As Americans across the globe remembered generations of the nation's fallen this Memorial Day, President Obama and Mitt Romney joined the observances -- taking time out from the campaign to praise the contributions of the country's servicemembers. Judy Woodruff reports.

In other news Monday, President Obama paid his Memorial Day respects at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery outside Chicago, and American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan paused to remember fallen colleagues.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates nominated Wednesday Gen. David Petraeus to head the U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Military experts analyze the change in role and what it means for U.S. military efforts in the region.