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Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Biden's first public remarks since cancer diagnosis honor Gold Star families
Former President Joe Biden on Friday honored fallen service members and Gold Star families at a Memorial Day service in Delaware, marking his first public remarks since announcing he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. "We come together and remember the debt we owe to the American military," Biden said at the event, sponsored by the Delaware Commission of Veteran Affairs. "The military is a solid spine, the spine of our nation," he said. "Our troops, our veterans, our military families, and our Gold Star families in particular. Only around 1% of all Americans defend 99% of us — 1%. Just 1% of Americans risk the ultimate sacrifice. We owe them so much more than we can ever repay them." Biden Speaks Out For First Time Since Cancer Diagnosis A Gold Star family is the immediate family of service members who died while serving in the line of duty. For the Biden family, the day is deeply personal as May 30 marks 10 years since Biden's son Beau died of brain cancer. He served in the Delaware Army National Guard for more than 10 years, completing a tour in Iraq where he earned the Bronze Star for his service, and became the state's attorney general before his death. Read On The Fox News App Biden said that his son's proudest moment was wearing his uniform and said appearing at the event eased the pain of the loss of his son. He also offered some words of encouragement to others suffering loss as well. Political World Reacts To Former President Biden's 'Aggressive' Cancer Diagnosis: 'Incredibly Difficult' "Everyone who came here today to grieve, who was grieving in your heart, please know you're not alone," Biden said. "You'll never be alone. And your loved one will never be forgotten. Period." Biden said that Beau Biden's son, Hunter, 19, was present at the event, while he reminisced about attending the exact same Memorial Day event as a senator with Beau Biden around the same age. Obama Reacts To Biden Diagnosis: 'Nobody Has Done More To Find Breakthrough Treatments For Joe' The former president also said that politics has become divided, but that the sacrifices of those in the military to defend democracy should unite everyone. "Our troops don't wear a uniform that says I'm a Democrat or a Republican, says I'm an American," Biden said. "I'm an American. That's who I am." Biden announced on May 18 that he had been diagnosed with an "aggressive form" of prostate cancer. The former president's office later said he had never received a prostate cancer diagnosis. The announcement came amid heightened scrutiny about Biden's mental fitness for office, following the publication of multiple books this year chronicling the deterioration of Biden's mental faculties. Likewise, leaked audio recordings of Biden's October 2023 interview with former special counsel Robert Hur were released in May, showing that Biden struggled to not slur his words and even appeared to forget the year his son article source: Biden's first public remarks since cancer diagnosis honor Gold Star families
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tuskegee Airmen honored by Delaware National Guard in 2nd annual commemoration
The Brief Keeping an important part of history alive, the Delaware Army National Guard hosted the second annual Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day in New Castle County. The expo celebrates the brave men who broke down racial barriers during World War II, while inspiring the next generation of aviators. WILMINGTON, Del. - The Tuskegee Airmen were the first Black military pilots in U.S. history, breaking racial barriers and proving their excellence in the skies during World War II. Legacy commemorated "So many of them now are long gone and we are losing more every day but we want to keep that history alive, that legacy they established," says Andre Swygert, the Chapter Secretary for John H Porter First State Tuskegee Airmen Inc. Part of keeping that legacy and history alive is spreading the word of the Tuskegee Airmen to the youth. Honoring heroes The organization Black Women in Aviation helped put together this commemoration. "We are honoring the past, embracing this present and we have these young people here, we are going to push forth and inspire the future," says Samantha Mitchell, the Founder and President of Black Women in Aviation. A large number of kids were present to listen to the guest speakers, enjoy virtual simulations of being a pilot, and going inside a number of military planes. What they're saying Netesha Herbert of Bear, Delaware decided to bring her daughters to the event. "I thought this would be really cool. I get to learn history about the Tuskegee Airmen and expose my kids to things that they wouldn't have been exposed to otherwise," says Herbert. The goal of the event is to make sure the Tuskegee Airmen will forever be recognized for their trailblazing efforts in the U.S. military. "It's because we're having so much history erased, it's good to hear it firsthand. We don't know where else and when you'll be able to read it, where you should be able to read it so, it was really important to me to educate and that's why we're here," says Denise Jenkins of New Castle, Delaware, who brought her grandkids. During the ceremony, decedents of Tuskegee Airmen were recognized with special plaques.
