President Barack Obama places a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, to mark Veteran's Day, Nov. 11, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Today, President Obama honored the millions of Americans who have served in our nation's military by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. After the ceremony, the President thanked veterans for their service, their sacrifice, and their extraordinary accomplishments:

To all our nation’s veterans:  Whether you fought in Salerno or Samarra, Khe Sanh or the Korengal, you are part of an unbroken chain of men and women who have served this country with honor and distinction.  On behalf of a proud and grateful nation, we thank you.

When I spoke here on this day two years ago, I said there would be a day before long when this generation of servicemen and women would begin to step out of uniform.  And I made them a promise.  I said that when your tour ends, when you see our flag, when you touch our soil -– you will be home in an America that is forever here for you, just as you’ve been there for us. 

For many, that day has come.  Over the past decade, more than 5 million Americans have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces. Of these, 3 million stepped forward after the attacks of September 11th, knowing full well that they could be sent into harm’s way.  And in that time, they have served in some of the world’s most dangerous places. Their service has been selfless. Their accomplishments have been extraordinary. 

In Iraq, they have battled a brutal insurgency, trained new security forces and given the Iraqi people the opportunity to forge a better future.  In Afghanistan, they have pushed back the Taliban, decimated al Qaeda, and delivered the ultimate justice to Osama bin Laden.  In concert with our allies, they have helped end Qaddafi’s brutal dictatorship and returned Libya to its people.

Because of their incredible efforts, we can stand here today and say with confidence -– the tide of war is receding. In just a few weeks, the long war in Iraq will finally come to an end. Our transition in Afghanistan is moving forward.  My fellow Americans, our troops are coming home.

President Obama also spoke about the importance of making sure our veterans, who chose to serve a call greater than themselves, are able to take full advantage of the opportunity they helped secure through their service:

So on this Veterans Day, let us commit ourselves to keep making sure that our veterans receive the care and benefits that they have earned; the opportunity they defend and deserve; and above all, let us welcome them home as what they are -- an integral, essential part of our American family. 

See, when our men and women sign up to become a soldier or a sailor, an airman, Marine, or Coast Guardsman, they don’t stop being a citizen. When they take off that uniform, their service to this nation doesn’t stop, either. Like so many of their predecessors, today’s veterans come home looking to continue serving America however they can. At a time when America needs all hands on deck, they have the skills and the strength to help lead the way.

Our government needs their patriotism and sense of duty. And that’s why I’ve ordered the hiring of more veterans by the federal government. Our economy needs their tremendous talents and specialized skills.  So I challenged our business leaders to hire 100,000 post-9/11 veterans and their spouses over the next few years and yesterday, many of these leaders joined Michelle to announce that they will meet that challenge.

The President said that veterans themselves are proof that there is no challenge too difficult to face:

We know it will be hard.  We have to overcome new threats to our security and prosperity, and we’ve got to overcome the cynical voices warning that America’s best days are behind us. But if there is anything our veterans teach us, it’s that there is no threat we cannot meet; there is no challenge we cannot overcome. America’s best days are still ahead. And the reason for that is because we are a people who defy those voices that insist otherwise.  We are a country that does what is necessary for future generations to succeed.

Click here to read the full remarks.

Watch Army Veteran Anthony Luberto, here. 

Anthony Luberto spent three years in Army, serving with 82 Airborne. From January of 2007 until March of 2008, he was stationed at Combat Outpost Callahan just outside Sadr City, Iraq. He was a commissioned officer -- a first lieutenant -- with significant experience managing complicated logistics.

When he left the military, that didn't matter. Civilian employers had trouble recognizing how his skills and leadership experience would translate into the private workforce. He had to turn to a headhunter for help.

"I think it's important for the government to assist veterans as much as they can," Anthony says, "in finding suitable work."

Today, he continues to serve the government as a contractor for the Defense Department -- and is working on his masters degree with the help of the post-9/11 GI Bill.

Across the country, 600,000 veterans like Anthony have gone back to school with similar help from the post-9/11 GI Bill. And this week, President Obama announced new initatives as part of the "We Can't Wait Campaign" to help veterans better translate military skills for private employes and make it easier for veterans to connect with companies that want to hire them.

Read more:

Despite the fact that our veterans have unique skills and experiences that make them excellent hires for any civilian business, their unemployment rate tops 12 percent. Read the stories of veterans like Anthony who have struggled to transition their skills into new careers and find out why fighting for these heroes is a priority for the Obama Administration.

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, with veteran James Sperry and his daughter, Hannah, pause for the national anthem prior to Game 1 of the World Series at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 19, 2011. The First Lady and Dr. Biden attended the game as part of their Joining Forces initiative. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Finding ways to better serve those who have worn the uniform of the U.S. military has been one of President Obama's top priorities as Commander-in-Chief.

We've put together a slideshow that captures some of our favorite moments of the President, First Lady, Vice President, and Dr. Biden with our troops and their families.

Check it out.

Watch Air Force Veteran Matt Covin, here. 

Matt Colvin joined the Air Force on September 11, 2001. During his two tours in Afghanistan he participated in more than 80 combat missions. He left the military in 2007 and today works with an organization called Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, which helps support veterans once they leave active duty, and is working toward a bachelor’s degree in business through the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

Colvin says that, as a result of their military training, veterans have “endless” skills that make them ideal employees for civilian businesses and that provisions in the American Jobs Act will help our heroes maximize those talents.

“I think it’s absolutely important that the government is going to do—and especially President Obama and Congress—are going to do everything in their power to be able to really help vets transition into what the civilian workforce needs. They’re the people that are really going to make a difference, and the people that can take leadership roles and really grow a lot of these small businesses, and business in general.”

President Obama knows we can't wait to help unemployed veterans get jobs. He's challenged private sector employers to hire or train 100,000 veterans, and his Administration has introduced a host of initiatives to help connect veterans with job listings and career support. And, the Senate has already passed two key pieces of the American Jobs Act, the Wounded Warriors and Returning Heroes tax credits, which will provide tax credits to businesses that hire veterans.

Eric Smith served two tours in Iraq with the United States Navy. As a Hospital Corpsman, a position similar to a paramedic outside the military, Smith performed duties normally done by a registered nurse or a physician’s assistant. He picked up skills and experience working in both hospital and combat settings that were far beyond anything he could have learned in the same amount of time in a civilian setting. Smith was certain he would be able to find an excellent job in the medical field once he left the military.

Today, he works as a hospital janitor.

“It’s characteristic of anybody that’s a military veteran that we’re dependable. Usually our word is our bond. We show up to work on time and we don’t leave until our work is done,” he said. “These are all things that you’d think would be a no-brainer for somebody like me looking for work, but it’s a little bit rough for me.”

Smith said it’s important to help our veterans get back to work once they return to civilian life because of people like him, who have five years of practical experience but no real prospects for a good job. “It got to the point where I was out signing up for drug trials just to make it,” he said. “That shouldn’t happen to any veteran—it shouldn’t happen to anybody.”

The Obama Administration is working to help qualified veterans like Eric Smith find jobs in the medical field that utilize their unique skills. In October, he challenged each of the 8,000 Community Health Centers around the country to hire at least one veteran. We can't wait to help our veterans find jobs.

Learn More: Despite the fact that our veterans have unique skills and experiences that make them excellent hires for any civilian business, their unemployment rate tops 12 percent. Read the stories of veterans like Eric who have struggled to transition their skills into new careers and find out why fighting for these heroes is a priority for the Obama Administration.

Matt Flavin, Director of Veterans and Wounded Warrior Policy, answers questions on new initiatives that will provide resources to help veterans translate military experience to the private sector job market, and better identify companies looking to hire veterans during a session of White House Office Hours. (Photo by Mori Rothman)

Matt Flavin, Director of Veterans and Wounded Warrior Policy, answered your questions on the new initiatives announced this week that will provide new resources for veterans and create jobs for veterans to ensure that our veterans get the opportunities that they have earned.

Check out the full question and answer session below, or over on Storify. Be sure to follow @WhiteHouse on Twitter for updates from the White House and for more chances to engage.

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks to business leaders, veterans and military spouses as part of her Joining Forces initiative, at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 4th Annual “Business Steps Up: Hiring Our Heroes” event in Washington, D.C., Nov. 10, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Today, First Lady Michelle Obama was at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to talk about what private companies are doing to help military families. 

She announced that a range of businesses now plan to hire 100,000 veterans and military spouses by 2014. She said that the Veterans Jobs Bank -- launched on Monday -- now hosts more than 550,000 job postings from military-friendly employers.

She told the crowd at the Chamber:

This commitment of 100,000 jobs isn’t about making headlines. These wonderful programs don’t just provide a good opportunity for a press conference. All of these efforts are about upholding our sacred duty to our veterans and their families. 

Since Joining Forces got off the ground, 16,000 veterans and spouses have already found new positions.

Later today, the Senate is expected to vote on and approve a provision of the American Jobs Act -- which will offer business a $9,600 tax credit for hiring disabled veterans and create additional tax credits for employers who hire veterans who have spent four weeks or more out of work.

This week, the Obama Administration announced new initiatives that will provide new resources for veterans to translate military experience to the private sector job market, give veterans additional career development support, and better identify companies looking to hire veterans. This afternoon, Congress is expected to vote on two provisions in the American Jobs Act: the Returning Heroes and Wounded Warrior Tax Credits.

Today, Matt Flavin, Director of Veterans and Wounded Warrior Policy, is holding a session of Office Hours on Twitter to answer your questions about the . At 5:00 p.m. EST, Matt will be on the @WHLive account to answer questions and getting veterans back to work.

Here’s how White House Office Hours work:

• Ask your questions now and during the live event on Twitter with the hashtag #WHChat
• Follow the Q&A through the @WHLive Twitter account
• If you miss the live session, the full session will be posted on WhiteHouse.gov and Storify.com/WhiteHouse

So, stop by for Office Hours at 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday, November 10th with Matt Flavin. Be sure to follow @WhiteHouse on twitter for the latest news and more opportunities to engage.

This week, the United States is hosting the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers and Economic Leaders’ Meetings in Honolulu, Hawaii. As President Obama’s lead negotiator and spokesperson on trade, I will host a meeting for my fellow APEC Trade Ministers in preparation for President Obama’s meeting with APEC Leaders later this week and to build on the success of the APEC Trade Ministers’ meeting held in Big Sky, Montana last May. 

At Big Sky, the United States and its APEC trade partners identified ways to improve regulation and transparency, made advances on reducing trade barriers impacting environmental goods and services, and determined specific next-generation issues on ensuring how trade rules can reflect the realities of the region today. Tomorrow in Honolulu, my fellow Ministers and I will address key hindrances to trade for businesses across the Asia-Pacific in order to achieve these important goals. By making it easier for all our exporters to enter markets in APEC economies, we are helping businesses grow exponentially. This dynamic growth leads to further job creation across the region, including in the U.S. – an important component to President Obama’s economic policy.

One priority goal the United States has pursued this year is making the Asia-Pacific a seamless regional economy. In support of that goal, this week, we will ask our APEC trade partners to reduce barriers to trade for environmental goods and services, promote innovation policies that encourage competition and open markets, and improve their regulatory systems. Value-added improvements in these areas will make it easier for American businesses to export to the Asia-Pacific region, supporting the creation of much-needed American jobs.  

While in Honolulu, we are also seeking solid progress with the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, which is a 21st-century agreement that tackles pressing trade concerns in new ways, addresses cross-cutting issues previously unaddressed in trade agreements, and benefits from an unprecedented level of stakeholder input. While APEC is a voluntary, cooperative forum where we can collectively tackle critical trade and investment topics in the Asia-Pacific, TPP parties are negotiating binding commitments and obligations which reflect our highest ambitions.

In considering trade in the 21st-century, TPP parties are discussing comprehensive issues like building regional production, promoting development, and facilitating the participation of small- and medium-sized businesses in global trade. By eliminating traditional barriers that prevent smaller businesses from entering the world marketplace, we are opening pathways for these enterprises to expand and grow through trade. If even just a few more businesses out of every hundred in America export, we will see a dramatic increase in jobs here in the United States.

This weekend, President Obama, in hosting  meetings with his fellow APEC Leaders, will attempt to achieve these trade goals and grow American jobs through increasing export opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region.

During the meetings, USTR.gov will be updated in real time to keep you fully abreast of our work. Be sure to visit our APEC 2011 page and follow us on Twitter to get the most up-to-date information on the progress of APEC meetings in Hawaii.