WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama said on Monday that this Memorial Day was “especially meaningful” because it was the first since America’s war in Afghanistan came to an end.

In a Memorial Day address to his nation from the Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, President Obama also vowed to reduce the US mission in Afghanistan to an embassy presence by the end of next year.

The last Monday of every May is observed across the United States as Memorial Day for remembering those who died while serving in the country’s armed forces.

“Today is the first Memorial Day in 14 years that the United States is not engaged in a major ground war,” said Mr Obama in an address to the nation from the Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington.

“So on this day, we honour the sacrifice of thousands of Americans … who gave their lives since 9/11,” said the US president while laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Mr Obama also honoured all the soldiers who had died in Afghanistan, including Wyatt Martin and Ramon Morris, the last two Americans who died during the combat mission that came to a close at the end of last year.

He said they were “bonded together to secure our liberty, to keep us safe”. Both soldiers were killed in December last year when an IED struck their vehicle.

“This hallowed ground is more than the final resting place of heroes. It is a reflection of America itself. It’s a reflection of our history,” said Mr Obama while paying tributes to America’s fallen.

But he acknowledged that while the US combat mission in Afghanistan had ended, fighting in that country and at other places across the globe continued.

“This may be the first Memorial Day since the end of our war in Afghanistan. But we are acutely aware, as we speak, our men and women in uniform still stand watch and still serve, and still sacrifice around the world,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play