National Memorial Day Concert

-Live from the United States Capitol, it's the 36th annual National Memorial Day Concert.

Please welcome Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise.

-Welcome to the 2025 National Memorial Day Concert.

Every year since 1990, this concert has served as a memorial service for the nation and as a way to honor all our heroes.

With us tonight is one of those heroes.

He's a country-music star, a U.S. Army veteran, and a recipient of the Purple Heart.

With his song, "I'm America," here is Scotty Hasting.

-Every line of this song speaks to why I joined the military.

Please stand up, clap.

Show your support to all those who serve.

I'm the river, I'm the rain Lonesome whistle of a train I'm the amber waves of grain And I'm the highway, I'm the farm The fertile fields and boulevards The hand that rests over your heart Oh, oh, oh I'm the echo of the bell that's ringin' Oh, oh, oh I'm the freedom in the song we're singin' And I'm the seed that's in the dust I'm the prayer "In God We Trust" The place to dream for all of us I'm America And I'm the music to the dance The open window to a chance The place where courage takes a stance And all the colors that you see The lights from 30,000 feet I'm the roar of victory Oh, oh, oh I'm the echo of the bell that's ringin' Oh, oh, oh I'm the freedom in the song we're singin' And I'm the seed that's in the dust I'm the prayer "In God We Trust" The place to dream for all of us I'm America I'm the fathers, I'm the sons I'm the footprints in the mud I'm a shelter washed in blood Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh And I'm the seed that's in the dust I'm the prayer "In God We Trust A place to dream for all of us I'm America Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh I'm America Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh I'm America Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh And I'm America [ Cheers and applause ] -And now, welcome to the 36th annual National Memorial Day Concert.

Tonight's special guests are acclaimed actor Robert Patrick, Screen Actors Guild Award winner Gretchen Mol, Emmy-winning actor Blair Underwood, multi-platinum recording artist Loren Allred, Grammy Award-winning soprano Angel Blue, Tony Award nominee Mary McCormack, inspirational country-music artist Scotty Hasting, and gospel legend Yolanda Adams.

Featuring the National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by maestro Jack Everly, and General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, the U.S. Army Chorus, the Soldiers' Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band, the U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters, the U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants, vocalists from the Quantico Marine Band and the Armed Forces Color Guard and Service Color Teams.

The National Memorial Day Concert is made possible by Please welcome our hosts, Gary Sinise and Esai Morales.

-Thank you for joining us tonight on the 36th Annual National Memorial Day Concert.

As longtime viewers of this concert know, Joe Montegna and I traditionally co-host together.

Although Joe is unable to be with us here tonight, my co-host this evening is my friend Esai Morales.

Esai, welcome.

-Thank you, Gary.

I gotta say, there's no more patriotic or sacred event than this.

And it's truly an honor for me to be here as we pay tribute to those who gave their all for our nation.

-We also pay tribute to all those who served, are currently in uniform, and all those across our nation about to enlist in one of our service branches.

-And tonight, as we remember the fallen, we pay tribute to America's Gold Star families and honor our wounded, ill, and injured warriors here with us tonight from Fort Belvoir Hospital and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

-Please join us in showing our appreciation for all these American heroes.

[ Cheers and applause ] 2025 marks three important American anniversaries.

For this year, our nation celebrates the 250th birthday of the United States Army, Navy, and Marine Corps.

[ Cheers and applause ] Later tonight, we'll have a special tribute to those three branches of our military.

-And now, please stand, if you can, or stand for those who can't, with hand on heart or salute, as our national anthem is performed by Grammy Award-winning soprano Angel Blue.

- Oh, say, can you see By the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed At the twilight's last gleaming Whose broad stripes and bright stars Through the perilous fight O'er the ramparts we watched Were so gallantly streaming And the rockets red glare The bombs bursting in air Gave proof through the night That our flag was still there Oh, say does that Star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free And the home of the brave [ Cheers and applause ] -Thank you, Angel.

With us tonight, as they have been for over three decades, is America's orchestra, The National Symphony Orchestra, once again under the direction of Maestro Jack Everly.

[ Cheers and applause ] -In addition to our musical performances and stories about our warfighters and military families, throughout this concert, we'll also be hearing from active-duty heroes sharing why they serve.

-Both my grandfathers served in World War II, one in the Pacific and one in the European theater of operations.

My one grandfather landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day, and my other grandfather was at Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941.

They served as role models to me at a very young age, and I knew that I wanted to be just like them, so I serve in their honor.

-This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the most devastating conflict in history.

The war began with Hitler's invasion of Poland in September 1939.

Within two years, the Nazi blitzkrieg had overtaken most of Western Europe and made inroads in Russia, North Africa, and the Middle East.

A terrorized Britain found itself on the brink of invasion.

Japan's surprise bombing of Pearl Harbor devastated the U.S. Pacific Fleet, costing over 2,400 American lives.

Declarations of war against Japan, Germany, and Italy swiftly followed in the battle against global tyranny.

Americans give everything they can in money, sweat, and blood.

With America's entry into the war, Allied forces are able to pressure the Axis on every front.

Strategic bombing campaigns over Germany begin.

Hard-won victories across Europe deal punishing blows to Nazi dreams of world domination.

The Normandy landings on D-Day escalate the devastation of Hitler's war machine.

A daring German counteroffensive at the Battle of the Bulge stalls the Allied advance, resulting in mass casualties on both sides.

But by late January 1945, the Germans are in irreversible retreat, exposing the horrors of the Holocaust.

In the Pacific, the United States Army, Navy, and Marine Corps emerge from a grueling three-year war of attrition across a series of islands and push ever closer to mainland Japan.

Despite relentless kamikaze attacks, U.S. forces all but destroy the Imperial Navy.

The climax comes on a savage piece of volcanic rock, Iwo Jima, a final stepping stone to Tokyo.

The Japanese have transformed "Sulfur Island" into an 11-mile network of bunkers and tunnels.

21,000 troops have orders to defend it to the death and to take 10 American lives for every Japanese soldier killed.

For 74 days, the U.S. Army Air Corps pounds at Iwo Jima's 8 square miles.

Navy warships bombard the island for three days in advance of scheduled marine landings.

On the morning of February 19, 1945, three divisions set out to secure the island and capture its airfields.

It becomes the bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history.

19-year-old Donald Graves was part of the 5th Marine Division, a member of the 28th Regiment, 2nd Battalion, D company.

Here to tell his story is acclaimed actor Robert Patrick.

-My buddies and I were in a car listening to big band music.

This was December 8, 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor.

And an announcer comes on and says, "We interrupt this broadcast for the president of the United States."

I'll never forget that speech.

It's the greatest one I ever heard.

A date that will live in infamy.

I said right then, "Fellas, I'm skipping school tomorrow.

I'm gonna join the Marine Corps."

And that's what I did.

Patriotism was drilled into me and my brother and sister.

At boot camp in San Diego, they knocked all the nonsense out of us.

One day, the captain says, "Congratulations, Graves, you're gonna be the company flamethrower."

I told the skipper I was too short.

"That's why I picked you," he said.

"You'll make less of a target."

Those gas tanks weighed 72 pounds with 5 gallons of fuel.

They were good for maybe 15 seconds, if you were lucky.

And you had to be lucky.

Because the life expectancy of a flamethrower in combat was about 4 minutes.

Nobody ever heard the name Iwo Jima.

We didn't have any idea where we were going.

The morning we landed, they served us steak and eggs for chow.

And all that time I've been in the Corps, I'd never even seen a steak.

"Hey, buddy," I asked, "what's with the steak and eggs?"

The guy laughed.

"Use your head, Graves.

What do they give convicts for their last meal?"

I went ashore in the third wave.

The Japanese let the first two battalions go right across the neck to make us think that it won't be so bad.

And then the mortars hit, came in thick and heavy.

Direct hits on all three landing craft.

They just blew apart with all our buddies in them.

That was it.

Gone.

There were so many Marines piled up, we couldn't get to shore.

The boatsman shouted, "Overboard!"

and a couple of guys threw me in the water, and then they dragged me with them.

And I heard the screaming and the yelling and the rockets.

And I saw the Marine bodies floating in the water, lying on the ground, elbow to elbow.

You couldn't tell who was alive or dead.

I lay on my face in the black sand and did something for the first time in my life.

I prayed to God.

I said, "I don't know you much.

I never went to church.

But if you could do what people say you can do and get me off this island, I'll serve you the rest of my life."

They killed 2,500 of us on that beach.

We had to keep moving.

Our job was to get on Mount Suribachi, stop the firepower, secure the airfields.

From the top tier of the beach to the base of the mountain was only 900 yards.

It took us three days to get there.

We fought our way up inch by inch.

The Japanese rained grenades down on us from their caves, and we couldn't throw anything back because it would roll right back on you.

You couldn't sleep, or you'd wake up with a bayonet stuck in you.

When we made it to the top, some of our guys were putting up the flag tied to a drainpipe.

Every ship out in the water let go with their horns.

Tracer fire lit up the sky like the 4th of July.

It made the Japanese mad as hell.

We secured Suribachi and kept moving.

Hill 362A was the next objective, near the airstrips.

They shot us to pieces, and we lost nearly our whole battalion there -- all our officers and most of our sergeants.

But we kept fighting.

I was in a foxhole with two machine-gun spotters when the company commander radios in to be on the lookout for snipers.

I looked through the glasses.

I couldn't see anything.

The commander said, "You got a replacement coming."

10 minutes later, this kid showed up, and I gave him the glasses.

We were talking Marine talk when the kid's head snapped back.

His helmet flew off and landed at my feet.

I looked down and I saw a picture of a beautiful girl with a baby on her lap, all splattered with blood.

Something in me snapped.

I threw off my flamethrower and cursed.

I cursed Iwo Jima, and I cursed the Corps, I cursed God for letting that kid take my place.

I didn't understand, I -- I couldn't understand.

300 Marines and -- 335 Marines in my company went into battle on Iwo Jima, and 18 of us came out.

We lost 7,000 kids on that island.

20,000 more were shot up and taken off.

I saw the first B-29 land on Iwo Jima, and that's why we had to take that island, so the B-29s could make it all the way to Japan.

If we hadn't taken Iwo, it wouldn't have happened.

The day before we boarded the transports back to Pearl Harbor, we marched one by one through the cemetery to say goodbye to our buddies and our officers.

And there was a paper tacked up to the archway.

And every Marine read it.

And the paper said, "Fellas, when you go home, tell the folks we did our best, that they may have many more tomorrows."

I remembered the promise I made on that beach, and for 35 years, I worked as a minister in churches, rescue missions, and jails because of that promise.

I'm proud to be a Marine.

I wouldn't be anything else.

I love my country.

I love that flag.

Think of where we would be right now if we hadn't answered the call and fought those battles.

Memorial Day is the time for all of America to come together and honor the sacrifice of those who gave the last full measure of their devotion.

Semper fi.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Applause continues ] -More than 80 million people, civilian and military, are estimated to have perished in the fight for freedom that became World War II.

16 million Americans served in uniform.

Over 400,000 American servicemembers died.

A million more were wounded or disabled.

-We owe everything today to all who served, whether overseas or at home.

They never considered themselves heroes.

They were ordinary Americans who never hesitated to step forward when their country needed them most.

And in answering that call, they changed the world.

-With us tonight, representing all who served during the Second World War are veterans of that epic conflict.

Please welcome these warriors from the Greatest Generation.

[ Applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] Esai, I know both of us are so proud that we have family members who answered the call and wore our nation's uniform in World War I, II, and in Korea.

-Honoring their service is just one more reason why we wanted to be here tonight, but, Gary, I know there's one more Sinise family connection that has got to make you so proud.

That music that we're hearing is called "The Rise."

With the help of his friend Oliver Schnee, this powerful piece was composed by Gary's late son, Max Sinise.

[ Cheers and applause ] Gary, we are so honored to play it tonight.

-Thank you, Esai, and thank you, Jack, and the National Symphony Orchestra.

Thank you.

[ Cheers and applause ] -With us being on the 250th anniversary of the Armed Services, what that makes me feel as a sailor is a sense of pride that I'm a part of the history of this country.

My grandfather served in the Navy in World War II, and I figured, "Why not keep that family legacy?"

So that's why I decided to join the Navy.

The reason that I continue to serve is that I truly feel in my heart that the world needs warriors and people to fight for those who can't fight for themselves.

[ Cheers and applause ] -America began as an idea, a dream.

The blood of those who placed duty before itself made that dream a reality.

Our Armed Forces answered the call to service even before the United States became a nation.

-Then, as now, its members came from all walks of life, from towns and cities, from factories and farms, from one end of the country to another.

We enjoy our freedoms today because of what they accomplished.

-This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of our Armed Forces.

On April 19, 1775, the shot heard round the world was fired on Lexington Green when militiamen from Massachusetts faced off against British forces.

Two months later, the Congress authorized the establishment of a united fighting force drawn from across the colonies.

George Washington was nominated to be its leader.

Over eight arduous years of struggle with Great Britain, what emerged as the United States Army became the symbol around which 13 fractious colonies rallied and ultimately won their freedom.

The principles established at its founding remain unwavering.

Always place the mission first.

Never accept defeat and never quit.

-Born in Philadelphia on October 13, 1775, the U.S. Navy began as a small fleet of 27 ships.

Pitted against the 18th century's greatest nautical power, the Navy defended our freedom of the seas not only in the American Revolution but in battle after battle across the globe.

From its humble beginnings, the U.S. Navy has grown into the world's most powerful maritime force, guided by the words, "Not self, but country."

-The United States Marines started as a single battalion of 300 men in November 1775.

Their first taste of combat came with an amphibious landing at Nassau, New York, in the pivotal year of 1776.

The fighting spirit forged in the fire of the American Revolution lives on in our Marines today.

These words remain true -- "Once a Marine, always a Marine."

-Though their missions differ, the United States Army, Navy, and Marines share core values.

-Duty.

-Honor.

-Courage.

-Commitment.

-Our Armed Forces gave birth to our nation.

Today, they sustain that nation's freedoms on land, sea, air, and in space.

This Memorial Day, we salute their selfless devotion to an America made possible by their sacrifice.

-Our Army, Navy, and Marines have always been proud to serve, and we, as a grateful nation, owe them our thanks.

More than that, we owe them our country.

[ Cheers and applause ] And now, as part of our tribute to our military, here are the choruses of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra.

- This is my country Land of my birth This is my country Grandest on Earth I pledge thee my allegiance, America, the bold For this is my country To have and to hold This is my country Land of my choice This is my country Hear my proud voice I pledge thee my allegiance, America, the bold For this is my country To have and to hold I pledge thee my allegiance, America, the bold For this is my country To have and to hold Have and to hold America [ Cheers and applause ] -The 250th year of the Marine Corps allows me to sit back and think about all the Marines that came before us, understand the sacrifices that they made to allow the Marine Corps to be what it is now.

I grew up as a military brat.

My father did 30 years in the United States Navy.

When I commissioned as an officer, he was my first salute.

When he retired from the United States Navy, I was his last salute.

My hero is my father, so being able to walk in the same footsteps as him is a -- is a blessing every single day.

-Only five short years after the end of World War II, hopes and prayers for a lasting peace were shattered with the outbreak of war on the Korean Peninsula.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of a conflict that altered the global landscape.

From 1950 to 1953, more than 1.5 million of our servicemembers would leave their families and homes to defend a country halfway around the world, a country they knew little about.

Nothing could prepare them for the incredible hardships that followed.

In a place called the Land of the Morning Calm, the Cold War suddenly became hot when North Korea, with support from the Soviet Union and China, launched an unprovoked attack against South Korea.

U.S. troops joined those of 16 other nations in answering their country's call to defend the democratic republic and contain the communist threat.

Within a year, the war descended into a vicious stalemate along hundreds of miles of contested ground.

Conditions became apocalyptic.

Savage, unforgiving winter weather compounded the effects of the relentless onslaught.

Ill equipped for the harsh climate, subzero conditions killed as many men as enemy guns.

As winter turned to summer, monsoon rains transformed roads into rivers of mud.

7,000 Americans were taken as prisoners of war.

3,000 died from deprivation and torture.

After two long years of negotiations, an armistice, not a peace treaty, was signed on July 27, 1953.

36,000 Americans had given their lives during this fierce and brutal conflict.

The wounded numbered nearly 100,000.

None who survived would ever forget what he experienced.

Korea was once called the Forgotten War, but those who served there must not and will not be forgotten.

Etched into the stone of the Korean War Memorial are four words -- Freedom is not free.

Just as you've honored your own in your memories, so we now honor you.

You paid the price for freedom, and you paid it for all of us.

With us tonight are distinguished veterans of the Korean War.

Please rise and thank not only these brave American heroes but also their fellow patriots across the country.

[ Cheers and applause ] -I'm part of an institution that's older than the country itself, an institution that's 250 years old.

I've done combat missions, humanitarian missions, and it's been an excellent experience.

But I'd say the best part are the people that I've met along the way and the people that I've got to serve with, and that's what really makes our Army great.

-Tonight, we honor the bravery of over 9 million men and women who served in our Armed Forces during the Vietnam War era.

Volunteers and draftees alike answered the call to duty.

They fought the war they were given, and they fought to win.

Vietnam was like no war in America's history.

Heavily canopied jungles, rivers flooded by monsoon rains, rice paddies with no available cover, forbidding hill country, cities consumed by destruction.

Relentless enemy guerrilla warfare left wounded American servicemembers in need of immediate care.

Crews from the Army Air Ambulance Unit delivered a constant stream of wounded men to evac hospitals.

Their radio callsign was Dustoff.

Dustoff crews flew 24/7.

They didn't have the luxury to wait for a landing zone that was safe, for the weather to be clear, for the endless night to give way to morning.

Their astounding courage and determination marked the difference between life and death.

They brought hope to American fighters on the ground.

Over the course of the Vietnam War, Army medevac crews flew nearly half a million missions, rescuing over 900,000 casualties.

With every flight, they put their lives on the line to keep their battle brothers alive.

Air ambulance losses more than tripled that of all other helicopter missions in Vietnam.

One third of medical ambulance crews were killed or wounded.

One of those Dustoff pilots was Otis Dee Evans.

Born in Brenham, Texas, to a family who'd served in the military since World War I, Otis would go on to receive a Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Bronze Star, and other commendations.

With us tonight is the son of a decorated U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran, Blair Underwood, who will share Colonel Evans' story.

-I'm a member of a family of six.

My father was a Navy seaman in the Pacific during World War II.

He was proud of his service.

In college, I did four years of Army ROTC.

Must've been good at it 'cause I ended up being cadet brigade commander.

From there, I joined the Army.

I knew at some point, I'd probably end up in Vietnam.

I figured I'd be a medical administrator.

It didn't work out that way.

The Army needed medevac pilots.

I was deployed to Vietnam in '68 and assigned to the 101st Airborne, flying one of their helicopter ambulances.

The Dustoff callsign came from all the dust the rotors would churn up when the choppers landed.

I'd only been with the 101st for about two months when a bunch of us were sent south to fly for the 45th Air Ambulance Company out of Long Binh.

That was a baptism, and I mean with fire.

The war became very real, very quick.

I was confident in my ability, but I'd never flown in combat.

We got a call to pick up a soldier who had a life-threatening chest wound.

While we were on final approach, two rounds came up right underneath my armor-plated seat.

I knew for sure I was hit.

The crew chief flipped the seat back and said, "Don't worry, Lieutenant.

There's no blood.

You're all right," and we went right back in again.

You'd get two, maybe three missions a day like that, picking up people in hot landing zones.

Never knew what you were going to get, so you had to be prepared for anything.

We were never in an area for more than 15 minutes, but it felt like a lifetime.

The first three weeks, the toughest thing was the smell.

I mean, you could see the blood and carnage, but the smell, you never got used to it.

And then you became numb to it, and you just did your job.

The worst thing was to lose a patient in flight.

You never forgot those faces.

It was hard not to wonder, "How are his parents going to take this?"

That's a heavy responsibility.

You didn't leave that kind of environment without some baggage, some scars.

The game changer was picking up the wounded in the field in the middle of a firefight, day or night, in all weather.

We let people know, you got somebody hurt, you need help, you call us.

We won't leave you until we've got you wounded.

That was our Dustoff motto.

There was a time we called the Golden Hour.

When you got somebody out into a hospital within 60 minutes, their chances of survival were pretty good.

That was a great feeling.

For the ground troops, the sound of a rotor blade meant help was on the way.

One day, we had a call to pick up some wounded on the side of a mountain.

Couldn't land because of the cloud cover.

I went back to the fire base, and this one-star general says, "What's the problem, Captain?

Can't do the mission."

I popped right back and said, "Sir, there ain't a mission I can't accomplish."

I flew back and circled back over the area.

Asked the guy on the ground to shoot up a flare.

It came straight up through the clouds and floated down real slow, and I just followed it until I popped out above the trees.

When I got back to the first unit, the sergeant told that story and said, "You know, that Evans is a crackerjack."

Man, when you get to be called a crackerjack, you feel that close to God.

The guys I flew with, we're all comrades.

Just like in ground units, you form friendships, and when someone is lost, you feel the pain.

My closest friend, Captain George Minor, crashed into trees.

Jerry Tyrus Lee got hit by an RPG.

You didn't have a lot of time to mourn because there was always another mission.

Everybody knew what the game was.

Everybody knew that, any day, you might not come back.

It really weighed on you a lot in the last 30 days, when there's a real possibility you might be going home.

Couldn't be sure until you -- until you got what we called the freedom bird.

When those wheels broke ground, baby, that's when the cheers would go up.

On the bird, they briefed us about what we might expect when we got back to the States.

There were people back home who didn't appreciate a lot what we did and what we went through.

Those experiences in Vietnam, I just put them in a trunk, locked that trunk.

My trunk didn't really come open until I visited the Vietnam Memorial Wall in '91.

That brought back a flood of memories.

You think of 58,000 of your brothers gone.

It doesn't hit you until you see the names.

All the things you thought you'd put away just come pouring out.

What you need to know about healing is you have to break that stuff around, try to understand it.

But if you bottle it up and pack it away, you can't deal with it any.

You can't deal with any of it.

I served in the Army for nearly 30 years.

After the flying thing, I got into healthcare administration.

I'm honored to have worked at Walter Reed Military Medical Center.

I'm mostly retired but still working to create museums and memorials to honor the fallen.

When we talk about soldiers, we think about what they achieve instead of why they do what they do.

But once you're in combat, you form a brotherhood.

I fight for you, you fight for me, and if we fight together, we can survive.

Folks paid a high price to put us where we are.

We need to reflect on that.

Memorial Day isn't only a moment for me to look back on my own experience, but to pay homage to those who gave their all.

That Dustoff culture hasn't changed.

It's alive and well, and I am proud... proud to be a part of it.

[ Applause ] [ Applause continues ] -With a performance dedicated to all those who served in the Vietnam War era, here is Yolanda Adams.

- When you're weary Feeling small When tears are in Your eyes I will dry them all I'll take your part Oh, when darkness comes And pain is all around Like a bridge Over troubled water I will lay me down Like a bridge Over troubled water I will lay me d-o-o-own Sail on, silver girl Sail on by Your time has come To shine And all of your dreams are on their way See how they shine And if you ever need a friend I will be sailing Right behind Like a bridge Over troubled water I will ease your mind Like a bridge Over troubled water I will ease your m-i-i-i-i-ind Like a bridge, I'll ease your mind I will ease your M-i-i-i-i-ind [ Cheers and applause ] -I serve because of my father.

He was Seabee in the Navy.

He was an electrician.

Uh, when I was in fifth grade, about 9 or 10 years old, came to me and told me that he had to leave for a really long time, and as a kid, I didn't really understand what was going on, but I knew that what he was doing was out of honor.

So now I serve today as a thank-you to all those who have served before me.

And I thank them for their sacrifice.

-Over the course of our nation's history, tens of millions of Americans have worn our country's uniforms in times of war and peace.

Only a select few of those warfighters have received our nation's highest award for personal bravery in combat -- the Medal of Honor.

Joining us tonight are four Medal of Honor recipients.

-Major General Patrick Brady, U.S. Army.

[ Applause ] While serving in the Vietnam War as a dustoff pilot, Brady volunteered to rescue wounded men from enemy-held territory, successfully evacuating 51 injured men, many of whom would have died without prompt medical treatment.

[ Applause ] Colonel Paris Davis, U.S. Army.

[ Cheers and applause ] While returning from a successful raid in Vietnam, his company was ambushed.

Despite two painful wounds, Davis refused medical evacuation to remain with the troops, providing pivotal leadership as the company repelled several Vietcong assaults, not leaving the battlefield until all friendly forces were recovered.

-Petty Officer Robert Ingram, U.S. Navy.

[ Applause ] While serving as a corpsman in Vietnam, Ingram sustained four bullet wounds while administering aid after his platoon ranks were decimated by rifle fire from approximately 100 North Vietnamese regulars.

Though severely wounded, Ingram doctored his Marines for approximately three hours, saving many lives.

Master Chief Edward Byers, U.S. Navy SEAL.

[ Applause ] While on a rescue mission to save an American held hostage in Afghanistan, Byers engaged a guard who was aiming an AK-47 at him, shielding the hostage with his body and restraining an enemy guard, saving the lives of the hostage and several teammates.

Let's show these heroes our deep and heartfelt appreciation!

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause continue ] [ Cheers and applause continue ] -Also joining us tonight, as she has for the past eight years, is the proud daughter of a U.S Marine -- acclaimed actor Mary McCormack.

-From George Washington's year-long siege of British-occupied Boston at the outset of the Revolutionary War, America's brave servicemembers have shown their dedication defending our nation's freedoms.

In the last half-century, our all-volunteer force has given everything to keep us safe and secure.

The shocking events of September 11, 2001, brought our nation together and instilled a renewed patriotism.

Our traditional American fighting spirit rose again in the global war on terror.

For over 20 years -- first in Afghanistan, then in Iraq -- our servicemen and women braved multiple deployments in what became the longest war in our history.

-Reloading!

-They faced the brutality of unconventional warfare... snipers... [ Gunshot ] ...unceasing insurgent attacks... -10 to 12 insurgents running into that building.

-...the crippling and often fatal blasts of IEDs.

-IED!

IED!

-Inspired by their love of country, an entire generation of fighters courageously carried out their assignments.

Their military families -- parents, spouses, siblings, and children -- steadfastly supported their loved ones in uniform.

The Green Berets, part of the U.S. Army's Special Operations Forces, are among the many servicemembers who contribute to our nation's defense.

They are exceptional soldiers trained in unique military skills who work in small tactical teams to take on the Army's most challenging and sensitive missions.

One of those Green Berets was Staff Sergeant Michael H. Simpson.

After serving with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment and later with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Iraq, he became a Special Forces soldier.

By the time he arrived in Afghanistan in April 2013, Simpson had met and married Krista D'Orazio and become father to two sons, Michael and Gabriel.

Here to tell their family's story is award-winning actor Gretchen Mol.

-"Mike's whole family was military.

He was so proud of that.

Every morning, Mike would say, 'How's it feel to be married to a big, bad Green Beret?'

And I would say, 'Well, the baby's crying' Can this big, bad Green Beret change a diaper?

Show me what you can do.'

As a military wife, you really don't know what you signed up for until you're in it.

I was trying to keep my head above water, raising our two boys.

But from day one, what we saw in the Special Forces community was that they took care of their soldiers and families.

Mike was gone a lot, but when he was home, he was really home.

He would be Daddy T. Rex and chase Michael around the house while he was carrying Gabriel.

And Gabriel would just giggle.

The kids laughed at everything he did... no matter what.

When he deployed to Afghanistan, Mike was thrilled to be putting his training in action.

He believed in what he would be doing over there.

And I believed in him.

The morning he deployed, I made brownies for his company.

As I was passing them out, I said to Mike... 'Just be careful, alright?

Don't get shot.'

And he's like, 'Please.

Me?'

Then he kissed the boys and walked off.

About a week before he left, Mike wrote on the refrigerator door with a marker telling me that I was his North Star and how the family that I had given him was his most prized possession.

It was like he was saying everything he needed to before he couldn't anymore.

The morning of April 27th, I had just put Gabriel down for a nap when my phone rang.

It was Mike's company commander.

He told me that Mike had hit an IED and was in critical condition.

Somehow I found the strength to call Mike's family.

I tried his parents first.

And then I called his oldest brother, another Green Beret.

I'll never forget the sound of his scream.

When we got to the hospital in Germany, I asked to see Mike alone.

He had blood on his hands.

I used a washcloth to clean him up as best as I could.

All I could think was... his mom can't see him like this.

I did everything not to fall apart.

His family came in, and it was excruciating to watch them.

I called Mike's team and said each time, 'I am so sorry, but you're going to have to say goodbye.'

I put the phone on Mike's shoulder.

I have no idea what any of them said, but I felt like he could hear them.

Then I climbed in next to Mike and whispered... ...'I could do this forever if you just stay.

I could do this forever.'

He took his last breath later that night.

The funeral at Arlington National Cemetery was beautiful.

They presented me with a flag on behalf of a grateful nation and gave flags to Michael and Gabriel.

I found out that Michael went up to our casualty assistance officer and said, 'Uncle Jerry, can I leave my dinosaur for my daddy?'

He left it on top of the grave.

A few months later, I was sitting with the wife of Mike's commanding officer and I said... 'When is this pain going to go away?'

And she said, 'If you could get rid of that pain right now but it meant that you had to forget all the love and joy that Mike brought to your life... would you do it?'

That was an easy 'no' for me.

It still hurts today.

It's worth it.

I stayed part of Mike's unit when they came back from Afghanistan.

His buddies got to see Michael and Gabriel and share their Mike stories with him.

Our soldiers train for war, but they don't train for the other side of war.

I needed them to see that we were okay.

Mike had a friend in his unit -- Gus Anderson.

Gus grew up Catholic, like me.

And he started coming to mass with us.

On Easter 2015, I went down to Texas to visit Mike's family.

I told them about me and Gus.

Mike's mom said... 'I've been praying that you would find someone.'

That was 10 years ago.

Today we're a living family of four, but really a family of five.

Now the boys say they have a dad in heaven and a dad on earth.

I've come to understand that if you take the blinders off from looking at your own tragedy, there are so many gifts along the way.

Because of the gratitude I have for all those who supported us, now I help Gold Star families navigate tough times.

I organize a Memorial Day Run each year in honor of a different fallen hero.

Mike can't serve anymore, but I hope he would be proud of what we do to help others.

Mike was always really good at sharing how he felt about what his family meant to him.

So often, people pass away and we never hear their voices again.

But Mike left us a voicemail we can hear whenever we want to.

What a gift that is to have.

On Memorial Day, we share our fallen loved ones' stories, and if you have a chance to retell those stories, do that.

If you see someone with a bracelet like this one, ask about the hero whose name it carries.

Honor them.

Cherish them.

But always remember them."

[ Applause ] [ Applause continues ] -Krista.

It's me -- Mike.

Your husband.

Just calling to say I love you.

And I want to thank you for being an awesome mom and an awesome wife.

And I miss you.

And I can't wait to come home and see you and our beautiful family.

[ Applause ] - When I wake up in the morning After dreaming of your face And then the sun shines down your light straight to me It's like you never went away I hear your voice And it brings me to my knees Just when I need it You're so close, I can feel it I hear your voice Could have sworn I saw you Walking towards me yesterday Yeah In that moment, time stood still I felt a whisper saying "It's gonna be okay" Oooh "It's gonna be okay" I hear your voice And it brings me to my knees Just when I need it You're so close, I can feel it I hear your voice When I'm standing by the ocean Or listening to the radio When I least expect it Ooh, everywhere I go I hear your voice - I hear your voice - Ooh-ooh - And it brings me to my knees - Oh, I'm on my knees Just when I need it - You're so close, I can feel it - Ohh-ohh I hear your voice Ohhh, your voice I hear your Voice [ Cheers and applause ] -What a moving performance by Loren Allred.

Oh, my.

[ Applause ] We remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation in battles near and far, from the dawn of the republic in 1776 until today.

They paid the supreme price for our peace and for our freedom, and it is for those heroes and their families that we have Memorial Day.

It is for them that we now play "Taps."

[ "Taps" plays ] Once again, Scotty Hasting.

- Almost got all my things packed Every picture that I have Every handwritten letter sent to me My medals polished on my chest My uniform has just been pressed My dress boots shined perfectly I've been gone way too long Send me home on a one-way flight I'm coming back for good this time To the place where I was born and raised Send me home to my family Drape the flag right over me Now that I've done all I can do Send me home under the red, white, and blue I know the moment my plane lands I'll be with my mom and dad again I hope that they'll be proud of me We did our job, we paid the cost Every one of us we lost Remember this with every breath you breathe Under the stars and stripes, freedom don't come free Send me home on a one-way flight I'm coming back for good this time To the place where I was born and raised Send me home to my family And drape the flag right over me Now that I've done all I can do Send me home under the red, white, and blue Ohhh-ohhhh Send me home on a one-way flight I'm coming back for good this time To the place where I was born and raised Send me home to my family And drape the flag right over me Now that I've done all I can do Send me home under the red, white, and blue Send me home Under the red, white, and blue [ Cheers and applause ] -Scotty, you joined the military in 2010.

And after basic training, you were deployed to Afghanistan.

Tell us about what happened in April of 2011.

-Yeah, I was on patrol in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan.

I was the guy in the front looking for IEDs.

We made contact with the enemy, and I got shot 10 times before I was able to grab my rifle.

-Geez.

Learning to play guitar has been a part of your recovery, and now you do so much to help your fellow veterans by talking about the importance of military connection.

How does that help?

-You know, just as musicians connect with listeners through their songs, it's so important for veterans to stay connected with those they served with when they come home.

Um, and if you need help, reach out.

-For veterans and their families who want to learn more about help that is available or if you want to lend support or volunteer, please go to our website for more information.

Scotty, thank you for joining us tonight and thank you for serving our country.

God bless you.

[ Cheers and applause ] -The most fulfilling aspect of my service to the nation is when I see the flag or when I hear the national anthem and I think about when and how that anthem was written, and we were a nation at war then.

So looking back at the storied history of the U.S. military over 250 years, each time I look at the flag or see it at a sports game or on TV, I know that I'm part of something bigger than myself.

-As is a tradition from the beginning of the National Memorial Day Concert 36 years ago, we now salute all the men and women from every branch of our armed services.

Please welcome our nation's top military advisers, the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

[ Applause ] And now Maestro Jack Everly, our orchestra, and military choruses perform the "Armed Forces Medley."

Whether here or watching at home, if you're able, please stand when your service is presented.

The United States Coast Guard!

- We're always ready for the call We place our trust in thee Through surf and storm and howling gale High shall our purpose be "Semper Paratus" is our guide Our fame, our glory, too To fight to save or fight and die Aye, Coast Guard, we are for you -United States Space Force!

- We're the mighty watchful eye Guardians beyond the blue The invisible front line Warfighters brave and true Boldly reaching into space There's no limit to our sky Standing guard both night and day We're the Space Force from on high -United States Air Force!

- Off we go into the wild blue yonder Climbing high into the sun Here they come zooming to meet our thunder At em now, give 'em the gun Give 'em the gun!

Down we dive, spouting our flame from under Off with one helluva roar We live in fame or go down in flame Hey, nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force -United States Navy!

- Anchors aweigh, my boys Anchors aweigh Farewell to college joys We sail at break of day, of day Through our last night on shore Drink to the foam Until we meet once more Here's wishing you a happy voyage home -United States Marines!

- From the Halls of Montezuma To the shores of Tripoli We fight our country's battles In the air, on land, and sea First to fight for right and freedom And to keep our honor clean We are proud to claim the title Of United States Marine -United States Army!

- First to fight for the right And to build the nation's might And the Army goes rolling along Proud of all we have done Fighting 'til the battle's won And the Army goes rolling along Then it's hi, hi, hey The Army's on its way Count off the cadence loud and strong For where e'er we go, you will always know That the Army goes rolling along Rolling along [ Cheers and applause ] -We are privileged to introduce the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Christopher W. Grady.

[ Applause ] -And now it is our honor to introduce the distinguished Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Please welcome General Dan Caine.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Ladies and gentlemen, on this beautiful evening, would you join me in a round of applause for the people who put this event on tonight?

[ Cheers and applause ] This is an extraordinary evening.

And tonight we, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stand before you with a heart full of gratitude for our fallen and their families.

More than one million Americans have paid the ultimate price in service to this great nation.

To us, they were Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Guardians, and Coast Guardsmen.

Our brothers and sisters in arms.

Names like Zerbe, Nick... Manion, Looney, Check... and so many others that the Joint Chiefs and I love dearly.

To their families, they were a loved one... now symbolized by a folded flag.

Children who knew their parent only through stories.

Parents who carried the unbearable weight of burying their child.

Memorial Day is a day of mourning, remembrance, and most of all, gratitude.

Gratitude for the peace we inherit from those who stepped forward into the breach oftentimes at staggering costs.

Gratitude for the lives given for liberty and democracy.

The gift of a great American example.

Our fallen and their families show us every day what real courage is like.

To the joint force, they are all heroes.

We strive to be worthy of what they gave, to live a life of service worthy of their sacrifice.

On behalf of 2.8 million men and women who proudly serve today, may we remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and their families who soldier on.

God bless our fallen and their families.

May we never forget.

God bless those currently deployed protecting us back home and their families.

And may God bless the United States of America.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Thank you for joining us on our 36th National Memorial Day Concert.

The concert will repeat immediately following this live broadcast on most PBS stations.

And congratulations to the United States Army, Navy, and Marine Corps on their 250th anniversaries!

[ Cheers and applause ] -And now it's time for our finale.

Please take out your phones, turn the flashlight on, and hold them high for all our heroes.

And join in as Yolanda Adams and our cast perform "God Bless America."

- God bless America Land that I love Stand beside her And guide her Through the night with the light from above From the mountains To the prairies To the oceans White with foam God bless America My home, sweet home God bless America My home, sweet home Now we ask that all of you join in.

Those of you at home, please join in with us, as well.

God bless America Land that I love Stand beside her And guide her Through the night With the light from above From the mountains To the prairies To the oceans White with foam God bless America My home, sweet home -To watch profiles of the heroes featured tonight and learn more about helping veterans and military families, visit our website at pbs.org/memorialdayconcert.

Or join the conversation on social media.

-One more time!