US president Joe Biden visited Arlington National Cemetery on Monday to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for their country by laying flowers and delivering the annual Memorial Day address.
Statements by Joe Biden
In memory of the American soldiers who died. In his brief remarks, Biden praised the fallen as “bound by a common commitment, not to a place or a person or a president, but to an idea of America.”
“It was reminiscent of the president’s commencement address at West Point on Saturday, in which he told graduates that they are the guardians of democracy and that they are committed to the Constitution, not political parties or the president.” He said he swore an oath to the United States of America – to all its enemies, foreign and domestic.
Joe Biden’s Active Duty
Earlier in the day, Biden hosted a Memorial Day breakfast at the White House attended by government officials, military leaders, veterans, and members of so-called Gold Star families who lost immediate family members in military action. .
The Memorial Day ceremony is the latest in a series of events in which Mr. Biden has focused on active duty and veterans, including Saturday’s commencement address at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.
Next week, the President will travel to Normandy, France, to attend the 80th anniversary commemoration of the D-Day invasion. He is expected to deliver an important speech about the heroism of Allied forces in World War II and the threats to democracy that continue today.
Thursday marks nine years since the death of Biden’s son Beau, who served in Iraq as a member of the Delaware National Guard. Beau died of glioblastoma. Glioblastoma is a very aggressive brain tumor that his father believes may have been caused by exposure to military burn scars in Iraq.
Each memorial reminds Joe Biden of his son
Each Memorial Day brings back memories of Biden`s son, Beau Biden, who served in Iraq in the Delaware Air National Guard and died of brain cancer in 2015.
‘‘This week marks nine years since we lost our son Beau. ‘‘ President supports veterans exposed to toxic substances while on duty continued to praise the progress of the PACT method. Earlier, Biden hosted a Memorial Day breakfast for veterans at the White House.
On Friday, Biden issued a proclamation recommitting to honoring the memory of our fallen soldiers ‘‘by continuing our efforts to build a more perfect union. ‘‘
‘‘We are the only nation in the world founded on the idea that all people are created equal and deserve equal treatment throughout their lives,‘‘ the presidential proclamation states.
Biden laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in a solemn ceremony, attended by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
Memorial Day ceremonies have been marked by Biden’s focus on current and retired military, including his commencement which was addressed on Saturday (May 26) at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.
