Kerry, Bush hail veterans past, future
Kerry calls for rebuilding alliances; Bush vows to win war on terror
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 CNN's Ed Lavandera talks to Vietnam and Iraq war vets.
 CNN's Elaine Quijano on vets at the new memorial.
 CNN's Jim Bittermann on French war veterans at Normandy.
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush tied the dedication of the World War II Memorial to the war on terror Saturday during his weekly radio address, hailing a "new generation of Americans" that now fights for freedom like those who battled against fascism decades ago.
"Through our history, America has gone to war reluctantly because we have known the costs of war," the president said. "And in every generation, it is the best among us who are called to pay that price."
"Those who have paid those costs have given us every moment we live in freedom, and every living American is in their debt," he said. "We can never repay what they gave for this country. But on this holiday, we acknowledge the debt by showing our respect and gratitude."
Bush, who was scheduled to speak at the memorial dedication ceremony Saturday afternoon, also told his radio audience that the United States will stay with the current fight against terrorism "through to victory."
"We have a strategy to defeat our terrorist enemy, and a plan to help establish lasting freedom in Iraq," he said.
Kerry calls for rebuilding global respect
Bush's presumptive opponent in the November presidential election, Sen. John Kerry, praised the country's past and present armed forces in the Democrats' radio address, but also called for rebuilding global alliances torn by differences over the Iraq war.
"America has always drawn its power not only from the might of its weapons, but from the trust and respect of nations around the globe," Kerry said. "From the world wars to the Cold War and beyond, American-led alliances have been a driving force in the survival of freedom."
Kerry, a veteran of the Vietnam war, said that rebuilt alliances will defeat terrorism.
"Today, the new threat of terrorism demands these alliances on a global scale -- to share intelligence, to get the terrorists before they get us, and to stop the world's deadliest weapons from falling into the world's most dangerous hands," the senator said. "We must rebuild alliances that have been shredded -- because an America respected in the world will be an America stronger in the world -- and safer here at home."
"We are facing an enemy that will stop at nothing," he said. "It's time to put away pride and stubbornness. It's time to answer the call to greatness and lead the world. It's time to let America be America again."
Kerry, who will be at the World War II Memorial dedication, said the memorial "symbolizes the spirit of America -- that there are citizen soldiers ready to do what it takes to live and lead by our values."
"It's time to ensure that our men and women in uniform are the best-equipped fighting force in the world," he said. "And some of the best armor we could ever give our troops will be allies to fight by their side."
Bush said that all those who have fought for their country "can be proud of all they have achieved.
"Since the hour this nation was attacked on September the 11th, 2001, we have seen the character of the men and women who wear our country's uniform," he said. "In places like Kabul and Kandahar, Mosul and Baghdad, we have seen their decency and brave spirit."
The result, he said, is that "America is safer," "two terror regimes are gone forever and more than 50 million souls now live in freedom."
And the veterans who fought to secure those results," he said, "will carry with them, for all their days, the memory of the ones who did not live to be called veterans."
