The Last Three Vietnam Veterans in Congress Return to the Wall Together Ahead of Memorial Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Last Three Vietnam Veterans in Congress Return to the Wall Together Ahead of Memorial Day
Nearly 30 bipartisan veteran lawmakers gathered for annual act of remembrance
WASHINGTON, D.C. —May 21, 2026— On the morning of Thursday, May 21, nearly 30 bipartisan veteran Members of Congress gathered at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial—not for a press conference, but for a quiet act of remembrance.
Together, they cleaned the wall.
Leading the gathering were the only three Vietnam veterans still serving in Congress. Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN), who lost his left arm in a 1971 convoy ambush, will return to the memorial alongside Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), who was wounded in combat with the Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade, and Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI), a retired Marine Corps lieutenant general who flew CH-46 helicopters in Vietnam. He has spent decades returning to the wall to honor those who did not come home.
For Baird, the wall reflects the war he survived. It includes the names of soldiers who fought in the same deadly convoy operations along QL19—including Specialist Four Larry Dahl, a Medal of Honor recipient killed in a 1971 ambush on that same road.
More than fifty years after their service, the three stood together again at the wall—not as young soldiers, but as some of the last living links between that war and the nation that sent them.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial—the most-visited site on the National Mall—bears the names of more than 58,000 Americans who were killed or remain missing in action.
For many of the Members participating, the names etched into the black granite are not abstract. They are friends. Brothers and sisters in arms. For the eighth consecutive year, the bipartisan For Country Caucus, alongside With Honor, has brought these veterans in Congress together to honor the more than 58,000 Americans who gave their lives in Vietnam—ensuring their memory is carried forward not only in stone, but in continued service to the nation.
“More than fifty years after Vietnam, the courage it took to serve, and the bonds it forged, still transcend today’s political divisions,” said Rye Barcott, Marine Corps veteran and Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor. “Courage is a decision to advance the common good despite personal risk. The veterans on this wall made that decision. In a divided time, this simple act of cleaning the wall is a reminder that America is still capable of making that decision too.”
“This wall is sacred ground,” said Representatives Jake Ellzey (R-TX) and Don Davis (D-NC), Co-Chairs of the For Country Caucus. “The names on it belong to Americans who answered the call without asking who stood with them politically. Coming together as veterans to honor them is how we keep faith with that same standard.”
Now an established tradition, the annual cleaning of the wall has become a quiet tradition for the For Country Caucus—one that reflects its core commitment: to put service and country above party.
In honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary, Jen Condon, Executive Vice President of America250, the official nonprofit partner of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, joined this year’s event.
With Honor Action Celebrates the For Country Caucus Seven Year Anniversary
L-R: For Country Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Don Davis, former Vice Chair Rep. Jim Baird, Founding Co-Chair Rep. Don Bacon, Vice Chair Rep. Herb Conaway, MD, Rep. Pat Harrigan, Vice Chair Rep. Troy Downing, & Rep. Tom Barrett.
With Honor Action was pleased to host an anniversary reception to celebrate seven years of the For Country Caucus. The For Country Caucus was founded to bring together Republican and Democratic veterans committed to putting service before politics and working across the aisle to strengthen America’s national security. Over the past seven years, caucus members have advanced more than 200 bipartisan initiatives that reflect the values of those who have worn the uniform.
Since its founding, With Honor Action has worked to support and elevate principled veteran leaders dedicated to integrity, civility, and effective governance; values that are embodied in the continued work of the caucus. Rooted in a mission to promote cross-partisan collaboration and restore a spirit of service in Washington, we support a new generation of men and women answering the call to serve again, and take the With Honor Pledge to put principles before politics.
The reception, held at Bullfeathers on Capitol Hill, brought together members, supporters, and partners for an evening of reflection and renewed commitment. The event featured remarks from Founding Co-Chair Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), and current Co-Chair Rep. Don Davis (D-NC), along with current Vice Chairs Rep. Troy Downing (R-MT) and Rep. Herb Conaway (D-NJ), each underscoring the importance of trust, teamwork, and mission-driven leadership in today’s political climate.
The evening served not only as a celebration of past accomplishments but also as a powerful reminder of what is possible when leaders choose collaboration over division. The caucus continues to demonstrate that bipartisan cooperation is still possible in Washington when leaders commit to putting country before party.
Read the press release marking the Caucus’s 7th anniversary here.
For Country Caucus Marks Seven Years, 200+ Bipartisan Laws Passed to Strengthen National Security, Increase National Service, and Support Veterans and Military Families
For Immediate Release
Contact: Susan Forbes, forbes@withhonor.org
For Country Caucus Marks Seven Years, 200+ Bipartisan Laws Passed to Strengthen National Security, Increase National Service, and Support Veterans and Military Families
Bipartisan caucus of military veteran lawmakers celebrates record of results in a polarized Congress
Washington, D.C. — March 18, 2026 — The bipartisan For Country Caucus today proudly marks seven years, celebrating a record of more than 200 bipartisan laws passed by its members. These laws have strengthened national security, expanded national service and civic education, supported veterans, and improved the lives of service members and their military families.
Founded in 2019, the For Country Caucus is a bipartisan group of veteran lawmakers united by their commitment to advancing principled leadership and bipartisan solutions in Congress. Today, the caucus proudly includes nearly 40 Republican and Democratic members who have served in uniform and continue their service through legislative leadership on national security and support for the military community.
“The For Country Caucus was founded on the idea that those who have served our nation in uniform should work together to serve it in Congress,” said Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX) and Rep. Don Davis (D-NC), Co-Chairs of the For Country Caucus. “Seven years later, we are proud of the bipartisan progress our members have made—and committed to continuing that work on behalf of our troops, veterans, and national security.”
Among the Caucus’s and its members’ achievements are:
- Expansion of national service programs, including Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, AmeriCorps, and the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps
- Designation of “988” as the nationwide Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and the passage and sustainment of the Brandon Act to improve the ability of active duty military personnel to receive mental health assistance
- Leadership of the Military Quality of Life Panel, contributing to 14.5% pay raise for junior-enlisted service members to combat military food insecurity
- Creation of an Afghan War Commission to examine lessons from America’s longest war
- Passage of more than two dozen recommendations of the National Security Commission on AI and the Cyberspace Solarium Commission
- Establishment of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology in 2021and subsequent sections under the National Biotechnology Initiative Act enacted in 2025
- Support for democratic allies, including the NATO Support Act, Baltic Security Initiative codification, and measures to repurpose Russian assets for Ukraine’s recovery
- Laws to counter malign CCP influence, including the BIOSECURE Act and TikTok divest-or-ban legislation restructuring U.S. ownership
- Authorization of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial on the National Mall
“Seven years ago, a group of veteran lawmakers came together with a simple belief: service to country should come before politics,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor. “In a time when Americans are seeking courage in their elected officials, these members have shown that the oath they took to serve in uniform is translating into the kind of principled leadership our country needs in Congress.”
Read the 2019 Washington Post op-ed by the caucus’s original leadership, Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and former Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) here.
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About With Honor
With Honor Action fights polarization in Congress by supporting principled veterans across party lines who pledge to serve with integrity, civility, and courage. With Honor Action works alongside the bipartisan For Country Caucus in Congress to pass critical legislation for our nation. With Honor Action is a 501(c)(4), which serves as the organization’s policy and social-welfare arm. With Honor has an affiliated federally registered “super PAC” called With Honor Fund III. Learn more about our work at WithHonor.org.