President Joe Biden paid his respects to fallen service members on Memorial Day by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The commander in chief, 81, honored veterans, his late son Beau and the Americans who landed in Normandy on D-Day ahead of the 80th anniversary of the operation next week.
Biden was joined by Vice President Kamala Harris and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at Arlington National Cemetery for the annual ceremony before delivering remarks to an audience of current and former service members.
Austin participated in the annual tradition just three days after he had to temporarily leave his duties to undergo a medical procedure at Walter Reed Medical Center.
It came as millions of people across the country paid tribute to the men and women who have served and fought for their country.
Donald Trump marked Memorial Day with a Truth Social post that rips into the “human scum” who are “working so hard to destroy our once great country.”
President Joe Biden paid his respects to fallen service members on Memorial Day by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
He wrote: ‘Happy Memorial Day to everyone, including the human scum who are working so hard to destroy our once great country, and to the radical left, the Trump-hating federal judge in New York who presided over, get this, TWO trials separated, which awarded a woman, whom he had never met before (a quick handshake at a celebrity event, 25 years ago, doesn’t count!), 91 MILLION DOLLARS for “DEFAMATION.”
“She didn’t know when the alleged event occurred – sometime in the 1990s – she never filed a police report, she didn’t have to produce the “dress” she threatened me with (it was negative!), and she sang My Praises in the first half of their CNN interview with Alison Cooper, but they changed their tone in the second half: Wow, I wonder why (UNDER APPEAL!).
‘A jury dropped the rape charge! Or Arthur Engoron, the crazy New York state judge who fined me almost half a billion dollars (UNDER APPEAL) for DOING NOTHING WRONG, used a Statute that had never been used before, gave me NO JURY, Mar-a -Lago for 18,000,000 dollars. Trade!’
The former president later took a more somber tone, writing, “Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13.’
Biden reflected on the loss of his own son Beau while delivering remarks honoring military members in Arlington Auditorium.
‘I know how difficult it can be. It takes you back to the exact moment you received that phone call, heard that knock on the door, or held the hand when you took your last breath.
‘I know it hurts.
‘This week marks nine years since I lost my son, boyfriend. Our losses are not the same. He did not die on the battlefield. He was a victim of cancer as well as being a burn pit.
Biden said he remembers Beau’s pride in his sense of “duty.”
The commander in chief, 81, was joined by Vice President Kamala Harris and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at Arlington National Cemetery for the annual ceremony.
Donald Trump marked Memorial Day with a Truth Social post that rips into the “human scum” who are “working so hard to destroy our once great country.”
Austin (right) participated in the annual tradition just three days after he had to temporarily leave his duties to undergo a medical procedure at Walter Reed Medical Center.
Biden honored veterans, his late son Beau and honored the Americans who landed in Normandy on D-Day ahead of the 80th anniversary of the operation next week.
The trio bows their heads as a Marine wears the crown during the ceremony.
Biden reflected on the loss of his own son Beau while delivering remarks honoring military members in Arlington Auditorium.
During the solemn ceremony, Biden honored veterans who have served the United States throughout history
“That was the code my son lived by and the creed you all lived by,” he said, referring to the veterans in the audience.
‘The creed that generations of service members have followed in battle on the grounds around us for fallen heroes in every major conflict in history.
‘To defend our independence, preserve our union, defeat fascism, build powerful alliances, forge the fires of two world wars.
‘Members of the greatest generation who will turn 80 next week went to the beaches of Normandy and liberated a continent and literally saved the world.
“Others who opposed communism in Korea and Vietnam.”
‘They made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan and Iraq. Who signed up to defeat terrorists and protect our homeland after 9/11.
‘Decade after decade, tour after tour, these warriors fought for our freedom and the freedom of others.
‘Because freedom has never been guaranteed. Every generation has to earn it, fight for it, defend it in battle.
‘Between the greed of a few and the rights of many. It matters.
‘Our democracy is more than just a system of government. It is the very soul of America.
This week marks nine years since Biden’s son Beau died of brain cancer. He was an army captain exposed to toxic burn pits.
Families visit Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, where service members who died fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq have been buried.
Kim Hoan Nguyen of Falls Church, Virginia, originally from Vietnam, places ritual offerings according to Vietnamese tradition at the grave of her son, Marine Corporal Binh N Le, who died serving in Iraq in 2004.
Two men and a girl walk among the headstones in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery.
‘This is how we have been able to constantly adapt over the centuries and why we have always emerged from every challenge stronger than when we entered it and how we come together as a united nation.
“And just as our fallen heroes have kept the utmost faith in our country and democracy, we must keep faith in them.”
Trump will return to the Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday to begin closing arguments in the hush money trial.
He spent the weekend campaigning with a speech at the Libertarian Party Convention and then an appearance at a NASCAR race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Biden spent Saturday at West Point speaking to graduates at the military academy’s graduation ceremony.
