(U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Teddy Wade/Released)
U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno stands next to Jeanette Early, a goldstar family member, during a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at he Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012. Early is the president of Goldstar wives of America.
(U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Teddy Wade/Released)
Veterans Administration Secretary Eric K. Shinseki, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and First Lady Michelle Obama applaud during a standing ovation for 93-year-old Sarah Shay during a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012. Shay have honored her son, Maj. Donald Shay, Jr., missing in action for 42 years.
DOD photo by Linda Hosek
President Barack Obama during a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012.
DOD photo by Linda Hosek
World War II Army veteran Samuel Teolis of Ellwood City, Pa., visits the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and reflects on those who served during the Vietnam War after a Memorial Day ceremony at The Wall in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012. President Barack Obama, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey spoke at the ceremony, which also marked the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.
DOD photo by Linda Hosek
Kathy Cardona and her daughter, Julianna Blamire, both of Connecticut, hold back emotion as they look at the name of Cardona's husband, Army Staff Sgt. Ronald Cardona, on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., after attending a ceremony at The Wall to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. Cardona said her husband was a Ranger and loved serving as one.
DOD photo by Linda Hosek
Kathy Cardona embraces her daughter, Julianna Blamire, both of Connecticut, after observing the name of Cardona's husband, Army Staff Sgt. Ronald Cardona, on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial during a Memorial Day event in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012. "It's my third time here," Cardona said. "But it's never easy."
DOD photo by Linda Hosek
James Reid of Dumfries, Va., creates a pencil rubbing of the name of his wife's uncle, Lora William Snyder, a Marine who died in 1970 in Vietnam, while marking the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012.
DOD photo by Linda Hosek
An Ethiopian woman studies the writings left at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial after a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012. She said she didn't know anyone who had died in the Vietnam War, but said one of her uncles died in the Korean War.
DOD photo by Linda Hosek
A man uses an American flag to point to a name on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial after a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at The Wall in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012.
DOD photo by Linda Hosek
An American flag, a flower and a bottle of Scotch lean against the Vietnam Veterans Memorial after a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at The Wall in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012.
DOD photo by Linda Hosek
Allen McCabe, a volunteer for the Memorial Day event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, hands out American flags that lined the top of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012.
DOD photo by Linda Hosek
A group of Vietnam War veterans from Wisconsin stands with their sign at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012, after a Memorial Day event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the war.
DOD photo by Linda Hosek
A family stops to read the names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial after a Memorial Day event at The Wall in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012.
DOD photo by Linda Hosek
Barney Bidders, a retired soldier, and Les Newell, a retired Marine, both Vietnam War veterans from Virginia, recall memories of service at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial during a Memorial Day event at The Wall in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012.
DOD photo by Linda Hosek
President Obama and Michelle Obama at The Wall during a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.
(DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley/Released)
Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta arrives at a commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012.
(DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley/Released)
Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta speaks with Veterans Administration Secretary Eric Shinseki and Sen. Chock Hagel at a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012.
(DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley/Released)
Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivers remarks commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012.
(DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley/Released)
Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta delivers remarks commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012.
(DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley/Released)
Escorted by Army Maj. Gen. Michael Linnington, commander, Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region, Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama arrive at the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012.
(DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley/Released)
President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta and Veterans Administration Secretary Eric Shinseki render honors at a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012.
(DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley/Released)
The Joint Service Honor Guard present the colors during a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012.
(DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley/Released)
Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff salutes during the playing of the national anthem at a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012.
(DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley/Released)
Honor Guard service members prepare to lay wreaths at a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012.
(DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley/Released)
Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta escorts 93-year-old Sarah Shay to lay a wreath in remembrance of her son Maj. Donald Shay, Jr., missing in action from the Vietnam War for 42 years, at a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012.
DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey and his wife, Deanie, observe names on the Vietnam Veterans Memoriall before beginning a Memorial Day ceremony in Washington D.C., May 28, 2012.
DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen
President of the United States Barrack Obama participates shadow on The Wall while he makes remarks as part of in a Memorial Day ceremony in Washington D.C., May 28, 2012.
DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey participates in a Memorial Day ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., May 28, 2012.
DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey participates in a Memorial Day ceremony at The Wall in Washington D.C.., May 28, 2012.