Despite not having served in the military himself, Barack Obama used his Memorial Day remarks to speak about his family's service. "My grandfather marched in Patton's army, but I cannot know what it is to walk into battle like so many of you," he told a small group of veterans here. "My grandmother worked on a bomber assembly line, but I cannot know what it is for a family to sacrifice like so many of yours have."

Obama said he supports the new GI Bill because of his grandfather's experience in the program after World War II. "We should make sure that today's veterans get the same benefit that my grandfather got when he came back from World War II," Obama said. "It was a good investment not only for him, but it was a good investment for the country, built our middle class. So we're going to make sure that that gets passed."

He said President Bush may veto the bill, but he vowed to try and override it if it comes back to the House and Senate.

Obama also spoke about his uncle, who was part of the American brigade that helped to liberate Auschwitz.