Addressing veterans at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall (2012), Obama said:

“Fifty years later, we come to this wall – to this sacred place – to remember. We can step towards its granite wall and reach out, touch a name. Today is Memorial Day, when we recall all those who gave everything in the darkness of war so we could stand here in the glory of spring. And today begins the 50th commemoration of our war in Vietnam. We honor each of those names etched in stone – 58,282 American patriots. We salute all who served with them.”

“You were sometimes blamed for misdeeds of a few, when the honorable service of the many should have been praised.  You came home and sometimes were denigrated, when you should have been celebrated. … For you are all true heroes and you will all be remembered.”

For those who’ve forgotten this “honorable service,” here’s a brief reminder: