National Salute Embraces Panama Dead : Holiday: Memorial Day tributes remember Americans who fell in war. Also honored is Ryan White’s courageous battle with fatal AIDS.

Americans flew the flag proudly and shed unashamed tears for their war dead Monday, the first Memorial Day since 23 fresh graves were dug for soldiers and sailors killed in the invasion of Panama.

“They never knew whether their overall mission was successful . . . . “ Navy Capt. Ron Pearson said at a service at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, Tex. “Freedom is ours because others paid a price for our lives.”

President Bush, at a Memorial Day ceremony in his summer hometown of Kennebunkport, Me., also paid tribute to servicemen who died in the December invasion that ousted Panamanian dictator Manuel A. Noriega.

Vice President Dan Quayle laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington where 214,000 servicemen and women are interred.

Veterans and others streamed to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, adding more flowers, written messages and mementos to those already left at the polished black granite wall. Later Monday, an estimated 2,000 people gathered for a ceremony and wreath-laying at the wall.

In Cicero, Ind., a headstone was placed on the grave of Ryan White, who died of complications of AIDS nearly two months ago after spending five years educating the public about the disease he contracted through blood products.

The stone bears the epitaph “Kid Of Courage,” written by his mother, plus tributes from Gov. Evan Bayh, singers Elton John and Michael Jackson and other relatives and friends.

In Baton Rouge, the Louisiana House marked the day by narrowly approving legislation to dramatically lessen penalties for a person convicted of assaulting someone who desecrates Old Glory.

In Houston, members of a crowd of about 10,000 people at a free rap concert turned unruly over delays and started hurling bottles. Shots reportedly were fired and the rest of the event was canceled. Authorities said about six people were arrested and at least 11 were injured, none seriously.