Sacrifice honored during Vietnam veterans day ceremony (photos)

WASHINGTON — Vietnam war veterans were among the hundreds who gathered at the war’s memorial wall Thursday — National Vietnam War Veterans Day — to honor those who served.

Pat Shanahan, deputy defense secretary; Thomas Bowman, deputy secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and Elaine Duke, deputy homeland security secretary, spoke at the event.

The secretaries thanked the veterans for their service and paused to remember more than 58,000 service members who never made it back. They laid a wreath at the wall during the ceremony, and all observed a moment of silence to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Vietnam veterans and others gathered at the National Vietnam War Veterans Day ceremony show their respect as a wreath is placed at the wall Thursday. (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
Vietnam veterans and others gathered at the National Vietnam War Veterans Day ceremony show their respect as a wreath is placed at the wall Thursday. (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
Deputy Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan, Deputy Veterans Affairs Secretary Thomas Bowman and Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke place a wreath at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall. (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
Deputy Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan, Deputy Veterans Affairs Secretary Thomas Bowman and Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke place a wreath at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall. (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
Fourteen veterans of the Vietnam war were recognized during a ceremony on Thursday. (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
Fourteen veterans of the Vietnam war were recognized during a ceremony on Thursday. (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
Deputy Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan delivers remarks at Thursday's ceremony. (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
Deputy Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan delivers remarks at Thursday’s ceremony. (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
A moment of silence is held as taps is played, to remember the fallen. (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
A moment of silence is held as taps is played, to remember the fallen. (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
A wreath reading “Service, Valor, Sacrifice,” is placed next to the Vietnam war memorial wall Thursday. (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
A wreath reading “Service, Valor, Sacrifice,” is placed next to the Vietnam war memorial wall Thursday. (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
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Vietnam veterans and others gathered at the National Vietnam War Veterans Day ceremony show their respect as a wreath is placed at the wall Thursday. (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
Deputy Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan, Deputy Veterans Affairs Secretary Thomas Bowman and Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke place a wreath at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall. (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
Fourteen veterans of the Vietnam war were recognized during a ceremony on Thursday. (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
Deputy Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan delivers remarks at Thursday's ceremony. (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
A moment of silence is held as taps is played, to remember the fallen. (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
A wreath reading “Service, Valor, Sacrifice,” is placed next to the Vietnam war memorial wall Thursday. (WTOP/Mike Murillo)

Mike Murillo

Mike Murillo is a reporter and anchor at WTOP. Before joining WTOP in 2013, he worked in radio in Orlando, New York City and Philadelphia.

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