Congressional lawmakers clean Vietnam War memorial

Margaret Brennan talks about a congressional tradition where lawmakers put aside dissent and embrace the reflective spirit of the Memorial Day holiday.

WASHINGTON (CBS, KYMA/KECY) - The sharp political differences in Washington are well-documented. Far less so are the moments when the Republican and Democratic Parties come together.

In the early morning rain, a group of congressmen, some still in suits after an all-night voting session, cleaned the memorial to the 58,000 Americans killed in the Vietnam War.

The group calls itself For Country. It's their fourth year washing the wall.

Jack Bergman, a retired Marine corps Lieutenant General, is one of only three Vietnam Veterans left in Congress.

When Brennan asked what he was thinking when he's washing the wall, Bergman said:

I'm thinking that I am touching every person whose name that my brush passes, and in some ways, thanking them, but more importantly, remembering them to the American public. In specific, I was thinking of two guys, and I visited them this morning, Barry Mott, Marine Corporal killed in Vietnam a month before rotating back. Barry and I grew up together as little boys, swam together in the local creek. The other one I came to visit was Joel Sandberg. Joel and I went to college together. He was from Connecticut. [A] Naval aviator died in an OV 10 crash. But for the longest time, I came here alone, but now in this new role, I believe it's important for me to set the example for the American people to see broader that we're here by God's grace and never, never forget."

Brennan then followed up by asking what Bergman wants Americans to think of this Memorial Day, Bergman responded saying, "Think about...you're in an airport, and there's a family there, and they got young kids, and they see someone in uniform, and their parents might say, 'Go thank that person for their service.' I think the better phrase is they should say, 'Thank you for our freedom.'"

Freedom that comes at a cost.

Last year, Brennan spoke with Representatives Mike Waltz (R-FL) and Pat Ryan (D-NY), where they discussed being members of the For Country Caucus and talked about the now annual tradition.

"Once I got elected...and I saw the acrimony and the end fighting and I said, 'You know, let's get a group of Veterans together. People who really have skin in the game.' I think that's important for the American people to see. To see us honoring our forefathers, to see us where Democrat, Republican, black, white, brown, none of that matters. It just matters that we're all Americans. We're all Veterans, and we're honoring those that came before us."

Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL)

"This is the most powerful thing I've done in Congress, truly...It's very emotional and it's positive. I mean, there's so many divisive forces, and so to get together with fellow Veterans, all services, all generations, and just actually do something with your hands that improves the world, that honors our Veterans, that prepares this memorial for hundreds of thousands of Americans that are gonna come here this weekend. It's really...an honor."

Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY)

To watch Brennan's report in full, click here.