2006年VOA标准英语-US Honors Fallen Troops on Memorial Day

By Paula Wolfson
White House
29 May 2006

Americans are honoring their war dead on this Memorial Day holiday. President Bush spoke¹ for the nation at a ceremony at the country's largest military cemetery².

A lone³ military bugler⁴ saluted⁵ his fallen comrades with a mournful song.
 

President Bush, left, lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, Monday   
  
President Bush stood at attention with members of the armed forces, veterans and the families of those who have died in service to their country. Mr. Bush looked out at the rows of military graves at Arlington National Cemetery and said, simply, this is a place where valor⁶ sleeps.

"All who are buried here understood their duty. They saw a dark shadow on the horizon, and went to meet it," Mr. Bush said. "They understood that tyranny must be met with resolve, and that liberty is always the achievement of courage."

The president said he is in awe⁷ of those who sacrifice for freedom. He said America honors them on Memorial Day and every day.

President Bush delivers speech at Arlington National Cemetery, Monday  
  
"Our nation is free because of brave Americans like these, who volunteer to confront our adversaries⁸ abroad, so we do not have to face them here at home," he said. "Our nation mourns the loss of our men and women in uniform; we will honor them by completing the mission for which they gave their lives - by defeating the terrorists, by advancing the cause of liberty, and by laying the foundation of peace for a generation of young Americans."

The president noted⁹ that about 270 military men and women of the more than 2500 killed in the line of duty since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks are buried at Arlington. He said they are a reminder¹⁰ to the nation of the human cost of the war on terror.

Overall, almost 300,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Before his speech, President Bush honored them - and all the nation's military fallen - by placing a wreath at Arlington's Tomb of the Unknowns, which contains the symbolic¹¹ unidentified remains¹² of several Americans killed on distant battlefields.

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。

3 lone   

adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的

参考例句：

• A lone sea gull flew across the sky.一只孤独的海鸥在空中飞过。
• She could see a lone figure on the deserted beach.她在空旷的海滩上能看到一个孤独的身影。

4 bugler   

喇叭手； 号兵； 吹鼓手； 司号员

参考例句：

• The general ordered the bugler to sound the retreat. 将军命令号手吹号收兵。
• There was nothing faded about the bugler under the cap. 帽子下面那个号手可一点也不是褪色的。

5 saluted   

v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂

参考例句：

• The sergeant stood to attention and saluted. 中士立正敬礼。
• He saluted his friends with a wave of the hand. 他挥手向他的朋友致意。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 valor   

n.勇气，英勇

参考例句：

• Fortitude is distinct from valor.坚韧不拔有别于勇猛。
• Frequently banality is the better parts of valor.老生常谈往往比大胆打破常规更为人称道。

7 awe   

n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧

参考例句：

• The sight filled us with awe.这景色使我们大为惊叹。
• The approaching tornado struck awe in our hearts.正在逼近的龙卷风使我们惊恐万分。

8 adversaries   

n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• That would cause potential adversaries to recoil from a challenge. 这会迫使潜在的敌人在挑战面前退缩。 来自辞典例句
• Every adversaries are more comfortable with a predictable, coherent America. 就连敌人也会因有可以预料的，始终一致的美国而感到舒服得多。 来自辞典例句

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

10 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

11 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

12 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。