Pence helps clean Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Vice President Pence and second lady Karen Pence spent part of Saturday washing and drying the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., to commemorate Veterans Day.

Pence and his wife spent a chilly Saturday morning on Veterans Day weekend hand-washing the names on the memorial alongside Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and a number of volunteers, according to pool reports.

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Photos captured Pence scrubbing with a sponge after low temperatures forced the group to abandon spray bottles.

“Good morning all,” Pence told volunteers. “Mike Pence. Great of you all to be here. Happy Veterans Day.”

The vice president added that cleaning the memorial was “a great way to start Veterans Day.”

“Did we get the job done? That’s what I’m asking,” Pence added, before taking a group photo with volunteers. “Thanks for all you do for our veterans each and every day.”

Volunteers told the press pool that they were surprised to be able to meet Pence at such a small ceremony. Pence will attend a wreath-laying ceremony later Saturday.

Pence spoke with veterans and volunteers for 20 minutes, thanking them for their service as well as Saturday’s volunteer work.

“I had no idea I’d be washing the wall right next to him,” volunteer and veteran Wylie Gilbert said to the White House press pool. “It was really cool to meet him.”