President Obama has paid tribute to US envoy to Libya Chris Stevens "as everything America could want in an ambassador" as his body and three of his embassy staff were returned to US soil following the attack on the consulate in Benghazi.
Secretary Clinton said America remained the "greatest force for peace [and] human dignity the world has ever known" thanks to its overseas diplomats.
"Their work is at the heart of what makes America great and good," she said.
Upon witnessing the bodies of Chris Stevens, Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woodes and Sean Smith returned to Maryland, she urged Americans to carry their memory into the future.
"We will wipe away our tears, stiffen our spines and face the future undaunted," she said.
Mrs Clinton said Americans would continue to work "together, helping and protecting one another, just like Sean, Tyrone, Glen and Chris always did."
President Obama vowed to do everything possible to protect Americans overseas as he honoured the four killed in the Libyan consulate attack.
Both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney know how they respond to the spread of violence across the Arab world could affect their election hopes.
Mitt Romney has attempted to score cheap, tawdry political points in the wake of the worst attack on the US diplomatic service in decades.