Barack Obama

I call upon all Government officials to display the flag of the United States over Government buildings on this special day.

And somehow, standing up together managed to change the world.

We must continue to support our veterans when they come home and stand by our military families who endure unthinkable loss.

I encourage all Americans to participate in a day of public service for our lands.

My hope is, is that this complicated, difficult, sometimes harrowing, but I believe ultimately triumphant, story will help us talk to each other.

People are just responding as if none of what's represented in this museum ever happened.

My hope is that Black folks watching those same images on television, and then seeing the history represented at this museum, can say to themselves, the struggles we're going through today are connected to the past.

And at national wildlife refuges, in forests, and on public and private lands throughout our country, we have expanded opportunities for Americans to hunt, fish, and reconnect with nature.

Climate change poses the single biggest threat to our natural resources.

We must strive to support these families—not just with words, but with actions—by being there every day for the parents, spouses, and children who feel the weight of their loss.

A breathtaking new building right in the heart of the National Mall and that is what we call progress.

That is why I continue to call on the Congress to permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

History doesn't always move in a straight line.

I invite all Americans to observe this day with appropriate activities in our great outdoors.

I am proud that my Administration has protected hundreds of millions of acres of these vital lands and waters—more than any Administration in history.

But what makes the museum so powerful and so visceral is that it's the story of all of us.

Nothing can truly capture the beauty and majesty of America's expansive landscapes and wide-open acres.

Hunting and fishing strengthen local economies, provide sustenance, and help Americans experience the outdoors.

Outdoor areas across America are renowned for their beauty and for the wealth of recreational activities they support.

Today, we recognize their sacrifices by listening to their stories, sharing in their pain and pride, and pledging to do all we can to honor them and the loved ones they hold close in their hearts.

We have been very clear to the Assad regime that a red line for us is, we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized. That would change my calculus. That would change my equation.

There is no ultimate military victory to be won in Syria.

The United States welcomes the peace agreement negotiated and signed by the Afghan government and representatives of Hizb-e Islami Gulbuddin (HIG).

By avoiding up to 0.5°C of warming by the end of the century, a Montreal Protocol hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) phasedown amendment is one of the most significant steps the world can take now to deliver on the goals of the Paris Agreement.

This event is free and open to the public; however, a ticket is required for all attendees (including small children).