WEBVTT 00:01.240 --> 00:04.219 Welcome to America's National Vietnam 00:04.219 --> 00:06.579 War Veterans Day observance at the 00:06.579 --> 00:09.689 Vietnam Veterans Memorial . I'm Marine 00:09.689 --> 00:12.979 Corps veteran Martin Martinez Jr , your 00:12.979 --> 00:16.299 master of ceremonies , and a son to a 00:16.299 --> 00:19.219 Vietnam combat veteran , US Army 00:19.219 --> 00:22.379 Specialist 5 , Martin Martinez Senior , 00:22.659 --> 00:26.620 who served in Vietnam from 1969 to 00:26.620 --> 00:30.610 1970 . Today's ceremony 00:30.610 --> 00:33.810 honors our nation's Vietnam veterans , 00:33.979 --> 00:37.099 families , and survivors who served 00:37.099 --> 00:39.900 honorably and sacrificed so much . 00:40.799 --> 00:44.090 This year is a particularly significant 00:44.090 --> 00:46.790 ceremony as it occurs during our 00:46.790 --> 00:50.759 nation's 250th birthday . The 00:50.759 --> 00:53.659 ceremony will begin with an invocation 00:54.000 --> 00:56.860 followed by remarks from special guests . 00:57.119 --> 01:00.319 At this time , please stand if you are 01:00.319 --> 01:02.799 able for the presentation of our 01:02.799 --> 01:05.680 nation's colors , and please remain 01:05.680 --> 01:08.279 standing for the performance of our 01:08.279 --> 01:09.319 national anthem . 01:13.930 --> 01:17.900 11 , 1 March , March , 01:18.980 --> 01:22.180 March . Oh . O . 01:23.410 --> 01:26.870 00 . What . 01:28.209 --> 01:31.580 Huh . Oh 01:32.790 --> 01:33.989 What ? What 01:37.559 --> 01:40.849 Ho ! Ho ! Ho . 01:42.099 --> 01:45.650 Ho ! Ho ! Hood . 01:46.690 --> 01:50.440 Ho Ho Hello . 01:52.279 --> 01:54.550 halt Colors , 01:56.489 --> 01:58.199 reset or . 02:05.650 --> 02:08.240 Oh , say can you see ? 02:09.839 --> 02:13.789 By the dawn's early light , what 02:13.789 --> 02:17.610 so proudly we held at the 02:17.610 --> 02:21.110 twilight's last gleaming , whose 02:21.110 --> 02:24.710 stripes and bright stars through 02:24.710 --> 02:25.860 the perilous fight 02:28.979 --> 02:31.500 or the ramparts we watched were so 02:31.500 --> 02:34.199 gallantly streaming , 02:37.029 --> 02:40.520 and the rockets . Love one's birthday . 02:43.309 --> 02:45.360 Gave proof through the night 02:47.820 --> 02:51.789 that a flag was still there . Oh say 02:51.789 --> 02:55.009 does that star spangled ban . 02:56.389 --> 02:57.389 That 03:00.419 --> 03:03.570 or the And of the free . 03:05.279 --> 03:08.270 And the whole . of the 03:09.250 --> 03:10.250 Barber 03:14.059 --> 03:17.029 Right , so Or 03:23.419 --> 03:25.899 Distinguished guests , please remain 03:25.899 --> 03:29.220 standing for the invocation . For 03:29.220 --> 03:32.009 today's invocation , please let me 03:32.009 --> 03:34.559 introduce Chaplain Kimberly Willis , 03:34.740 --> 03:37.800 executive director of chaplain Service 03:38.110 --> 03:40.460 for the United States Department of 03:40.460 --> 03:44.130 Veterans Affairs . Good 03:44.130 --> 03:45.130 morning . 03:51.809 --> 03:55.380 Please join me in prayer . Reflective 03:55.380 --> 03:57.759 of your tradition as I pray in my 03:57.759 --> 04:01.270 tradition . Gracious and sovereign 04:01.270 --> 04:04.279 God . On this sacred day , 04:04.639 --> 04:07.839 Vietnam War Veterans Day , we gather 04:07.839 --> 04:10.419 where memory lingers like morning mist 04:10.800 --> 04:14.210 and gratitude rises like the sun . We 04:14.210 --> 04:17.609 come anchored in your word which states 04:17.890 --> 04:19.557 that the Lord is close to the 04:19.557 --> 04:22.170 brokenhearted and saves those who are 04:22.170 --> 04:25.450 crushed in spirit . Draw near to us , 04:25.570 --> 04:28.369 oh God , as we stand on this holy 04:28.369 --> 04:31.410 ground of remembrance , we remember 04:31.410 --> 04:34.170 those who answered the call , who 04:34.170 --> 04:37.130 walked into valleys unknown , guided by 04:37.130 --> 04:39.809 duty , sustained by courage . They 04:39.809 --> 04:42.649 moved through shadows and fire , yet 04:42.649 --> 04:44.839 held fast to something greater than 04:44.839 --> 04:46.617 themselves , each other , their 04:46.617 --> 04:48.783 families , their country , their god . 04:49.549 --> 04:51.950 So we honor those who did not return 04:51.950 --> 04:54.117 seeds sown into the earth of a distant 04:54.117 --> 04:56.730 land , yet rising in legacy and memory 04:56.829 --> 04:59.750 and sacred trust . Receive them , oh 04:59.750 --> 05:01.861 God , into your eternal keeping . Let 05:01.861 --> 05:04.750 light perpetual shine upon them like 05:04.750 --> 05:07.350 stars that refuse to be extinguished . 05:07.829 --> 05:10.109 We lift before you those who came home 05:10.109 --> 05:12.209 but carry echoes of the battlefield 05:12.209 --> 05:14.299 within , for bodies that bear the 05:14.299 --> 05:16.299 weight of history , for minds where 05:16.299 --> 05:18.410 memories linger like unending light , 05:18.470 --> 05:21.190 for spirits thirsting for peace , be 05:21.190 --> 05:24.309 their refuge and their restoration . As 05:24.309 --> 05:26.269 you have spoken , he heals the 05:26.269 --> 05:28.491 brokenhearted and binds up the wounds . 05:28.589 --> 05:31.470 So bind , oh God , what has been broken . 05:31.519 --> 05:34.190 Speak peace into the storm within . Let 05:34.190 --> 05:37.570 healing flow like a quiver . Through 05:37.570 --> 05:41.380 every unseen place of pain , we 05:41.380 --> 05:43.602 remember the families , those who stood 05:43.602 --> 05:45.619 as watchful sentinels of love , who 05:45.619 --> 05:47.841 held faith through absence and embraced 05:47.841 --> 05:49.841 both the returning and the unspoken 05:49.899 --> 05:52.177 losses they carried . Be their shelter , 05:52.177 --> 05:54.121 O God , their strength beneath the 05:54.121 --> 05:56.660 weight , their song in the silence . As 05:56.660 --> 05:58.980 your word declares , God is our refuge 05:58.980 --> 06:01.179 and strength of very present help in 06:01.179 --> 06:03.299 trouble , and now we turn to those 06:03.299 --> 06:05.769 still unaccounted for the prisoners of 06:05.769 --> 06:07.769 war , the missing in action , names 06:07.769 --> 06:09.991 carried on the wind , yet never lost to 06:09.991 --> 06:13.339 you . For you have said , Can a mother 06:13.339 --> 06:15.619 forget the child at her breast ? Though 06:15.619 --> 06:17.940 she may forget , I will not forget you . 06:18.140 --> 06:20.380 Hold them , O God , in the palm of your 06:20.380 --> 06:23.109 eternal care . Sustain the families who 06:23.109 --> 06:24.998 wait , whose hope flickers like a 06:24.998 --> 06:26.998 candle in the night . Let it not be 06:26.998 --> 06:29.220 extinguished , be their light until all 06:29.220 --> 06:32.040 is made known . God of mercy , God of 06:32.040 --> 06:34.000 remembrance , teach us to walk as 06:34.000 --> 06:36.600 people who remember well , not only in 06:36.600 --> 06:39.320 word but in witness . Let justice roll 06:39.320 --> 06:41.799 like waters and compassion rise like a 06:41.799 --> 06:44.119 steady flame within us , and we may 06:44.119 --> 06:46.440 honor sacrifice with service and memory 06:46.440 --> 06:49.119 with faithful care as we close . Oh God , 06:49.200 --> 06:52.619 bless this nation . Like rain upon dry 06:52.619 --> 06:55.100 ground , like light upon a weary path , 06:55.209 --> 06:57.559 guide us in wisdom , steady in unity , 06:57.739 --> 07:00.019 and lead us in the ways of peace , and 07:00.019 --> 07:02.459 may your grace rest upon us , your 07:02.459 --> 07:04.660 peace dwell within us , and your love 07:04.660 --> 07:07.250 carry us forward now and always it is 07:07.250 --> 07:09.739 in your matchless name we pray . Amen . 07:15.269 --> 07:17.049 Retire the colors . 07:19.720 --> 07:20.720 Watch . 07:27.670 --> 07:30.600 M , M , M . 07:48.769 --> 07:52.209 Today's 2026 National 07:52.209 --> 07:55.130 Vietnam War Veterans Day silent wreath 07:55.130 --> 07:58.130 laying ceremony specifically honors the 07:58.130 --> 08:02.049 more than 58,000 Vietnam veterans who 08:02.049 --> 08:04.489 paid the ultimate sacrifice to this 08:04.489 --> 08:08.089 nation . In addition , we also 08:08.089 --> 08:11.690 recognize the 1,506 . 08:12.679 --> 08:15.839 Members and civilians still missing and 08:15.839 --> 08:19.489 unaccounted for from that conflict . At 08:19.489 --> 08:22.390 this time . We will now observe a 08:22.390 --> 08:25.260 moment of silence to honor those who 08:25.260 --> 08:28.029 are unaccounted for and their families . 08:28.510 --> 08:31.480 Please reflect quietly during this time . 08:52.119 --> 08:54.489 Thank you for your silence and 08:54.489 --> 08:56.770 reflection . Please be seated . 09:07.609 --> 09:10.270 I'm pleased to introduce the president 09:10.369 --> 09:13.479 of the Vietnam Veterans of America , Mr . 09:13.489 --> 09:16.369 Tom Burke , representing those veterans 09:16.369 --> 09:19.809 who served . Vietnam Veterans of 09:19.809 --> 09:22.090 America is the nation's only 09:22.090 --> 09:24.034 congressionally chartered veterans 09:24.034 --> 09:26.489 service organization dedicated to the 09:26.489 --> 09:29.770 needs of Vietnam era veterans and their 09:29.770 --> 09:33.390 families . In keeping with VVA's 09:33.390 --> 09:36.510 founding principle , never again will 09:36.510 --> 09:39.309 one generation of veterans abandon 09:39.309 --> 09:43.010 another . VVA advocates on behalf 09:43.010 --> 09:45.369 of all our nation's veterans . 09:58.809 --> 10:02.200 Good morning , everyone . Uh . 10:03.299 --> 10:06.979 Today we mark the Vietnam Veterans 10:06.979 --> 10:10.750 Day ceremonies . A day to 10:10.750 --> 10:14.460 not simply remember a war . But to 10:14.460 --> 10:17.669 recognize the men and women who served 10:18.070 --> 10:20.130 during one of the most difficult 10:20.130 --> 10:23.650 chapters in our nation's history . For 10:23.650 --> 10:27.400 250 years , Americans have been 10:27.400 --> 10:30.169 answering the call to service in our 10:30.169 --> 10:33.580 nation's military . For many Vietnam 10:33.580 --> 10:36.099 veterans during the years of Vietnam 10:36.099 --> 10:39.039 coming home was not the moment of 10:39.039 --> 10:42.090 welcome . And appreciation that 10:42.090 --> 10:45.419 earlier generations experienced . The 10:45.419 --> 10:48.059 cost of war was not measured in 10:48.059 --> 10:51.700 statistics , but in lives lost and 10:51.700 --> 10:54.539 futures interrupted , and families 10:54.539 --> 10:58.049 forever changed . Instead of parades 10:58.049 --> 11:01.330 and open arms , too many of us returned 11:01.330 --> 11:05.130 to a country deeply divided over the 11:05.130 --> 11:09.109 war . The anger about conflict was 11:09.109 --> 11:11.940 too often directed . At the young 11:11.940 --> 11:15.739 Americans who fought the war . Many 11:15.739 --> 11:19.549 Vietnam veterans were ignored . Many 11:19.549 --> 11:23.210 were disrespected . Too many were 11:23.210 --> 11:26.679 blamed . The veterans who served 11:27.219 --> 11:30.239 were not responsible for the war . But 11:30.239 --> 11:32.960 they answered the call to serve their 11:32.960 --> 11:36.580 country anyway . Their experience 11:36.580 --> 11:40.179 shaped an entire generation . They gave 11:40.179 --> 11:42.739 birth to the Vietnam veterans guiding 11:42.739 --> 11:46.179 principle . Never again will one 11:46.179 --> 11:48.457 generation of veterans abandon another . 11:48.809 --> 11:52.219 For the past 9 years . Our nation has 11:52.219 --> 11:55.580 marked March twenty-ninth as Vietnam 11:55.580 --> 11:58.929 Veterans Day to thank and honor Vietnam 11:58.929 --> 12:02.890 veterans who gave so much . Here today 12:03.559 --> 12:07.429 We stand in a place of healing . As we 12:07.429 --> 12:10.070 reflect on the black granite wall , 12:10.469 --> 12:12.770 those who paid the price of freedom 12:12.770 --> 12:16.520 with their blood . We are reminded 12:17.059 --> 12:20.239 of the true price of war . Each name 12:20.239 --> 12:22.979 represents someone who is loved a 12:22.979 --> 12:26.719 husband , a father , a son , a daughter , 12:27.140 --> 12:29.362 brother , sister , neighbor , or even a 12:29.362 --> 12:32.650 friend . Our prayers are with Gold Star 12:32.650 --> 12:35.289 families , those who got the knock on 12:35.289 --> 12:38.500 their door . Those who waited for years 12:38.960 --> 12:42.710 and those who still wait . Never again 12:42.710 --> 12:45.469 will one generation of veterans abandon 12:45.469 --> 12:48.109 another . Those words are more than a 12:48.109 --> 12:51.460 motto . They're a promise . 12:51.929 --> 12:55.469 Vietnam veterans vowed . That what 12:55.469 --> 12:57.830 happened to us would never happen to 12:57.830 --> 13:00.580 another generation of veterans ever . 13:02.299 --> 13:05.210 At the time , our country was weary and 13:05.210 --> 13:08.780 divided on the war . For decades , 13:09.130 --> 13:11.297 Vietnam veterans have tried to live up 13:11.297 --> 13:13.241 to that promise by standing beside 13:13.241 --> 13:16.679 veterans . Of every war and conflict 13:17.340 --> 13:20.900 over time our communities changed . And 13:20.900 --> 13:24.140 our country finally realized that the 13:24.140 --> 13:26.820 warrior and the war were not the same . 13:28.239 --> 13:32.000 Cities held parades long overdue , and 13:32.000 --> 13:35.869 America began to say thank you . Today , 13:36.070 --> 13:39.030 many Vietnam veterans are now in their 13:39.030 --> 13:42.950 70s and 80s . I call them mature 13:42.950 --> 13:46.510 guys . We have become 13:46.510 --> 13:48.849 senior statesmen in the veteran 13:48.849 --> 13:51.900 community . And that carries both 13:51.900 --> 13:55.710 responsibility and opportunity . We 13:55.710 --> 13:57.877 have the opportunity to pass along the 13:57.877 --> 14:01.049 lessons that we learned . We also have 14:01.049 --> 14:03.609 the responsibility to teach younger 14:03.609 --> 14:05.869 veterans how to care for one another . 14:06.799 --> 14:10.080 How to advocate for those who had PTSD , 14:10.679 --> 14:13.239 victims of Agent Orange , toxic 14:13.239 --> 14:16.840 exposure , and the list goes on . How 14:16.840 --> 14:19.320 to continue strengthening the bond 14:19.320 --> 14:21.431 between the military and the nation . 14:22.320 --> 14:25.059 No matter how you feel about the war . 14:25.919 --> 14:28.080 Never take the matter out on the 14:28.080 --> 14:31.460 warrior who fought that war . The truth 14:31.460 --> 14:34.369 is simple . Veterans need to take care 14:34.369 --> 14:37.250 of each other , but the responsibility 14:37.250 --> 14:40.349 does not rest with veterans alone . To 14:40.349 --> 14:43.590 those in the audience today who may not 14:43.590 --> 14:47.039 have served in uniform . We ask a very 14:47.039 --> 14:50.520 simple thing . Don't blame the warrior 14:50.520 --> 14:53.750 for the war . The men and women who 14:53.750 --> 14:56.349 serve do so because your country asked 14:56.349 --> 14:59.200 them to . And when they come home , 14:59.700 --> 15:02.409 they deserve our respect . They deserve 15:02.409 --> 15:05.650 our support . They deserve help to 15:05.650 --> 15:08.799 transition back into civilian life . 15:09.500 --> 15:12.539 When veterans come home . I can assure 15:12.539 --> 15:15.919 you they carry experiences that most 15:15.919 --> 15:18.700 will never see or fully understand . 15:19.919 --> 15:22.989 A little gratitude can go a long way to 15:22.989 --> 15:26.299 making a difference . Vietnam Veterans 15:26.299 --> 15:29.840 Day reminds us of not only the past , 15:30.419 --> 15:33.260 but of our responsibility to the future . 15:34.340 --> 15:38.070 And today , as our nation once again 15:38.070 --> 15:40.719 have young Americans fighting a war . 15:41.590 --> 15:45.059 The lessons , the lessons of Vietnam 15:45.059 --> 15:48.580 are clear . People may debate the 15:48.580 --> 15:52.340 war . But the men and women who sent to 15:52.340 --> 15:55.039 fight it must always know 15:55.979 --> 15:59.280 their country stands behind them now 15:59.539 --> 16:03.429 and when they come home . It 16:03.429 --> 16:05.969 is now my privilege to introduce 16:06.280 --> 16:08.390 someone who embodies the values of 16:08.390 --> 16:10.659 service , leadership , and dedication . 16:11.669 --> 16:13.989 Please help me welcome our Secretary of 16:13.989 --> 16:15.109 War , Pete Hutson . 16:27.030 --> 16:29.349 Well Tom , thank you very much for 16:29.349 --> 16:31.849 those words on this sacred ground . 16:32.570 --> 16:35.020 This wall These names 16:35.919 --> 16:39.760 Truly sacred ground and What's said on 16:39.760 --> 16:42.580 that flag , that POW MIA flag , is you 16:42.580 --> 16:45.039 are not forgotten , and we say a lot , 16:45.400 --> 16:49.119 often . Never forget And I can say on 16:49.119 --> 16:51.286 behalf of our department , having been 16:51.286 --> 16:53.341 in Vietnam a few months ago , having 16:53.341 --> 16:55.341 been around the globe , we have not 16:55.341 --> 16:57.563 forgotten . We're still looking . We're 16:57.563 --> 16:59.508 working with the VA to ensure that 16:59.508 --> 17:01.563 every last one , every single soul , 17:01.563 --> 17:03.730 every single American in that conflict 17:03.730 --> 17:05.452 and others comes home . It's a 17:05.452 --> 17:07.397 reflection of who we are , of what 17:07.397 --> 17:09.619 America represents , how we cherish the 17:09.619 --> 17:11.841 lives of those who defend us , the best 17:11.841 --> 17:13.949 of America . We will never forget , 17:14.180 --> 17:16.989 never . But today I would ask you to go 17:16.989 --> 17:20.150 one step further than never forget . It 17:20.150 --> 17:22.150 means much the same , it's just the 17:22.150 --> 17:24.483 inverse , it's , it's more active . Yes , 17:24.483 --> 17:26.359 we will never forget , but more 17:26.359 --> 17:28.581 importantly , we will always remember . 17:29.300 --> 17:31.719 We will always remember what they gave , 17:32.140 --> 17:35.420 the courage they showed , those 58,000 , 17:35.619 --> 17:39.160 the vast majority volunteers . From big 17:39.160 --> 17:41.327 cities and small towns , city boys and 17:41.327 --> 17:43.438 country boys , shoulder to shoulder , 17:43.920 --> 17:46.520 fighting for each other . We will 17:46.520 --> 17:48.853 always remember the courage they showed , 17:48.853 --> 17:51.076 their willingness to be cold warriors , 17:51.076 --> 17:52.909 never forget the context of this 17:53.109 --> 17:55.439 conflict . There was a Cold War around 17:55.439 --> 17:57.606 the globe and it was unclear who would 17:57.606 --> 17:59.828 rise and who would fall , who would win 17:59.828 --> 18:01.606 and who would lose . And in the 18:01.606 --> 18:03.106 geopolitical context , the 18:03.106 --> 18:05.272 understanding is they were holding the 18:05.272 --> 18:07.328 line against the communist advance . 18:07.328 --> 18:09.328 That was their belief . That's what 18:09.328 --> 18:11.161 they volunteered for . We always 18:11.161 --> 18:13.229 remember why they fought . Now , 18:13.520 --> 18:16.020 unsurprisingly , politics , 18:16.479 --> 18:19.680 politicians , other prerogatives got in 18:19.680 --> 18:22.140 the mix , got in the way , things got 18:22.680 --> 18:25.969 complicated . But for those warriors , 18:26.459 --> 18:28.849 their mission on that battlefield for 18:28.849 --> 18:32.459 each other remained clear to them . If 18:32.459 --> 18:36.119 not in the macro sense . We always 18:36.119 --> 18:37.952 remember them for what they were 18:37.952 --> 18:40.939 willing to do . And I can say as a 18:40.939 --> 18:44.680 veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan , It 18:44.680 --> 18:48.209 is the Vietnam generation . It is those 18:48.209 --> 18:52.000 warriors who looked to us , that 18:52.000 --> 18:54.000 generation , Vietnam specifically , 18:54.000 --> 18:56.333 that looked at us and said welcome home . 18:56.430 --> 18:58.486 That looked at us and said , we have 18:58.486 --> 19:00.530 your back , that looked at us and 19:00.530 --> 19:02.790 separated the politics from the 19:02.790 --> 19:05.689 warriors . They walked up and shook our 19:05.689 --> 19:07.949 hands . And then we had a chance to 19:07.949 --> 19:10.569 look back at them and say , Welcome 19:10.569 --> 19:12.910 home , in a way that we didn't even 19:12.910 --> 19:15.243 understand because we were , we weren't , 19:15.243 --> 19:17.354 we weren't even born , we were kids . 19:17.530 --> 19:20.520 One small example , a member of my 19:20.520 --> 19:22.798 community , I , his name is Ron Lasuda , 19:22.798 --> 19:24.742 he's a Vietnam veteran . I hope he 19:24.742 --> 19:26.964 texts me after this when he sees this . 19:26.964 --> 19:28.910 Family friend of ours . I grew up 19:28.910 --> 19:31.077 playing basketball with his sons , and 19:31.077 --> 19:33.243 he , he's a heck of a player himself . 19:33.243 --> 19:36.780 Still plays today . I had no idea that 19:36.780 --> 19:39.089 he was a Vietnam veteran . Neither did 19:39.089 --> 19:41.200 our entire community for the entirety 19:41.200 --> 19:43.367 of the time that I was growing up , no 19:43.367 --> 19:45.367 idea at all because Ron didn't talk 19:45.367 --> 19:47.367 about it . Nobody talked about it . 19:47.367 --> 19:49.311 He'd been internalized to not talk 19:49.311 --> 19:52.119 about it . Only in the last 1520 , 1015 19:52.119 --> 19:54.286 years was he willing to talk about his 19:54.286 --> 19:56.063 Purple Heart recipient . showed 19:56.063 --> 19:58.286 incredible courage on the battlefield , 19:58.286 --> 20:00.508 should be celebrated by the community , 20:00.508 --> 20:02.397 and he is now , as we right those 20:02.397 --> 20:04.489 wrongs , but he welcomed me back . 20:05.560 --> 20:07.782 Before I knew at all what he had done . 20:08.869 --> 20:11.189 Which is a testament to how they took 20:11.189 --> 20:13.411 the pain that they felt , the rejection 20:13.411 --> 20:15.522 that they felt , and they poured it , 20:15.522 --> 20:17.739 Tom , as you said , into the next 20:17.739 --> 20:19.790 generation to never forget and to 20:19.790 --> 20:22.699 always remember . And now it's veterans 20:22.699 --> 20:24.810 of this generation that turn to those 20:24.810 --> 20:26.866 on the battlefield right now , right 20:26.866 --> 20:28.780 now . And ensure that they have 20:28.780 --> 20:31.260 absolutely everything that they need , 20:31.500 --> 20:33.780 that there will be debates in that 20:33.780 --> 20:35.613 Capitol building . There will be 20:35.613 --> 20:38.040 debates all across the nation . But 20:38.040 --> 20:40.151 what we know is that we will have the 20:40.151 --> 20:42.207 backs of those warfighters . We will 20:42.207 --> 20:44.373 ensure that they are celebrated , that 20:44.373 --> 20:46.819 their sacrifice is honored . That every 20:46.819 --> 20:48.819 part of our society recognizes that 20:48.819 --> 20:52.000 they are the real 1% . The special 20:52.000 --> 20:54.167 Americans willing to raise their right 20:54.167 --> 20:56.222 hand and commit to something greater 20:56.222 --> 20:58.389 than themselves . And what the Vietnam 20:58.719 --> 21:00.775 generation did , they did it when it 21:00.775 --> 21:02.886 was unpopular . Then when they did it 21:02.886 --> 21:04.886 when society told them other things 21:04.886 --> 21:07.770 were important . Those Americans 21:07.770 --> 21:10.430 recognized that putting the uniform on 21:10.609 --> 21:12.969 and fighting for their country was the 21:12.969 --> 21:15.136 single most honorable thing they could 21:15.136 --> 21:17.302 do , whether the country recognized it 21:17.302 --> 21:20.500 or deserved them or not . And so on 21:20.500 --> 21:23.250 this day , I'm grateful for the VA for 21:23.250 --> 21:25.540 recognizing this , holding it up , and , 21:25.650 --> 21:29.250 and honoring Vietnam veterans . We'll 21:29.250 --> 21:31.417 do everything we can in our department 21:31.417 --> 21:33.583 to continue to do the same . To ensure 21:33.583 --> 21:35.639 that we never forget what they did . 21:35.699 --> 21:37.755 And that that through line continues 21:37.755 --> 21:39.977 that our country never commits the sins 21:39.977 --> 21:42.032 that it committed on that generation 21:42.032 --> 21:44.199 ever again and those who repaired it . 21:44.369 --> 21:46.591 We're not the protesters of that time . 21:47.650 --> 21:49.761 But were the men and women in uniform 21:49.761 --> 21:51.928 who came home , built families , built 21:51.928 --> 21:53.983 communities , built churches , built 21:53.983 --> 21:56.094 businesses , and then poured into the 21:56.094 --> 21:58.150 next generation of warriors who came 21:58.150 --> 22:00.094 home and ensured it never happened 22:00.094 --> 22:02.261 again . So may we always remember what 22:02.261 --> 22:04.206 they did . And continue to live it 22:04.206 --> 22:06.428 through to the current generation . May 22:06.428 --> 22:08.594 God bless our Vietnam veterans . Thank 22:08.594 --> 22:07.819 you . 22:15.270 --> 22:17.381 I'm supposed to introduce , introduce 22:17.381 --> 22:19.969 the main event . My apologies . It's 22:19.969 --> 22:21.913 been an absolute , I've known Doug 22:21.913 --> 22:23.969 Collins for many years . Many of you 22:23.969 --> 22:26.080 knew him as well in , in , in various 22:26.080 --> 22:28.170 roles to include congressmen . I've 22:28.170 --> 22:30.281 gotten to know him as a friend . I've 22:30.281 --> 22:32.392 gotten to know him as a human being . 22:32.392 --> 22:31.430 I've gotten to know him as a brother in 22:31.430 --> 22:33.541 Christ . I've gotten to know him as a 22:33.541 --> 22:35.763 fellow cabinet member . You have nobody 22:35.763 --> 22:37.708 better with a deeper heart for our 22:37.708 --> 22:39.763 veterans than Doug Collins . It's an 22:39.763 --> 22:41.986 honor to stand with him , uh , each and 22:41.986 --> 22:44.097 every day on behalf of our veterans . 22:44.097 --> 22:46.319 Ladies and gentlemen , the Secretary of 22:46.319 --> 22:47.652 the VA , Doug Collins . 23:00.390 --> 23:03.630 Good morning . You know , when I was 23:03.630 --> 23:06.189 walking down and listening to Tom and 23:06.189 --> 23:10.069 Pete . My mind goes back to 23:10.069 --> 23:12.270 a time almost 38 years ago . 23:14.010 --> 23:17.229 It was a time not like this . It was a 23:17.229 --> 23:20.910 quiet evening . And a young Hill 23:20.910 --> 23:24.810 intern . Who had Nothing 23:24.810 --> 23:28.219 to do that night Said , I want to go by . 23:29.290 --> 23:30.346 And see the wall . 23:33.400 --> 23:37.010 And I walked the same path . That I 23:37.010 --> 23:40.880 walked about 15 minutes ago . Except by 23:40.880 --> 23:41.880 myself . 23:45.800 --> 23:48.489 It was at night And there's those of 23:48.489 --> 23:52.420 you who know It has a special place 23:52.420 --> 23:56.290 here at night . Something 23:56.290 --> 23:59.619 begins to speak to you . And as you 23:59.619 --> 24:02.459 walk by You could feel the presence . 24:04.609 --> 24:06.900 We have many of you who have served in 24:06.900 --> 24:09.489 Vietnam . Some of our Medal of Honor 24:09.489 --> 24:12.260 recipients and soon to be . Are those 24:12.260 --> 24:15.130 who served in wars like myself and Pete 24:15.579 --> 24:18.709 in a faraway place called Iraq . But on 24:18.709 --> 24:21.550 that night , I had no idea what my 24:21.550 --> 24:25.199 future held . But I could hear the 24:25.199 --> 24:29.020 voices of this wall . I 24:29.020 --> 24:31.187 didn't know what to expect . It was my 24:31.187 --> 24:33.187 first time as I walked down through 24:33.187 --> 24:33.140 there . I began to see the very things 24:33.140 --> 24:35.729 that you see . At the foot of this wall 24:35.729 --> 24:39.170 now . I stopped to read the letters . 24:43.819 --> 24:46.589 I noticed the note From a young girl 24:46.589 --> 24:49.630 that said , Dad , I miss you . 24:51.900 --> 24:53.233 I wish I could tell you 24:56.569 --> 24:58.125 I see packs of cigarettes . 25:00.770 --> 25:04.719 Yeah , even a beer can . But as I 25:04.719 --> 25:06.886 continue to walk down , I also noticed 25:06.886 --> 25:09.189 flags . Flowers 25:11.839 --> 25:14.969 Pictures , poems . In letters . 25:18.900 --> 25:21.290 It was at that moment it began even 25:21.290 --> 25:23.346 more in me as a young child who I go 25:23.346 --> 25:26.500 back another 15 years was watching on 25:26.500 --> 25:29.810 TV . A war that I didn't really 25:29.810 --> 25:31.977 understand to be too young , but I did 25:31.977 --> 25:34.032 understand what it looked like and I 25:34.032 --> 25:36.143 understood when they scroll the names 25:36.143 --> 25:38.366 and I understood when they talked about 25:38.366 --> 25:40.477 problems far away from my little home 25:40.477 --> 25:42.532 in Gainesville , Georgia . You see , 25:42.532 --> 25:44.949 when you begin to put things together . 25:46.150 --> 25:49.020 It leaves you From your past 25:50.099 --> 25:54.010 To your future . Last year was 50 years . 25:54.890 --> 25:56.510 Of us leaving Vietnam . 25:59.319 --> 26:01.486 I choose not to look at it as 50 years 26:01.486 --> 26:04.290 of remembrance that we have . I now 26:04.290 --> 26:06.609 choose to look at this next year . is 26:06.609 --> 26:09.089 an eternity of looking forward and 26:09.089 --> 26:11.200 taking the lessons that were given to 26:11.200 --> 26:14.839 us . The lessons of sacrifice and love . 26:16.359 --> 26:18.640 The lessons of a young man who I served 26:18.640 --> 26:21.510 with in the Georgia State House . Who 26:21.510 --> 26:23.732 was when he was young , came home , and 26:23.732 --> 26:25.954 I remember sitting in a little anteroom 26:25.954 --> 26:28.510 off the Georgia House floor . And he 26:28.510 --> 26:30.810 looked at me Because I was getting 26:30.810 --> 26:31.810 ready to deploy . 26:34.739 --> 26:37.339 And this is a man who didn't say a lot , 26:37.699 --> 26:40.780 Tom . But he began to talk and with 26:40.780 --> 26:43.113 tears welled up in his eyes and he said , 26:43.260 --> 26:45.371 I'm gonna tell you something , Doug , 26:45.699 --> 26:47.921 when you come home I'm gonna be there . 26:49.000 --> 26:51.056 He said , I'm gonna say it's good to 26:51.056 --> 26:54.790 see you . He said because when I got 26:54.790 --> 26:57.500 home . I got into a cab . 26:58.859 --> 27:01.260 And the cab driver looked at me and saw 27:01.260 --> 27:03.427 me in my uniform and he said , Did you 27:03.427 --> 27:05.538 just come over ? And I said , yes , I 27:05.538 --> 27:07.538 just got home . He said , get out . 27:09.449 --> 27:12.959 Never again . The 27:12.959 --> 27:16.839 warriors of this country . are the 27:16.839 --> 27:19.739 ones who support everything that we get 27:19.739 --> 27:23.079 to do . From the press to the 27:23.079 --> 27:25.770 protesters . From the good to the bad , 27:25.839 --> 27:28.006 it is those who raise their right hand 27:28.006 --> 27:31.160 and say , I will go . Because others 27:31.160 --> 27:34.079 have went before me . I will go because 27:34.079 --> 27:36.930 I have been given . More than I could 27:36.930 --> 27:40.859 ever repay . President 27:40.859 --> 27:43.420 Trump Honored me by putting me in this 27:43.420 --> 27:46.390 position . A lifetime 27:47.530 --> 27:49.790 Of experience began to come together . 27:50.859 --> 27:52.359 Not something I expected . 27:54.979 --> 27:57.090 And just as I was walking down just a 27:57.090 --> 27:59.760 few minutes ago . I never thought that 27:59.760 --> 28:03.699 my pathway . To the VA would 28:03.699 --> 28:06.540 be a pathway that started over 38 years 28:06.540 --> 28:09.160 ago . With the voice of this wall . 28:10.030 --> 28:12.880 Still speaking to me . The Vietnam 28:12.880 --> 28:16.130 veteran changed the VA more than any 28:16.130 --> 28:18.959 generation it has been around . It came 28:18.959 --> 28:21.599 back and was met with not the adequate 28:21.599 --> 28:23.655 care that it should have gotten . It 28:23.655 --> 28:25.920 came back and met with almost frankly 28:25.920 --> 28:29.569 no care and left by themselves . They 28:29.569 --> 28:33.349 stood up And said never They stood up 28:33.349 --> 28:35.579 and said not again . They stood up and 28:35.579 --> 28:38.619 helped shape us into the VA we are 28:38.619 --> 28:40.739 today . Vet centers are there because 28:40.739 --> 28:43.060 of the Vietnam generation . The vet 28:43.060 --> 28:45.171 centers that I think are the greatest 28:45.171 --> 28:47.171 thing in the world because they hit 28:47.171 --> 28:49.449 every veteran no matter where they are , 28:49.449 --> 28:51.560 and they say , you have a home here . 28:51.560 --> 28:53.782 They took our hospitals and said you've 28:53.782 --> 28:55.949 got to learn to treat us better . They 28:55.949 --> 28:58.116 took our benefits and went to Congress 28:58.116 --> 29:00.227 and said , You're missing something , 29:00.227 --> 29:03.209 and we don't want to forget . And for 29:03.209 --> 29:05.265 those of us who still long for those 29:05.265 --> 29:07.376 over 1000 to come back home , we will 29:07.376 --> 29:09.598 never stop . We will never forget , and 29:09.598 --> 29:11.770 they will always be on our mind . But 29:11.770 --> 29:13.770 when a generation impacts a country 29:13.770 --> 29:16.550 like the Vietnam generation did , And 29:16.550 --> 29:19.000 the generation of people that I serve 29:19.189 --> 29:21.750 as Secretary of VA and those that Pete 29:21.750 --> 29:24.229 do does at the Secretary of War . 29:25.569 --> 29:28.010 It's a reminder that these names will 29:28.010 --> 29:31.910 be forever etched . There may 29:31.910 --> 29:34.849 be fewer things placed at the base . 29:36.410 --> 29:38.354 There may be some who don't have a 29:38.354 --> 29:40.839 personal memory . But for those of us 29:40.839 --> 29:43.117 who will gather every year on this day , 29:44.180 --> 29:47.329 We will remember . But then I also 29:47.329 --> 29:50.560 promise you this . We will look forward 29:51.810 --> 29:54.250 We will take what this generation gave 29:54.250 --> 29:56.810 to us , and we'll never stop asking , 29:57.000 --> 29:59.760 especially at my department . Who we 29:59.760 --> 30:01.920 put first , and that is the veteran . 30:03.319 --> 30:06.140 Because Vietnam taught us . That if we 30:06.140 --> 30:08.430 don't put the veteran first . This 30:08.430 --> 30:12.260 country has put itself last . And I 30:12.260 --> 30:14.739 will never stand for that . And those 30:14.739 --> 30:16.795 who are gathered here and those that 30:16.795 --> 30:18.739 are walking by today hear my voice 30:18.739 --> 30:21.010 clearly . From this president on down . 30:21.910 --> 30:23.966 There's a solemn meaning to the word 30:23.966 --> 30:26.077 service . There's a solemn meaning to 30:26.077 --> 30:29.150 the word sacrifice . And we will never 30:29.150 --> 30:31.630 forget But we will look forward . 30:33.189 --> 30:35.189 Because I have found that sometimes 30:35.189 --> 30:38.290 when you look backwards too much , You 30:38.290 --> 30:40.780 forget where you're going . Thank you 30:40.780 --> 30:43.689 to this generation . Who could have 30:43.689 --> 30:47.219 stopped Who could have got mad Who 30:47.219 --> 30:49.479 could have got bitter . Who could have 30:49.479 --> 30:51.479 turned away from the very country . 30:52.369 --> 30:56.280 That had sent it . But thank God . 30:57.550 --> 30:59.494 You remembered why you raised your 30:59.494 --> 31:02.959 right hand . Why you went . 31:03.760 --> 31:07.000 Because when you came home . You looked 31:07.000 --> 31:10.849 forward . And it is that forward . That 31:10.849 --> 31:13.989 brings us here today . For generations 31:14.349 --> 31:17.150 may not hear what I speak or any of us 31:17.150 --> 31:20.410 spoke today . But I do know that as 31:20.410 --> 31:23.310 long as veterans band together , Is 31:23.310 --> 31:25.254 this brotherhood and sisterhood of 31:25.254 --> 31:28.099 those who serve . Remember . We'll 31:28.099 --> 31:30.099 always remember why this country is 31:30.099 --> 31:33.569 strong . will always remember Why we 31:33.569 --> 31:35.920 are the light of the world . Because we 31:35.920 --> 31:38.319 treat those who serve us as they should 31:38.319 --> 31:41.930 be treated . Veterans first . is 31:41.930 --> 31:45.660 simply Our guiding principle at the 31:45.660 --> 31:48.989 VA . But for those of you who didn't 31:48.989 --> 31:52.130 hear it , For those of you who had to 31:52.130 --> 31:54.530 suffer through it . For those of you 31:54.530 --> 31:57.780 who had to take your pain . And turn it 31:57.780 --> 32:00.113 into positive for those that came after . 32:00.420 --> 32:03.819 All I have to say is on this day again , 32:04.020 --> 32:06.979 as all others , welcome home and God 32:06.979 --> 32:07.979 bless you . 32:24.920 --> 32:28.000 Ladies and gentlemen , it is time for 32:28.000 --> 32:30.839 the 2nd part of our observance , a 32:30.839 --> 32:34.829 silent wreath laying . 3 wreaths will 32:34.829 --> 32:38.819 be presented today . The 32:38.819 --> 32:42.290 first , the center wreath for National 32:42.290 --> 32:45.910 Vietnam War Veterans Day will be laid 32:46.089 --> 32:48.680 by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs , 32:48.979 --> 32:51.819 the Honorable Doug Collins , the 32:51.819 --> 32:54.819 President of the Vietnam Veterans of 32:54.819 --> 32:57.939 America , Mr . Tom Burke , and the 32:57.939 --> 33:00.979 Secretary of War , the Honorable Pete 33:01.060 --> 33:04.790 Hegseth . This wreath . is a symbol 33:05.170 --> 33:07.530 of a commemorating the significance of 33:07.530 --> 33:11.140 this day . The 2nd wreath 33:11.530 --> 33:14.619 to its left to honor our nation's 33:14.619 --> 33:17.939 warriors will be laid by Vietnam 33:17.939 --> 33:21.729 veterans Army Sergeant John Riling III , 33:22.609 --> 33:26.359 Army Specialist Dominique Yezzo , and 33:26.369 --> 33:29.579 Air Force Master Sergeant Rose Duval , 33:29.900 --> 33:33.630 who is also a Gold Star mother . This 33:33.630 --> 33:37.530 wreath is to honor our Vietnam veterans , 33:37.910 --> 33:40.709 those still missing , those still with 33:40.709 --> 33:44.510 us , those represented on the Vietnam 33:44.510 --> 33:47.670 Veterans Memorial , and those who have 33:47.670 --> 33:51.280 passed since the war . The final 33:51.280 --> 33:54.839 wreath to the right is to honor our 33:54.839 --> 33:58.000 warriors' families and will be laid by 33:58.000 --> 34:00.599 the Gold Star wife of Lieutenant 34:00.599 --> 34:04.400 Commander Barton S . Creed , Miss Susan 34:04.400 --> 34:08.199 Creed Percy , the Gold Star daughter of 34:08.199 --> 34:11.159 Lieutenant Colonel Anthony C . Shine , 34:11.520 --> 34:15.270 Miss Colleen Shine . And Carrie Rogers , 34:15.520 --> 34:19.479 son of Major Charles E . Rogers , who 34:19.479 --> 34:22.280 remains missing and unaccounted for . 34:24.000 --> 34:26.679 All of these carry important and 34:26.679 --> 34:30.040 symbolic representations , and with 34:30.040 --> 34:33.699 this wreath laying we honor the service , 34:33.879 --> 34:37.600 valor , and sacrifice of all of 34:37.600 --> 34:41.080 our Vietnam veterans and remember the 34:41.080 --> 34:43.679 deep loss and sacrifice by their 34:43.679 --> 34:46.870 families . There will be a moment of 34:46.870 --> 34:50.310 silence after each wreath is laid . 34:56.659 --> 35:00.350 At this time , I ask that each official 35:00.350 --> 35:03.250 party proceed to their wreath . Right . 35:09.500 --> 35:13.419 Taps will be played after all 3 wrings 35:13.419 --> 35:16.250 are laid and will mark the conclusion 35:16.709 --> 35:20.439 of today's ceremony . As a reminder , 35:20.800 --> 35:24.639 when taps is sounded , stand if able , 35:25.000 --> 35:28.360 and render honors by placing your right 35:28.360 --> 35:31.800 hand over your heart or rendering a 35:31.800 --> 35:35.100 hand salute . For all 35:35.120 --> 35:37.850 observers , I ask that respectful 35:37.850 --> 35:40.639 silence is maintained throughout the 35:40.639 --> 35:44.520 ceremony . After the formal 35:44.520 --> 35:47.239 wreath laying , the ceremony will 35:47.239 --> 35:47.879 conclude . 36:03.110 --> 36:04.110 Oh 36:36.090 --> 36:38.860 Breathe . Oh 37:55.540 --> 37:58.290 Oh . Yeah . 38:53.969 --> 38:57.850 This concludes the 2026 National 38:57.850 --> 39:00.909 Vietnam War Veterans Day observance . 39:01.530 --> 39:03.649 Please remain in place for the 39:03.649 --> 39:05.929 departure of the official party .