Vice President Joe Biden tearfully struggled to control his emotions at the public memorial service for his son Beau Biden, held inside the Delaware Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., on Thursday, June 4.
The service was attended by over a thousand mourners, who filed out to pay their respects to the Vice President and his family following Beau’s death this past Saturday at age 46. The VP announced his son’s passing in a statement released by the White House on May 30.
“It is with broken hearts that Hallie, Hunter, Ashley, Jill and I announce the passing of our husband, brother and son, Beau, after he battled brain cancer with the same integrity, courage and strength he demonstrated every day of his life,” the statement read. “The entire Biden family is saddened beyond words. We know that Beau’s spirit will live on in all of us—especially through his brave wife, Hallie, and two remarkable children, Natalie and Hunter.”
On Thursday, the VP, his wife Jill, Beau’s wife Hallie and his two children, as well as other members of the Biden family were unequivocally emotional as guards carried his flag-draped casket through the state Senate chamber.
Beau, who held the position of Delaware’s attorney general for eight years, was diagnosed with brain cancer in October 2013. The state’s governor, Jack Markell, noted of Beau on Thursday that he “made Delaware a better place for us all.”
“The Biden family is Delaware’s family,” Gov. Markell continued (via the Wilmington News Journal). “Know that we grieve with you.”
A funeral mass will be held this Saturday in Wilmington, Del., where President Barack Obama will be delivering a eulogy. He will be accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama.
