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Barack Obama delivers tearful eulogy at Beau Biden funeral in Delaware Barack Obama delivers tearful eulogy at Beau Biden funeral in Delaware
(35 minutes later)
Related: Beau Biden, son of US vice-president Joe Biden, dies of brain cancer at 46Related: Beau Biden, son of US vice-president Joe Biden, dies of brain cancer at 46
President Barack Obama on Saturday addressed a full Catholic Mass honoring Beau Biden in Wilmington, Delaware.President Barack Obama on Saturday addressed a full Catholic Mass honoring Beau Biden in Wilmington, Delaware.
Vice-president Joe Biden’s two surviving children – Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden – also spoke to remember their brother, who died of brain cancer last week at the age of 46. Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay, one of Beau Biden’s favourite bands, was scheduled to sing. Vice-president Joe Biden’s two surviving children – Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden – also spoke to remember their brother, who died of brain cancer last week at the age of 46.
After delivering the eulogy, Obama embraced Joe Biden warmly at the front of the church, and kissed him on the cheek.After delivering the eulogy, Obama embraced Joe Biden warmly at the front of the church, and kissed him on the cheek.
Beau Biden “did not have a mean bone in his body” and was the consummate public servant and family man, Obama said.Beau Biden “did not have a mean bone in his body” and was the consummate public servant and family man, Obama said.
With tears in his eyes and an occasional slight tremor in his voice, Obama said Biden had “shoulders broad enough not only to bear your own burdens but the burdens of others”.With tears in his eyes and an occasional slight tremor in his voice, Obama said Biden had “shoulders broad enough not only to bear your own burdens but the burdens of others”.
Obama attended the funeral with his wife Michelle, their daughters Malia and Sasha, and his mother-in-law Mary Robinson. The president said the Biden family “rule” was that, before help was even asked for, they would be there for each other. Addressing Beau’s widow, Hallie, and their young children Natalie and Hunter, he promised that the Obamas would now be there for them. Obama attended the funeral with his wife, Michelle, their daughters, Malia and Sasha, and his mother-in-law, Mary Robinson. The president said the Biden family “rule” was that, before help was even sought, family members would be there for each other. Addressing Beau’s widow, Hallie, and their young children Natalie and Hunter, he promised that the Obamas would now be there for them.
“Beau’s passing has left a gaping hole in the world,” the president said. “Hallie, I can only imagine the burdens you have be forced to bear. As you were there for him, we will be there for you. We have become part of the Biden clan, we are honorary members now and the Biden family rules apply. We are always here for you, my word as a ‘Biden’.” “Beau’s passing has left a gaping hole in the world,” the president said. “Hallie, I can only imagine the burdens you have been forced to bear. As you were there for him, we will be there for you. We have become part of the Biden clan. We are honorary members now and the Biden family rules apply. We are always here for you – my word as a Biden.”
Obama praised Beau Biden for his service as attorney general of Delaware and as an officer in the national guard and with the US army in Iraq.Obama praised Beau Biden for his service as attorney general of Delaware and as an officer in the national guard and with the US army in Iraq.
“We are here to grieve with you but more importantly we are here because we love you,” he told the congregation at the packed Roman Catholic church, St Anthony of Padua, where Biden’s coffin had earlier been carried in draped in the Stars and Stripes as his family walked slowly behind it. “We are here to grieve with you but more importantly we are here because we love you,” he told the congregation at the packed Roman Catholic church, St Anthony of Padua, where Biden’s coffin had earlier been carried in draped in the stars and stripes as his family walked slowly behind it.
General Ray Odierno, the former top US commander in Iraq, also spoke.General Ray Odierno, the former top US commander in Iraq, also spoke.
“I was able to witness first-hand Beau’s character,” Odierno said. “He understood the importance of maintaining trust with his fellow soldiers and with everyone he came into contact with and he did it just by smiling and listening. “I was able to witness first-hand Beau’s character,” Odierno said. “He understood the importance of maintaining trust with his fellow soldiers and with everyone he came into contact with, and he did it just by smiling and listening.
“He cared deeply for his fellow human beings and always treated everyone with respect. He had a natural charisma that few people possess. People naturally wanted to follow him and he was selfless to a fault.”“He cared deeply for his fellow human beings and always treated everyone with respect. He had a natural charisma that few people possess. People naturally wanted to follow him and he was selfless to a fault.”
Odierno said Biden would tell him over and over again “I’m just another soldier”, but the general said he thought the brave soldier might one day lead his country.Odierno said Biden would tell him over and over again “I’m just another soldier”, but the general said he thought the brave soldier might one day lead his country.
Odierno concluded by awarding Beau Biden the legion of merit. The citation was read to the congregation, praising his “exceptionally meritorious service and his extraordinary integrity and leadership throughout his 11 years as an officer”.Odierno concluded by awarding Beau Biden the legion of merit. The citation was read to the congregation, praising his “exceptionally meritorious service and his extraordinary integrity and leadership throughout his 11 years as an officer”.
The Biden family had arrived at around 10.40am. A pipe and drum band and mounted members of law enforcement in dress uniform advanced before the hearse.The Biden family had arrived at around 10.40am. A pipe and drum band and mounted members of law enforcement in dress uniform advanced before the hearse.
Vice-President Biden, who lost his wife and daughter in a car crash four decades ago, wore dark glasses and put a protective hand around the shoulder of his daughter-in-law. His other hand held the hand of Beau and Hallie’s elder child, Natalie, 10, who stood next to Joe Biden’s wife, Jill. Hallie Biden held the hand of the couple’s younger child, Hunter, nine. Vice-president Biden, who lost his wife and daughter in a car crash four decades ago, wore dark glasses and put a protective hand around the shoulder of his daughter-in-law. His other hand held that of Beau and Hallie’s elder child, Natalie, 10, who stood next to Joe Biden’s wife, Jill. Hallie Biden held the hand of the couple’s younger child, Hunter, nine.
Joe Biden bowed his head as his son’s coffin was lifted from the hearse. Then he placed his right hand over his heart. The family slowly and solemnly followed the casket into the packed church as the congregation sang the entrance hymn, Bring Him Home.Joe Biden bowed his head as his son’s coffin was lifted from the hearse. Then he placed his right hand over his heart. The family slowly and solemnly followed the casket into the packed church as the congregation sang the entrance hymn, Bring Him Home.
Seating for more than 1,000 was all occupied, with other mourners standing to the sides and back of the church. Attendees had begun lining up outside the church at 4.30am. The line stretched for five blocks. The previous day, dignitaries and members of the public had waited for five hours for the viewing of Beau Biden and to offer condolences to Joe Biden, who personally greeted every mourner.Seating for more than 1,000 was all occupied, with other mourners standing to the sides and back of the church. Attendees had begun lining up outside the church at 4.30am. The line stretched for five blocks. The previous day, dignitaries and members of the public had waited for five hours for the viewing of Beau Biden and to offer condolences to Joe Biden, who personally greeted every mourner.
Beau Biden died almost two years after being diagnosed with brain cancer. On Saturday, the Reverend Leo O’Donovan, president emeritus of Georgetown University in Washington DC, paused for several moments before his opening remarks.
On Saturday, the Reverend Leo O’Donovan, president emeritus of Georgetown University in Washington, DC, paused for several moments before his opening remarks.
“Dearest Hallie,” he began, quietly. The couple married in 2002. “How sad. How very, very sad. It’s heartbreaking. When I heard the news, I wept. This great young man, this splendid son, this devoted, deeply loving father, this patriotic public servant, gone, gone, gone.”“Dearest Hallie,” he began, quietly. The couple married in 2002. “How sad. How very, very sad. It’s heartbreaking. When I heard the news, I wept. This great young man, this splendid son, this devoted, deeply loving father, this patriotic public servant, gone, gone, gone.”
After the funeral, President Obama was due to fly to Germany to attend the G7 summit. Ashley Biden spoke of the “tragic honor” of accompanying her brother to his biweekly chemotherapy sessions on Fridays, following his diagnosis in August 2013.
“His will to live was greater than most, but I think he knew this day would come,” she said.
Hunter Biden said that on Saturday 30 May, the whole family gathered around the dying man’s bed. Each hugged Beau, Hunter said, and told him over and over again how much he was loved.
“I held his hand and he took his last breath,” Hunter Biden said. “And I knew that I was loved and his hand would never leave mine.”
The death of Beau Biden is the first time a sitting US president or vice-president has lost one of their own children since John F Kennedy’s son Patrick died just two days after his birth in 1963.
The last public address was a musical performance by Chris Martin, the lead singer of the band Coldplay, of which Beau Biden was said to be a big fan. Martin, wearing a black waistcoat and tie over a white shirt, sang a short song, Til Kingdom Come, accompanying himself on the acoustic guitar and with the church organ playing. He then embraced the Biden family.
After the funeral, which lasted more than two and a half hours, President Obama was due to fly to Germany to attend the G7 summit.