President Joe Biden flew to joint military air base in southern Virginia Friday to deliver remarks before the Memorial Day remembrances where he called the military the 'spine' of the nation.
Biden visited Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton Roads, Virginia to speak to a small contingent of troops about the sacrifices that military members and their families make. He spoke emotionally for a long period about his late son, Beau, whom he credited with humility and said had to be ordered to display his military medals and achievements.
'Here at Joint Base Langley-Eustis you enable the success of our mission around the world and provide intelligence support and air power. You ensure are soldiers of and airmen are ready trained to deploy ... around the world, including this year adhering to covid-19 safety protocols and quarantine before your ship out,' Biden said.
President Joe Biden called the military the 'spine' of the nation in remarks at Joint Base Langley-Eustis with first lady Jill Biden, in Hampton, Virginia
'You make up 1 percent of the population defending 99 percent of the rest of us. We owe you,' he added.
Biden touted improvements in the nation's response to the coronavirus earlier in Northern Virginia with Gov. Ralph Northam.
He spoke to the troops near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay as he made his way home to Delaware for the long weekend, on a day his team was releasing his detailed budget proposal for 2022.
He recalled flying into Baghdad and asking an air crew how long they had been deployed. Some were on their third and fourth tours, with one on their fifth.
Biden visited the base as he prepared to kick off Memorial Day weekend
He spoke emotionally about his late son Beau Biden, who served in Iraq, and is seen here at Camp Victory on July 4, 2009 near Baghdad
Biden spoke alongside an F-22 aircraft
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden pose for a photo at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Va., Friday, May 28, 2021
He spoke at length about Beau Biden, who was deployed to Iraq as a member of the Delaware Army National Guard.
'I shouldn’t be talking so much about my son, but I’m not going to apologize for it,' he said. He recalled how Beau had asked to have his military uniform display the name Hunter, his mother's maiden name, so as not to call attention to his namesake father, who was serving as vice president at the time.
'No other war have you gone in, served, got back up again and go back again and again and again,' he intoned.
'Once, wiping the blood off a seat of up-armored Humvee is enough to get you focused. Then to saddle up next time and go back? And back again? You're incredible.'
'The country, they owe you. And this time, they're more appreciative.'
Biden also acknowledged people in the audience, including lawmakers, a military vet, and people who may have been apparent family members, one of whom Biden singled out.
'I love those barrettes in your hair. Man I’ll tell you what, look at her she looks like she's 19 years old sitting there like a little lady with her legs crossed,' he said during the acknowledgements.
He spoke of ending the longest war in U.S. history, the Afghanistan war he says will end by September 11th.
He said the U.S. went in 'with the clear purpose to get the people attacked us on 9.11. and to prevent Al Qaeda from using Afghanistan as a base from which to attack America in the future.'
'We achieved that purpose. You achieved that purpose,' in what he called a 'God-forsaken landscape.'
'The greatest threat and likelihood of attack from al-Qaeda or ISIS is not going to be from Afghanistan,' he said. 'It’s going to be from five other regions of the world that have significantly more presence of both al-Qaeda and organizational structures, including ISIS.'
'Our son did not die in Iraq, but he came back went as an incredibly healthy young man and came back with a severe brain tumor, because his hooch was just down wind from those burn pits. I don't know if that's the reason, but when he came home, it was just a matter of how long,' he said. He was referencing burn pits that many U.S. veterans blame for causing a series of ailments linked to their service.
He referenced past conversations with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
'He firmly believes that China before the year 3035 is going to own America, because autocracies can make quick decisions. But America is unique. And all nations in the world, we're the only nation organized based on an idea,' Biden said.
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