Barack Obama: “We honor men like Michael Garrett of West Virginia.”

While we are non-partisan, we are not value-neutral. We have a point of view.

In forming our union, the founders fell terribly short of the Declaration's promise, leaving slavery intact, allowing states to restrict the franchise to white men who owned property.

They're meant to remind us of who we can be, to remind us of what's possible, so we can forge ahead.

It was nevertheless important that we all play a part in assuring that our elected officials are accountable.