U.S. Leaders Attend Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Ceremony

Department of Defense Photo Essay

  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta arrives at a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, right, speaks with Veterans Administration Secretary Eric K. Shinseki, center, and former U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, left, at a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
  • Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, participates in ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012. DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen
  • 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 the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall 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
  • Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivers remarks at a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta delivers remarks during a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
  • President Barack Obama delivers remarks during a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012. U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Teddy Wade
  • President Barack Obama cast a shadow as he delivers remarks during a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012. DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen
  • President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are escorted by Army Maj. Gen. Michael Linnington, commander of the Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region, to a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
  • From front to back: President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Veterans Administration Secretary Eric K. Shinseki render honors during a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
  • The Joint Service Honor Guard presents the colors during a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
  • Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, salutes during the playing of the national anthem as Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, look on during a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
  • Honor Guard service members prepare to lay wreaths during a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta escorts 93-year-old Sarah Shay to lay a wreath in remembrance of her son, Maj. Donald Shay Jr., during a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012. Maj. Shay has been missing in action from the Vietnam War for 42 years. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
  • Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, renders honors during the ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012. DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen
  • 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 war at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012. Shay has honored her son, Maj. Donald Shay, Jr., missing in action for 42 years. U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Teddy Wade
  • President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama applaud Vietnam War veterans during a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the war at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2012. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
  • Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife, Deanie, view the names of fallen troops on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial before the start of a Memorial Day ceremony in Washington D.C.., May 28, 2012. DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen