Biden honors late son Beau in somber Memorial Day message: ‘The hurt is still real’

President Biden addressed a packed Arlington National Cemetery to mark Memorial Day on Monday, making somber remembrance of members of the armed forces killed in combat.

“We gather at this sacred place at this solemn moment to remember and to honor the sacrifice of the hundreds of thousands of women and men have given their lives to this nation,” Biden said. “Each one, literally, a link in the chain of honor stretching back to our founding days, each one bound by common commitment not to a place, not to a person, not to a president, but to an idea unlike any idea in human history: the idea of the United States of America.”

The president also remarked on the death of his own son, Beau Biden, who died in 2015 from brain cancer believed to be caused by exposure to toxic chemicals during his service in the Iraq War. 

“I know it hurts,” Biden told the families of fallen veterans. “The hurt is still real. Still raw. This week marks nine years since I lost my son Beau.”

“The pain of his loss is with me every day, as it is with you,” he said. “Still sharp. Still clear. But so is the pride I feel in the service. As if I can still hear him saying, ‘It’s my duty, Dad. It’s my duty.’”

Biden was joined at Arlington by first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Harris, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown Jr.

The president used the speech to remark on his commitment to veterans, holding up his record on passing laws to favor service members and their families.

“Since I took office, I’ve signed over 30 bipartisan laws supporting servicemen, veterans and their families and caregivers and survivors,” he said. “Last year, VA delivered more benefits and process more claims than ever in our history.”

“I’ve long said we have many obligations as a nation,” he continued. “We only have one truly sacred obligation, prepare those we send to the battle and to take care of their families when they come home, and when they don’t.”

Dozens of congressional leaders gave similar remarks in posts on social media Monday, the 156th observance of the day, with statements of remembrance and gratitude.

Biden’s remarks are a stark difference from his general election rival, former President Trump. Immediately following a Truth Social post with a graphic honoring the fallen, Trump lashed out at Biden and the judges overseeing his legal cases, referring to those who don’t support him as “human scum.”