As the U.S. Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel had some public speaking engagements on this Veterans Day, causing many who saw him to wonder what was wrong with his cheek.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel arrives for a Veterans Day ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC, November 11, 2014. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

Hagel watches Vice President Joe Biden participate in a Full Honor Wreath-laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns during Veterans Day observations at Arlington National Cemetery. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

It turns out, he had a "minor kitchen mishap."

Re: bandage on Hagel's face, defense official tells @ckubeNBC the Secretary was involved in a "minor kitchen mishap" pic.twitter.com/AUELgFJdhl

— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) November 11, 2014

While at the Vietnam War Memorial Wall Hagel talked about the help needed by modern war veterans.

"The entire 9/11 generation volunteered to serve at a time of war, and they have a strong desire to continue making a difference in the world whether by staying in the military, finding a job that engages them every day, pursuing another outlet for public service, or just being involved in their local communities," Hagel said, according to The Hill. "They don’t need a handout or a hand up — they just want the opportunity to continue proving themselves. It falls on us to make sure they get that opportunity.”