Recorded Memorial Day message urges action to support veterans' health

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., identified in the recording as the speaker, delivered a recorded Memorial Day message produced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that called for renewed efforts to support veterans' physical and mental health.

In remarks recorded at the DC War Memorial, Kennedy noted the names etched on the memorial and recalled family losses from wartime service. "Etched into the base are the names of 499 sons and daughters of the District Of Columbia who gave their lives during the First World War," he said, adding a personal memory: "My uncle Joe never came home. He volunteered for his secret and hazardous mission on 08/12/1944, and he died over the English Channel when his experimental bomber exploded in midair."

Kennedy framed Memorial Day as a day to remember the fallen and to act for veterans and their families. "Memorial Day belongs to the fallen. It belongs to all of those American warriors who never made it home and to the families who bear every day the pain of their absence," he said. He urged concrete support for veterans' health care: "Let's take action. Let's fight for the veterans and for the families who still bear the heavy cost of war. And let's ensure that they get the care that they deserve, starting with good health care that addresses their physical and mental needs."

The recorded message also referenced Gold Star families directly: "And most importantly, to the Gold Star families, to those who lost a brother, a sister, a child, a parent in service to this country, Our hearts are with you. We remember. We will never forget." The recording did not announce any new policies, programs, funding amounts, votes, or formal actions.

The recording closes with a production credit: "Produced by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services."