arms, and we never take lightly the youngsters standing at a ceremony and raising and taking an oath to the nation and is willing to serve. those who have served what that truly means and what that youngster is dealing with in terms of the uncertainty in life, that person doesn't know what their future holds for them, but they are willing to step forward into that future and deal with the responsibility

and accountability that goes with being a military person in america. and i do think our soldiers while it's the constitution that gives us our oath, i believe, and it's a fundamental part of my entire life when i was serving, that i'm answering to the american people. and that is who is ultimately accountable. when that we want to pause for a moment, your important reflections are an important part of this conversation but let's listen to th the for a m moment.

>> present arms! ♪

present arms! [drums beating] ["taps" playing] ♪

>> soldier, arms!

and that concludes the ceremony at arlington national cemetery remembering our nation's heroes, retired four-star general jack keane still with us. your thoughts as you watch the first lady along with the president and the defense secretary mark esper who also stood alongside the vice president mike pence, your thoughts? >> that's a very simple ceremony certainly, and it's something profound in itself because of the simplicity of it, but here we have the head of our state represented with the other leaders of our country never representing in the sense all of the american people, never forgetting the sacrifice that has been made for this country, as it stands, low quality of life that we have, not everyone has it to be sure but the great thing what separates us from

everybody else is they have the opportunity. that's a wonderful thing. the sacrifice which pauses us all in a day like this to reflect on what that really means, what they sacrificed to give others the opportunity to have a full life. it's a remarkable story and simplicity and what grabs a hold of me, we have more people watching this than we normally would have. because 2020 will be a year that we are all going to remember. the lives that we have lost in this profound on the sacrifice that has been made by our health care professionals in addition to our marvelous troo troops. >> sandra: it is so wonderful to be with you on this memorial

day sharing your reflection. at the tomb of the unknown soldier where you are reminded of that inscription, he rested honor and glory an american soldier known but to god. wonderful to spend time with you this morning, thank you so much for being here with us. >> great talking to you. >> ed: always great to get insights from general keane, and we thank you for your service joining is now, under the men served as well, member of the house homeland security veterans committee has well, good morni good morning. >> good morning, thank you for having me. >> ed: we appreciate you being here, platoon leader during the war in afghanistan, recipient of a bronze star, purple heart as you hear, what are your thoughts this morning on memorial day? >> first of all, it is such an honor to be following general keane and a man who has given his entire life in service

to this country, look up to and admired as a patriot and hit the nail on the head. for these soldiers who gave their life, paid the ultimate sacrifice for so many of us, frozen in time, they will have fathers and mothers, sisters, friends, aspirations of the future and they gave all that up so that we could fulfill our own dreams. offensive again, we get some r&r and this and that, it is still vital that we renew our promises and country to live up to that of sacrifice. soldiers have made centuries now so we can continue to build the country we know is possible. that is about being patriots. >> ed: another important point about our health care workers, basically running to the front

lines running into danger president has said, in that context as well, we have lost. >> i the privilege to volunteer with the national guard during this pandemic and i shared with my oldest military, america's oldest army unit. saluted and applauded the frontline medical professionals who are the front-line soldiers in this war great and you realize that the bombs of this country run much deeper than just military and veterans and nonveterans. there are so many people, cops, firefighters, nurses, sanitation workers right now who are risking their lives and have done so for quite so long so that we could be safe and free

both here at home as well as abroad. >> ed: in the last moment or so we have, part of a group of 120 republicans and democrats who have circulated this letter, trying to put together legislation to make sure some of the national guard folks you mentioned including yourself but they get special benefits for the work that they've been doi doing, what kind of benefits they already have but what you are proposing now to mark the service. any national guard soldier this is a deal they make when they signed up. they get access to increased public tuition, a g.i. bill of sorts as well as retirement earlier, three months earlier. unfortunately, the dod has issued an order saying that national guard soldiers, their

service will be cut short and 89 days for those who have been activated during covid. i was born at night but not last night. this is a cost-cutting maneuver, and we have to do everything possible legislatively or otherwise to make sure that we take care of these soldiers who are serving here at home, but i sincerely hope that the pentagon and the administration does the right thing, changes that order, lets them move past the 90 day mark so they can get what they are deserving of and we can fulfill our promise to them just as they have fulfilled their duty. >> ed: important to note their service on this day. we appreciate you being here, thank you. >> sandra: many thanks to the congressman as well as many states reopen beaches and parks, public ceremonies in national cemeteries are still prohibited, so how could americans honor our fallen heroes from home?

robert wilkie will be joining us live coming up on that.

>> ed: of the nba is working on plans to have games to five, reports may resume the season with playing the limited number of so-called bubble cities where they can monitor players and staff. for more, let's bring in a fox news contributor. good morning. >> good morning. >> ed: that they do this in arizona, kind of drifted away from that still looking and meanwhile talking about maybe orlando, disney world, did something like this work? >> it could. it's a creative idea and i know america would love to see his favorite team is back on the court giving us a reprieve, a great outlet and a sense of normalcy what they are doing is creating these bubble cities.

eastern conference bringing disney world, in orlando for the players would be monitored closely along with the staff so they can minimize the spread of the virus had minimize, they would be tested and monitored closely, temperatures would be checked and it would allow them to play without having to quarantine due to the basketball players traveling back and forth where there's a higher risk of getting the virus. assume it's a good idea and if it works, that's great and if not, you move on to plan b but some of them are interested in it. i know the new york knicks, toronto raptors are looking at doing this to minimize their players becoming ill and having to be quarantined. >> ed: crunched on time because of that ceremony obviously but bottom line, what do you see is the biggest challenge moving forward? they are mostly very young and in great shape, some of the coaches and others around the game may be a little bit older, certainly have to watch that as well. >> it's a matter of following

the rules of hand hygiene, social distancing, making sure you are not going outside where you shouldn't be where they were his risks of outbreak, so it's very simple rules that if we altogether collectively follow, we can minimize the spread of this virus. it's difficult being on a team but that's why they call it the bubble cities. we can hopefully see some of these teams start to play sooner than later. >> ed: a lot of people as you noted at the top hoping to see some charity events that got people going. thanks for coming on. sandra? >> sandra: the reagan legacy foundation honoring those who served on d-day. president ronald reagan son will be joining us live next on that.

["taps" playing] >> sandra: beautiful moment they're happening in arlington cemetery just a few moments ago as we remember the fallen, our heroes, those that play the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom for our country. was quite a moment to take in and an honor to have jack keane join us throughout that ceremo

ceremony. >> ed: reflections were important as well as congressman max rosen also served in the u.s. army and we've got a big show still ahead, the veterans affairs secretary coming on talking about all of this, the governor of alaska talking about reopening the country had a difficult time right now, so there's a lot more to cover but a very sullen day indeed. >> sandra: we all remembered together, important deposits we see the president and the vice president defense secretary did just a short time ago. we will see the president in another ceremony coming up and meanwhile, robert wilkie will be joining us live, he is our guest joining us is a brand-new hour begins.

>> ed: fox news alert now is president trump leads americans honoring fallen heroes on memorial day truly like no oth other. good morning again, sandra. >> sandra: nice to be with you on this memorial day. i am sandra smith live at the white house where we should see them departing for fort mchenry in baltimore, the scene of an important u.s. victory that led to the writing of "the star-spangled banner," this after he did just take part in that wreath laying ceremony at national cemetery. pausing to remember our soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom. >> even in the midst of this

challenging times is that this freedom loving nation knows that freedom isn't free and we are grateful every day for all of the men and women who served in the army navy air force marines and coast guard, but today is the day that we remember those who served and fell in battle. >> sandra: that was the vice president a bit earlier lot and the president looking ahead as he voices concerns about the location of the rnc. the big convention, mark meredith is covering it all from the white house this morning. what do we know now? >> good morning to you. we did see the president and the first lady visit arlington national cemetery, the tomb of the unknown soldier, but things are little bit different this year with the coronavirus because the cemetery itself is close to the public for the president did not make remarks during his brief visit but he was joined by the vice president as well as the secretary of defense and the chairman of the drink chief of staff and laid around this hour we expect the

president and the first lady to be heading out the baltimore attending a ceremony at fort mchenry, all tomorrow's mayor had publicly urged the president not to make the trip, all of this comes as there is a new back and forth about what could happen with the republican national convention later on in the summer. repeatedly said he would like to see the country get back to work but there has been a lot of talk about what a convention will look like, now the president is criticizing the state's governor in a series of tweets saying the convention could happen elsewhere. this is what he had to say, "the rnc must be given an answer by the governor as to whether or not it's fully occupied. not, reluctantly forced to find with all the jobs and economic development it brings another republican convention site. we did on it on "fox & friends." >> they take many months to organize and prepare, and there are states around the country,

we think of texas, florida, georgia, the last two states i visited last week that have made a tremendous progress on reopening. >> also imposing new travel restrictions between the u.s. and brazil expected to start late thursday night. not expected to impact u.s. citizens or trade between the two countries. >> i think one of the hard things about this crisis is with had to restrict travel from some of our closest friends and allies we are going to help them get through it. >> the white house as it still plans to host world leaders here at the white house a little bit later on this summer, the g7 summit was supposed to happen in early to mid-june and now looks like it will happen at the end of next month. sandra? >> sandra: thank you. >> ed: as we pause to remember our brave servicemen and women, the department of veterans affairs is dealing with a tough issue.

most memorial day is online, due to pandemic restrictions. one florida congressman is objecting, an army vet writing this, "with many parts of our country now in the process of a phase reopening, i find it appalling that beaches will be open for the holiday but access to va cemeteries will remain restricted. so the secretary of veterans affairs is joining us live now, good morning, sir. >> good morning, thank you for having me. >> ed: i want to give you a chance to respond to that, but i would be remiss to not start by giving you a chance to talk about what it's like to serve this great nation has a va secretary as the president leads the nation in marking this memorial day. >> as some of you know, i am the son of a grievously wounded combat soldier. i still serve in the air force reserve, my earliest memories aren't elementary in kindergarten, and i've often said that when a classmate was called to the principal's office

during those times in my youth, there was always a chance that that child wasn't going to a doctor's appointment, that it was bad news from southeast asia. so i was able to see this through the eyes of a child not only with my father's recovery come up the loss of so many of his comrades particularly at fort bragg, the home of special forces and of course the home of the 82nd airborne division. the one thing i always talk about, and i've said this today at quantico national cemetery, the one thing that separates the american warrior from all other fighting forces in the history of the world is that we are the only people to offer a helping hand to all the peoples of the world including our enemies, and as general powell said so eloquently, the only thing we ever ask is a place to bury our dead, and i think that's a fitting memorial to all of the over 1 million americans who have perished since the first

shots were fired in lexington in april of 1775. >> ed: very well said, as we talk about those who are buried, it's a difficult subject obviously in the middle of this pandemic about what to do to give people a chance to honor the dead. so we mentioned he's a warrior himself as you know, he was grievously wounded as well, a veteran, and his point is in the letter that americans should have the freedom to mourn and pay their respects in the manner they judge is best for themselves and their groups. so talk about why you decided we've got to close off the va cemetery, what other ways are you offering for people to mourn and what you think they may ultimately say? >> let me do something hard and correct the congressman. we have 142 va cemeteries, not one of them has ever closed during this epidemic. i just spoke at the quantico national cemetery, and as i was speaking, i was looking out at families collecting to

memorialize their loved ones. that's happening all across the country. what we had stopped where gatherings of large groups like the boy scouts. in fact, he issued a statement earlier last week with the boy scout leadership because thousands and thousands of boy scouts would have been an error cemeteries planting flags, the scout leadership decided in terms of safety for them that they would honor veterans through a virtual celebration and today, 3:00 all across the country, scouts will participate in our veterans legacy project, and they will be standing at attention as the bugler blows "taps" and salutes. in sandra's lead into the ceremony at arlington, she noted that the arlington national cemetery which is run by the department of the army for the president was today, the families were there, the families where they are doing what is most important, and that

is memorializing and remembering their loved ones, and i think of all the things that we do, that is the most important, the most important element of what we give to the nation, and they were able to perform those sacred responsibilities. >> ed: restricted, the congressman is saying. how do you justify that, that families have restricted access to these cemeteries? >> the families have access, that's the key, and they've also had access when we've had our burials, and those burials have been going on all across the country, but i wil would also ne this was hinted in the arlington peas. we haven't had the benefit of the department of defense honor guards, those have been stopped for safety reasons. we will return our cemeteries to fully use very shortly, and it is a tragedy in one sense that we haven't been allowed to bring

masses of the american people into our cemeteries as long as the families are allowed to go, that's the most important part of what we do. >> ed: it certainly is and he was a young boy dealing with it, and some kids being called to the principal's office to find out that they've lost a mom or dad or an uncle or aunt, we certainly appreciate your sacrifice to this great nation and your family as well, thank you. sandra? >> we all know that some things are worth dying for, one's country is worth dying for, and democracy is worth dying for because it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man. all of you loved liberty, all of you are willing to fight tyranny, and you knew the people of your countries were behind you.

>> sandra: that was president ronald reagan honoring those who gave their lives on d-day, the reagan legacy foundation is honoring veterans past and present with a new memorial walkway in normandy, france, at the sight of the d-day invasion. in joining us now is president reagan's son, president of the reagan levitt wow legacy foundation. i think you for joining us on this memorial day. >> thank you for having me on. a lot of people don't know that my father was the first president of the united states to actually visit normandy on d-day. and he set a standard that every president since then has visited normandy on d-day. >> sandra: that is just beautiful. tell us about the honoring our veterans through this walkway to victory brick project, what have you decided to do here with the foundation? >> what we've done a few years

ago visiting the first town freed by america on d-day morning if you will, hanging from the church steeple, and met with the airborne museum saying the foundation to really honor those during the second world war and we came up with a plan to begin a project where you can go online to walkway to victory.com, $250, and they will be a brick put in the name of your loved one, however it might be at normandy, at the museum. we know there's a lot of people who don't know anybody in their family that served in the war so you can actually go into the reagan legacy.org and make a donation and in the memo, put bricks and we will find the name of someone who did serve, you will get all the information, so you will have the one-on-one relationship with someone who in fact helped save -- the

first responders of the 1940s that save the world. >> sandra: what is your message this morning as we reflect on all of those heroes, all of those servicemen and women who have lost their lives for us paying the ultimate sacrifice as we honor them on this memorial day in a different way this year and made a pandemic, an outbreak that has killed thousands in this country, thinking back to your father's message when it came to our veterans and our military heroes, what is your message this morning and also reflecting on your father? >> i could think of what it says over my father's grave site at the library. and all men, there is good. find the good, and if we really begin again to start looking for the good, we will be a better nation because of it. and i try to live that as much as i can. i go off the rails on occasion,

but that's one of the great messages of my father, find the good in everybody. he so the military. he used to sing to me all the hymns of all the different military organizations, tell me about the greatness of america. he was the boy scout in the family, and he really and still that into me as i rose up as a young boy in santa barbara county. i think the world was lucky to have them as a president and certainly those who gave up themselves and give their lives for america, lucky to have him as the commander in chief. >> sandra: i love these words, the price for this freedom has been high, but we've never been unwilling to pay that price. such an important message and thank you so much for joining us on this memorial day and a

really special way that you are sharing that and we can all remember those who have fought for this country as you've now created that walkway, it's a wonderful sentiment this morning. thank you, michael. >> ed: that is amazing, terrific. alaska meanwhile about to do it no other state has done, fully reopen for the first time since the global pandemic was declared, and the governor of alaska will join us live just minutes from now with that story. in the biden campaign doing some damage control amid backlash over comments he made about black voters, a live report on that next. >> if you have a problem, figure out whether your for me or trump, the end naacp has endorsed me every time i run. working to care for all of us. at novartis, we promise to do our part. as always, we're doing everything we can to help keep cosentyx accessible and affordable. if you have any questions at all, call us, email us, visit us online.

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do a relatively good job of at least trying to abide by the social distance guidelines, but not always. despite the virus concerns, there was some fun to be had with his little boy getting buried in the sand up to his neck, his little head to sticking out. other options back open for floridians this weekend, the restaurants and retail district resuming operations with temperature stations, mask recommendations, and distancing. i not only did floridians visit the florida aquarium in tampa, they also visited this other well-known showcase of marine life, the clearwater aquarium.

both cap visitor numbers reduced to allow for spacing guidance from the cdc. and then reopen this weekend somewhere alarmed at the lack of social distancing going on at that florida water park which like i said just open for the holiday weekend, and excitement down in fort lauderdale this weekend, a weekend of serious prep work and disinfecting going on today as well as the city and broward county finally joined the rest of the state reopening hotels in the beaches tomorrow for the very first time since mid-march. and let's end this florida report with what memorial day really is all about, honoring the service of our veterans, a wreath laying ceremony down there in miami beach. everybody wearing masks and keeping social distance. >> ed: sorry you're getting rained on, but that's a beautiful way to end the report indeed. phil keating, thank you. >> sandra: thank you so much

to fill, fox news alert, the first state the full three reopen since the pandemic was declared with all businesses across the state returning to 100% of their normal capacity -- that already has happened where the governor of alaska joins us now on the phone. good morning. i should say that you've already tried to reopen the state, 100% capacity they are allowed to, but many businesses we are hearing are choosing not to do so and reopen in phases. tell us about how it's going. >> i think it's going well so far. first of all, i just want to mention a memorial day, we will be remembering up here as well and alaska has the highest per capita of any state in the country. a lot of military bases here in a solemn day but it's important day.

told the folks to get out and enjoy the outdoors, all the businesses have been open up since friday and we're going to see the numbers decreased, the lowest numbers in the country, number of factors for that, distance from other states, and just the work that all of them have done to keep this virus at bay but we have to get our economy back up and running and that's what we are doing. >> sandra: so what restrictions are you urging businesses to keep in place as you try to reopen? your state obviously not as severely hit as others, i believe you have the least number of cases and any other state in the nation. what restrictions do you think are important for people to keep in place as businesses reopen? >> i think it really comes down to respecting each other and respecting one's self. when you go into a crowd, first of all, try to avoid doing that. keep a distance of at least

6 feet and if you have to go out and shop or go with these other people, wear a mask so if you are coughing or sneezing, you are respectful to others especially those who may have underlying health conditions. go to the store once a week, be cognizant that this virus only survives by leaping from one person to another. just structuring the minimum of the spread so we can keep our case is low and allow our hospitals and our health care capacity to manage this virus as the cases do grow. >> sandra: i want to put up on the screen, these are the latest statistics from your state on the number of cases just passing 400 overall since the pandemic began, at least 358 of those cases have recovered from the coronavirus, somewhat promising. 45 hospitalizations and ten

deaths unfortunately in your state. as dr. fauci has warned there could be hot spots in the state. >> we anticipate there will be air rising and cases. really important to remember that when all of us across this nation start to restrict our movements and restrict businesses and schools, et cetera, that was to build up our health care capacity. we always knew that you can't avoid the virus because there is no vaccination and our antivirals are not to be to the level that we need them at this point. so we always knew that the whole goal of this was to fill up health care capacity and be able to manage the virus and manage any increase in that's what we're doing and that's why we have opened up. so we will watch this and manage it and deal with this and we will get through this. >> sandra: with a few seconds that we have now, how would you describe the reopen? have you seen a willingness on

the part of customers to get back out there and sit at restaurants, go to the hair salons, and are you seeing those business is open full capacity? >> it is mixed. you will have some businesses that have yet to open, some that will open with limited capacity and some that open to full capacity, and its with the average alaskan. to some folks still want to socially distance which i think is a good thing until the vaccination comes online, but i would say it's a mixed bag. the bottom line is that people have the choice, the businesses have the choice to conduct their lives and their businesses the way that they see fit, and we as a stable keep an eye on this and make sure health care capacity as they are to deal with any increases in the case. >> sandra: we appreciate the update from your state of alaska, thank you for joining us on this memorial day and appreciate your message on that as well. >> ed: meantime, been a rough weekend after that comment he

made about black voters on a radio show. our voters accepting his apology? will have reaction next. >> it has to come to a point where we have to have the burden on democrats to show up for lack voters. midas can help get you there. through july 4th celebrate your freedom with our $17.76 oil change... that includes a tire rotation. when you're ready, your car should be too. midas.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> sandra: the former vice president joe biden is still facing backlash after apologizing for a comment he

made on the breakfast club radio show here in new york city. the trump campaign is of course weighing in on all of that, peter doocy live in arlington, virginia, with the latest on that. >> the latest reaction is coming from an official with the black voices for trump who writes in an op-ed, "the last thing any rethinking black person needs in 2020 is a 77-year-old white man from delaware explaining blackness to us." biden says he shouldn't have been such a wise guy and shouldn't have been so cavalier when he tried to wrap up an interview on the breakfast club radio show with this. >> you've got more questions, if you have a problem, figure out whether you're for me or trump, then you ain't black. >> from one second after biden said that until now, the interviewer charlemagne tha god insist that has nothing to do

with trump. has instead something to do with wanting the president to give something back to the black community. >> i don't even care about the words in the lip service on the apology is cool but the best apology is actually a black agenda. they have to make some real policy commitments to black people. >> today, president trump is also pressuring the democratic governor of north carolina where he wants to host the republican convention to let him know if they're going to have things open back up by august because if not, he is threatening to move the convention to another state. >> we look forward to working with governor cooper getting a swift response and if need be, moving the national convention that's farther along on reopening and can say with confidence that we can gather there. >> democratic governor of north carolina roy cooper is not committing one way or another

working with the rnc and they are going to follow the science for the next couple of weeks before they decide anything. >> ed: a very different memorial day this year, many parades and events canceled or curtailed because the pandemic, social distancing requirements means no holiday service for the first time in nearly a century. live with us at the garden of remembrance of seattle, good morning. >> much like american life right now, memorial day services will be held virtually as most americans are banned from large gatherings, and this will break many long traditions. here in seattle, they canceled the memorial service at the cemetery for the first time in 94 years. they usually get a couple thousand people also volunteers including local boy scout troops

were not allowed of fallen servicemen and women. the cemetery will be open today for families only. they be no big parade in washington, d.c., and no service honoring every washington state residents took on line of duty. leader of the northwest paralyzed veterans, normally rings a bell for each new name added to the wall. >> no families are involved, and no music this year, but we will still hear it our hearts. >> soldiers with the third u.s. infantry did play small american flags in front of 228,000 headstones arlington national cemetery also at 3:00 p.m. today, the country is being asked to observe a moment of silence done throughout the country and local time as we try to remember those who have been the ultimate sacrifice for the

freedoms in this country. >> ed: we are just getting where that the former vice president joe biden laying a wreath in the meantime, getting ready there, that's them heading to baltimore for their second event of the day. >> sandra: on the way to baltimore for another memorial day ceremony as we just saw in arlington national cemetery moments ago, the president did speak as he was departing the white house, let's listen here. okay. the president did not speak, we just have the video of him leaving the white house. this is a short time ago, and this is the second ceremony of the day. the president did not speak when reporters shouted questions but seeing the president's arrival in a short time from now as he makes his way to baltimore. >> ed: we will be watching that, honoring the men who

started the foundation to help the families of fallen soldiers and first responders, that happened a couple of weeks back and now that gentleman is helping frontline health care workers in the covid-19 battlefield. the time of to chairman is going to join us as we honor our fallen heroes on this memorial day. or trouble falling asleep. because only tempur-pedic uses proprietary tempur® material... that continuously adapts and responds to your body, to relieve pressure... so you get deep, uninterrupted sleep. all night. every night. the tempur-pedic summer of sleep starts now, with all tempur-pedic mattresses on sale, and savings up to $500 on adjustable sets.

>> if you have a problem, figure out whether your for me or trump, then you ain't black. >> ed: taking some heat for those comments from late last week leading us for more on this, interim chief of the "washington examiner." can you hear me okay?

in the meantime, tim scott, the republican senator from south carolina had some thoughts on all of this, on "fox & friends" weekend, let's play that like dub up while get him set up. >> the fact that he is the nominee is because south carolina's african-american population stood up and trusted not joe biden is much as a trusted jim clyburn, that is why he is sitting in the position he is in which only reinforces the negative narrative that joe biden ain't woke. from the "washington examiner," your thoughts on how much of an impact this may have on not just joe biden, president trump's efforts to win over black vote voters? >> this is going to have quite a lot of impact, this was a classic gaffe, boastful and aggressive yet stumbling and offensive. it's perfectly clear that they

have been taking black voters for granted for decades, and that's partly because black voters go 9 out of 10 for the presidential candidate from the democratic party democratic party. president trump won just 8% but i think people are seeing things move. the trump campaign has sometimes talked about winning as many as 20%. i think that's an overestimate, but there are signs of black voters being more vocal for trump people like kanye west was very prominent is the kind of leader who could actually bring more people into the trump campaign, and so it's clear both from the interview in which president biden made his gaffe and from other areas that black voters do not want to be taken for granted, they want the democrats to come to them, not for them to be assumed to be going with the democrats. >> ed: former vice president biden, hoping to be president obviously as you suggest. have an interesting point in her new york post op-ed basically said it was a statement so

staggeringly primitively racist that it landed like a got punched in many black americans of all political persuasions who took to the airways to denounce it over the weekend, his latest narrows' options for running mate after he already locked himself into choosing a woman. in now the only way to atone is to choose a black woman. is that another impact here that is going to put even more pressure on joe biden to make sure that black voters are in his camp? >> he is now under much greater pressure to bring black voters into his camp. it's perfectly clear that the biden camp has been worried about this for a while. only last week, they brought on a veteran for better outreach to black voters. this interview that he did was in order to improve outreach. i think this does put pressure

on him to appoint not just a woman but a black woman, so does narrow his options. i don't think joe biden is and i went out racist, but this might be called the soft bigotry of assuming that black people all think alike and that negates the 1.3 million voters who voted for president trump last time. >> ed: we certainly appreciate your time today and we want to let her viewers know as well we've just gotten this fox news alert, some video coming in. you see joe biden there with his wife jill near wilmington, delaware, whereas we see laying a wreath just a couple moments ago, the likely democratic presidential nominee laying that wreath with his wife jill. we've been showing the president this morning have various ceremonies. there is joe biden as well at his home state of delaware, has not left his home in quite some time so that is newsworthy in and of itself but blessing himself there if he silently says a prayer remembers those who have fallen on this memorial

day. >> i want to thank you for continuing to support our nation's heroes and again, your family and your brother is very proud of you looking down. in the midst of so much pain, the true source of inspiration for us all. >> sandra: president trump there on the ring of the founder of tunnel to towers foundation for helping to provide masks and protective gear to health care workers and first responders during the pandemic. start of the organization in honor of his brother jeevan, a firefighter who was killed responding to this terror attack in new york city. the objective is to help gold star families by taking over their mortgages. joint is now along with brittney harris, her family is the latest recipient of a mortgage free home things to the foundation, thanks to both of you for being here this morning and we always

look forward to talking to you because you always bring us stories like this, so uplifting to hear this, tell us about brittany story? >> like so many families that serve for our country, not just good-bye, when he was on his first two were of duty, he gave up his life and he only just found out the week beforehand that was pregnant with their first child, so you can imagine the great loss for their family, and i think here on memorial day, we always have to remember the sacrifices made by so many men and women in uniform, and we can never forget that we have this country because of these great heroes like christopher harris who gave his life for our country, so we have to make sure we don't forget that we also

have to do something, alleviate these families that are left behind and take care of their mortgages, and that's what we do it tunnels to towers foundation, asking everyone to join us in donating $11 a month, $11 a month we can make a contract with these families that give us. >> sandra: incredibly sorry for your loss, able to find so many beautiful images of your family, and here is the story. what it did mean to you to have the foundation be able to step in and help you out as he lost her husband? >> it is huge relief. like you said, i had just found out i was pregnant, told chris that i was pregnant because neither of us knew and he deployed, and it was later that he was killed by a suicide

bomber so got the best uses and put it back together and because i had a baby on the way. i had never purchased a house before, never taken on a mortgage and to do that alone is a new mom to be and a widow, it was really overwhelming, it still is and to have tunnels to towers say we will help you is just one less thing i have to worry about and gives me an opportunity to put money towards my daughter and make sure she has the education i want her to have, that we are not losing anything because we have additional help from organizations like this. >> sandra: such an important message and it's so important on memorial day where we not only honor the fallen, but we honor the family who supported those servicemen and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice, and you are evidence of the sacrifice

that our families make, and we are looking at your beautiful daughter who was born shortly after your husband passed. what is your message this morning to americans who know this is the day where we remember and where we honor those fallen soldiers and the families who have made the sacrifices? >> of course, we want everyone to think memorial day with respect to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice into their families. my personal outlook on it is trying to take it from a somber day and turn into something where you can at least enjoy a little bit if that's possible. i kind of look forward to it because on this day, i know they were very few days of the year that people are going to say chris's name and one memorial day is one of them. i know there will be pictures and stories, people that pop up like i knew your husband and this is the interaction i had

with him, so the more you say the soldier's name whoever it may be, the more you talk about them, the more as a family, you love that, we appreciate that. on memorial day, but all the pictures you have of that person, we are waiting for it. this is our day, the other people celebrating as well. >> sandra: your little girl is beautiful. we've been showing pictures of her while you've been talking. god bless you, we are all with you and your family today as we remember, and you keep doing what you do and you do it so well helping so many people, thank you. >> thank you, sandra. >> sandra: be well, thank you. you want to help raise money for families like brittany's mother web site is tunnels to towers.org, the donations do go towards the gold star families home program, and he saw evidence right there how much it can help.

>> ed: fox news alert now, a college student wanted and considered armed and dangerous by police, suspected and two murders, we have details after this break. anodized non-stick pan.

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>> fox news alert. place in connecticut that the accused killer is on the run and he is a uconn student. alex haugen joins us live with more details. got a morning. >> good morning, add, that a man from new jersey to pennsylvania. of course with everyone wearing masks the use of surveillance video might be less helpful. so far we know that this 23-year-old, peter, was last seen in pennsylvania after ditching his most recent stolen vehicle during the border. police are warning do not

approach, he has armed and dangerous. call 911 immediately. the investigation started on friday after a deadly assault in connecticut. please say that suspect stabbed a 62-year-old man. he's accused of holding a mad prisoner at home, stealing a truck and gone, then he was found later on a on allegedly killing a 23-year-old, somebody he knew, before taking off yet again. so far we know again that he's been accused of two killings. in the meantime police are saying that he used to post on social media about the innocent victims of gun violence and now he is accused of these two stabbings. >> thank you for that update. in a moment we will of the president arriving in baltimore. . [confetti cannon popping] energizer. backed by science. matched by no one.

>> fox news alert. you can see the president of the united states about to come out. they are playing "hail to the chief." his second memorial day event. the areas with the first lady. ♪