Offering a pre-Veterans Day salute to U.S. troops, President Barack Obama said Thursday that the "American patriots" who voluntarily go into harm's way to keep the country safe and protect its cherished freedoms have the respect and admiration of a grateful nation.
The commander in chief also spoke movingly of having met a service member who was left on death's doorstep after being wounded in an explosion during his fifth tour of duty in Afghanistan, and how that individual was brought back to life, in part, through hours and hours of music therapy.
"He's even playing, as I understand it, a little bit of golf," Obama said as he opened a musical tribute to service members, veterans and their families. "We honor them with the beauty of music, music that has the power to inspire us and fill us with pride and, yes, sometimes to help us heal."
The program is the latest edition in the PBS series "In Performance at the White House." It was taped inside of a large tent erected on the South Lawn with a view of the White House, and was attended by first lady Michelle Obama, Cabinet secretaries and several hundred service members, veterans and families.
It was scheduled to be broadcast Friday on PBS stations nationwide.
The night featured rock and roll by the band Daughtry, performing via satellite from a USO concert in Japan, and country music from Willie Nelson. Hip-hop artist Common, singer Mary J. Blige, John Fogerty and Latin musician Romeo Santos also performed.
Obama said the mix of rock, country and everything in between was "fitting because here in America, no matter where you're from, no matter what music you listen to, we're all united in our respect and admiration for our brave men and women who wear our country's uniform."
Obama has said lifting up those men and women is one of his top priorities.
He met Wednesday with the top two officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Secretary Robert McDonald and Sloan Gibson, the deputy secretary, urging both to continue working to improve services, health care and accountability for veterans, the White House said.
Obama also regularly touts administration efforts to cut the staggering backlog of disability claims filed by veterans, reduce homelessness among them and help veterans, their spouses and children pursue higher education under the post-9/11 GI bill.
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Obama, First Lady Salute 'American Patriots'