...to grieving families on Memorial Day"
"Never forget the price our soldiers paid to protect American democracy," President Joe Biden said Monday morning in his Memorial Day speech.
The comments were made after Biden attended a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia.
"We must never forget the life these flags, flowers and marble marks represent," Biden said. "Mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, sisters, spouses, friends and Americans. Every year we remind ourselves of it, but every year it doesn't get easier."
Biden's late son Bo was a major in the Army National Guard in Iraq in 2008. Tuesday, the day after Memorial Day, marks eight years since Beau Biden died of cancer.
Mr. Biden admitted in his speech that his son did not die on the battlefield, but said First Lady and First Lady Jill Biden was proud of Mr. Beau Biden's accomplishments.
"Father, I can still hear you saying that's my duty," he said. "Duty. That's the norm my son lived by, and everything you lost lived by it."
Biden said he still feels the pain of losing him "every day." The fires are particularly intense on Memorial Day, he added.
First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Harris' husband Douglas Emhoff also attended the traditional 155th National Day wreath laying ceremony. Before the wreath of flowers and red, white, and blue ribbons, he thought for a moment, then bowed his head and prayed.
According to a news release from Arlington National Cemetery, a 155th National Day wreath and mourning program was held Monday to honor America's fallen soldiers.
"To all those here and across the country who are mourning the loss of loved ones who wore uniforms, to our Gold Star families, and to all those whose loved ones are still missing and missing. "I know how hard it is," Biden said. "It could tear a black hole in the middle of your chest." "The pain is still real, it's still raw."
