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Bush: Fallen troops' sacrifice helps build better world

Story Highlights

• Bush pays tribute to "new generation of heroes" killed in Iraq, Afghanistan
• Battalion in Iraq honors its slain and missing soldiers
• Top general asks for patience to give new Iraq strategy time to work
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ARLINGTON, Virginia (CNN) -- President Bush marked Memorial Day with a call for Americans to stand firm in their efforts against U.S. enemies around the world and with a tribute to fallen troops.

"From their deaths must come a world where the cruel dreams of tyrants and terrorists are frustrated and foiled, where our nation is more secure from attack and where the gift of liberty is secured for millions who have never known it," he said. "This is our country's calling. It's our country's destiny."

Bush spoke after a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington, Virginia, addressing a crowd that included relatives of the dead, veterans, military officials and members of Congress and the public. (Watch Bush pay tribute to "our finest citizens" Video)

"Nothing said today will ease your pain, but each of you need to know that your country thanks you and we embrace you, and we will never forget the terrible loss you have suffered," he said. "I hope you find comfort knowing that your loved ones rest in a place even more peaceful than the fields that surround us here."

Bush noted that Arlington National Cemetery holds the bodies of seven generations of Americans, including 360,000 from the Civil War, 500,000 from World Wars I and II, and 90,000 from the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

"Now, this hallowed ground receives a new generation of heroes," he said. "Men and women who gave their lives in such places as Kabul and Kandahar, Baghdad and Ramadi."

Bush praised the members of the volunteer force, some of whom have served four tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Our enemies long for our retreat," he said. "They question our moral purpose. They doubt our strength of will. Yet, even after five years of war, our finest citizens continue to answer our enemies with courage and confidence."

The conflict will end some day "because all wars do," he said, adding, "Our duty is to ensure that its outcome justifies the sacrifices made by those who fought and died in it."

Americans elsewhere also paused to remember in their own ways servicemen and women killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as in wars past.

U.S. forces in Yusufiya, Iraq, took a respite from their search for two soldiers missing since an attack by insurgents on May 12. (Full story)

The 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment honored five soldiers -- four Americans and one Iraqi -- killed in the attack, and another soldier whose body was found last week.

"These men all fought and died with honor," said platoon leader Lt. Morgan Spring-Glace during the 45-minute service. "But now we must look to tomorrow. For the fallen, we will avenge you; for the lost, we will find you."

Nearly 1,000 U.S. troops have died in Iraq since last Memorial Day, and this month has been one of the deadliest on record.

This Memorial Day also coincides with a fierce domestic debate about the future of the U.S. military's role in Iraq.

Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appearing on CNN, asked the public for patience in evaluating the impact of the increase in U.S. troop strength in the capital that began in February.

"We've seen positive signs of progress," he said. "There's also been the very explosive examples of bombs going off that have been on the negative side, so we shouldn't be making specific comments -- good or bad -- right now until we have a chance to see how this works out."

Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, will write an assessment of the situation in September. "Let's see what he says, and let's see what we should do next," Pace said.

But Pace himself expressed impatience at the pace of the progress in the capital. "I think the clock in Baghdad is running a little slower than we would like it to on the political side of the house," he said. "They need to stand up to lead as the Sunni sheiks in al Anbar province have done."

Over the past year, local leaders "tired of having al Qaeda" have allied themselves with Iraqi and coalition forces to clear the province of "most of the problems," he said.

"Prime Minister [Nuri al-] Maliki and his team need to do the same thing for their nation nationally."


SPECIAL REPORT

• Audio slide show: War families
• Gallery: Welcome back
• I-Reports: Salute to troops
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