President Obama laid a wreath Monday at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington.

The cemetery is the final resting place for many American war heroes.

The president rode by motorcade from the White House to the cemetery. The U.S. Marines  stood at attention along the road that carried the president to tomb site. The headstones at the national cemetery were adorned with mini-American flags.

Appearing before a hushed crowd at the venerable cemetery, Obama strode with uniformed military officers to the site of the Tomb and set the wreath in place after the playing of the National Anthem.

The president was to give a speech following the wreath-laying.

Earlier Monday, the president and first lady Michelle Obama hosted a breakfast at the White House with "Gold Star" families of service members who have been killed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.