It was a gathering of colors and generations, of aging infantrymen from World War II and the generals of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Their ranks swelled with pride at the annual gathering at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

"Our veterans define for the world where America stands and where we draw the line," U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Eric T. Olson, former commander of the 25th Infantry Division (Light), told an audience of more than 1,500 people. "But they also define what we represent in terms of American values."

Olson, who led the division's 12-month deployment to Afghanistan, thanked the veterans for their courage, commitment and sacrifice.

"Americans have asked much of its veterans and in every case, the veterans have answered because the cause was just," Olson said.