WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday made their first joint look since his election defeat after they noticed Veterans Day collectively by laying a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
The couple then went to the cemetery’s memorial amphitheater, the place Biden honored the service and sacrifice of America’s navy veterans – together with those that paid the final word worth and their households – throughout what was the final time wherein he spoke there as commander in chief of the US navy. .
“It has been the best honor of my life, to steer you, to serve you, to look after you, to defend you, simply as you’ve gotten defended us, era after era after era,” Biden mentioned. “You are the best combating power, and that is no exaggeration, the most effective combating power within the historical past of the world.”
Biden introduced that the Department of Veterans Affairs is increasing the sorts of most cancers coated the PACT law, laws he signed to broaden well being providers for veterans who served on navy bases the place poisonous smoke billowed from “burn pits” that incinerated rubbish and different waste.
The president opened his temporary speech by saying that America’s “actually sacred obligation” is to organize these it sends into hurt’s means and maintain them after they return residence, or not.
“To all navy households, to all who’ve a liked one nonetheless lacking or lacking, to all Americans grieving the lack of a liked one who wore the uniform, Jill and I would like you to know that we see you, we thanks and can by no means cease working to satisfy our sacred obligation to you and your loved ones,” he mentioned.
The president’s son, Beau Biden, served within the Delaware Army National Guard and deployed to Iraq in 2008 for a couple of 12 months. He died of brain cancer in 2015 on the age of 46.
Biden and Harris seemed solemn as they approached the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, accompanied by Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough. They positioned their fingers over their hearts because the nationwide anthem performed earlier than the wreath-laying, and once more afterward to the sound of “Taps.”
The president and first woman hosted veterans and members of the navy group on the White House earlier than they, Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, departed for the hallowed cemetery throughout the Potomac River from Washington.
It was the primary time Biden and Harris had been seen collectively in public because the vp misplaced final week’s election to former President Donald Trump, though Biden had spoken to each Trump and Harris by telephone. The president will host the president-elect on the White House on Wednesday.
Before leaving the cemetery, Harris and Emhoff visited a grave. The White House has not mentioned who’s buried there.
After the Veterans Day observance, Biden flew residence to Delaware to attend the disclosing of a plaque in Claymont honoring his late son. Biden additionally visited Beau’s grave in Wilmington.
Associated Press author Ayanna Alexander in Delaware contributed to this report.
