Biden’s address came on the six-year anniversary of his son Beau’s death. “For those who mourn a loved one today, Jill and I have some idea how you’re feeling,” Biden said.  Beau Biden died of brain cancer at the age of 46 in 2015, and was a judge advocate general who served two tours in Iraq with the Delaware Army National Guard where he achieved the rank of major. He travelled to the war zone over 25 times.

Biden was accompanied at Arlington National Cemetery by first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, second gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark A. Milley. The ceremony took place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the cemetery, where 400,000 of the nation’s fallen service members and veterans are buried.