The president-elect honors fallen troops by laying a wreath outside a bronze memorial at Chicago’s Soldier Field midday Tuesday.

He is accompanied by Tammy Duckworth, director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and a disabled Iraq war veteran.

Read pool report of ceremony here.

Also releases statement: “As your next Commander-in-Chief, I promise to work every single day to keep that sacred trust with all who have served.” Read it here.

More: Obama kicks off his day with a workout at the Regents Park luxury apartments. Read pool report here.