And two dozen U.S. veterans belonging to ethnic minorities have been awarded the Medal of Honor after long being denied because of racism. The veterans from Vietnam, Korea and World War II had gone unrecognized for heroic acts because of the racial biases of their commanders. Just three members of the group of 22 were alive to attend Tuesday’s ceremony. President Obama honored their service in what he called an effort “to set the record straight.”

President Obama: “For their gallantry under fire, each of these soldiers was long ago recognized with the Army’s second-highest award, the Distinguished Service Cross. But ask their fellow veterans, ask their families, and they’ll tell you that their extraordinary deeds merited the highest recognition. And today we have the chance to set the record straight.”