President pays respect to the fallen on Memorial Day

This morning President Barack Obama is paying tribute to the nation’s fallen service members at Arlington National Cemetery, laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns and saying Americans “can never fully repay the debt” to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Speaking to military officers, families of the fallen and a crowd of roughly 5,000 gathered under sunny skies, he notes this is the first Memorial Day in 14 years that has been observed without U.S. forces engaged in a major ground war.

The president says most Americans still don’t fully understand the sacrifice of the 1 percent serving in the nation’s all-volunteer military. He describes Arlington Cemetery as more than a resting place for heroes, but also a reflection of America itself, including its history and diversity.

Jim Williams is the Washington Bureau Chief, Digital Director as well as the Director of Special Projects for Genesis Communications. He is starting his third year as part of the team. This is Williams 40th year in the media business, and in that time he has served in a number of capacities. He is a seven time Emmy Award winning television producer, director, writer and executive. He has developed four regional sports networks, directed over 2,000 live sporting events including basketball, football, baseball hockey, soccer and even polo to name a few sports. Major events include three Olympic Games, two World Cups, two World Series, six NBA Playoffs, four Stanley Cup Playoffs, four NCAA Men’s National Basketball Championship Tournaments (March Madness), two Super Bowl and over a dozen college bowl games. On the entertainment side Williams was involved s and directed over 500 concerts for Showtime, Pay Per View and MTV Networks.