president obama today paid tribute to america's war dead, laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknowns, he then spoke at the vietnam veteran's memorial on the 50th anniversary of their bloody conflict. and milt romney led a tribute at the veteran's memorial center in san diego. it was a somber break from the election campaign, but politics has a way of seeping into one of the most somber occasions, dan lothian is standing by, but first let's go to cnn's dana bash. and a slight political undertone to the ceremonies there in san diego. they were putting wreaths out at these ceremonies, but at the same time both men gave some speeches that might have had some politics mixed in there as well. >> from mitt romney, the lines that you're so familiar with, following him around, the ones really directly following the president. but you didn't have to read too much between the lines to hear his campaign pitch. >> reporter: a solemn moment in san diego, marking memorial day. ♪ >> reporter: a traditional tribute to fallen troops. >> we dedicate ourselves to strength and to preserving the freedom for which they gave their lives and walked in harm's way. >> event organizers tell cnn they instructed mitt romney not to make political statements. he didn't attack the president, but did offer a not so subtle contrast, at a time of defense cuts, he wants a strong military. >> we choose that course in america not so that we just win wars, but is we can prevent wars because a strong america is the best deterrent to war that's ever been invented. >> for a republican challenger there is no such thing as a politics free zone. just look at who the former governor with no military or foreign policy experience chose to join him. his old rival and war hero, john mccain. clearly here to bolster romne s romney's -- >> i'm especially honored to be on the same stage with a great friend, a great man, a great governor and a man who i believe is fully qualified to be commander in chief, government governor mitt romney. this administration has a fleckless foreign policy which abandoned american leadership. >> reporter: after news broke of the horrific massacre in syria, romney echoed obama's criticism. the united states should work with partners to organize and arm sere syrian opposition groups so they can defend themselves. despite the commander in chief-like imagery here, polls suggest that romney has a long way to go in that department. 52% of americans say obama can better handle the job of commander in chief, with only 36% for romney. but then again campaign 2012 is not about foreign policy, it's all about the economy, and there the two men are virtually tied. one thing candidates all have in common, protesters at their events, but only romney has someone willing to say this. >> jerk. >> as for romney he mostly told stories about the men he called heroes, including john mccain but also threw some red meat to the largely military crowd. >> we'll get back to the day after memorial day, dana bash, thank you. even as the president pays tribute to america's fallen, a new world crises will spa -- dan loathe yang, what can you tell us? >> reporter: the president today did spend much of his time during his remarks to talk about the sacrifice of the men and women of the armed services have given to this country over the years, he also talked about the pledge to support those veterans here on the home front and their family members as well. but the president also touched on some themes that we have heard out there on the campaign trail, when he was touting his foreign policy record. but there are still a lot of hot spots out there, global hot spots that seem to be pushing diplomacy to the limit. >> honoring fallen war heroes, president obama laid a breathe at to the tomb of the unknown soldier, marking the 50th anniversary of the vietnam war. and met at the white house with gold star families who lost loved ones in combat a solemn day even as the president used the opportunity to- >> we are winding county the war in afghanistan and our troochs will continue to come home. >> but serious global challenges remain, raising the prospect of further military actions, north korea in rocket tests, iran and nuclear ambitions, see ya with human rights violations and unwilling to go. >> i think that my preference of course, always as the senior military leader would be that the international community could find ways of increasing the pressure on assad to do the right thing and step aside. >> reporter: there's mounting pressure on syria after the massacre of dozens of children in hula. russia and china who -- criticized the violence but stopped short of criticizing the government. the former u.n. secretary general flew to damascus in a last-ditch effort to sell the plan. the window for a diplomatic solution is narrowing, but now experts caution a military operation in syria could have broader consequences. >> unlike libya, there is more of a risk of escalation, of instability spills out across borders and more difficult for u.s. and allied aircrews to get after and destroy syrian air defenses. >> in other words the obama administration looks for that diplomatic solution, they're focused on the possible model of yemen, according to white house aides where you have some sort of negotiated settlement, a leader steps down peacefully, and we need to begin that democratic process. russia could be a big factor in an option like this, but aides point out that every country is different, but nonetheless, they see this as a possible peaceful solution. >> that's a pretty optimistic scenario if that could possibly work out. but what are they saying about the white house when some of this criticism comes in with john mccain and others out there criticizing the president on syria. >> reporter: they certainly believe that the president's policy here is solid. not going after john mccain but focusing on syria and assad calling the violence we have seen there horrific. a national security council spokesperson said, quote, these acts serve as a vile testament to an illegitimate regime. >> dan lothian live at the white house. this year marks the 50th anniversary of the first significant american deployment in vietnam and the start of a bloody traumatic decade for the united states. president obama went to the vietnam veterans' memorial today in an effort to honor that war's veterans. >> one of the most painful chapters in our history was vietnam. most particularly, how we treated our troops who served there. you are often blamed for a war you didn't start and you should have been kmecommended for serv your country with valor, you're sometimes blamed for the misdeeds of a few. when the honorable service of the many should have been praised, you came home and sometimes were den greigrated w you should have been celebrated. it was a national shame. a disgrace, that should have never happened. that's why here today, we resolve that it will not happen again. and so a central part of this 50th anniversary will be to tell your story as it should have been told all along. it's another chance to set the record straight. that's one more way we keep perfecting our union, setting the record straight and it starts today. because history will honor your service, your names will join a story of service that stretches back two centuries. let us tell the story of a generation of service members, every color, every creed, rich, poor, officer and enlisted who served with just as much patriotism and honor as any before you. >> and it's hard to imagine, but it bears repeating, 58,290 americans were killed in the vietnam war. a shocking new escalation in syria will give you a closer look at the massacre that left 100 people dead in one town, at least half of them children, two americans arrested in tokyo, as authorities investigate the choking death of an exchange student. and can you imagine being at this outdoor wedding when tropical storm beryl washed ashore? 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