US President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris on Monday made their first joint appearance since her election loss when they observed Veterans Day together by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
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Biden honoured the service and sacrifice of America’s military veterans, including those who paid the ultimate price, and their families, during what was his final time speaking at the cemetery’s memorial amphitheatre in his capacity as commander in chief of the US military.
“It’s been the greatest honour of my life, to lead you, to serve you, to care for you, to defend you, just as you defended us, generation after generation after generation,” Biden said. “You are the greatest fighting force, and this is not hyperbole, the finest fighting force in the history of the world.”
He reminisced about trips to US military installations around the world, and to such historic military sites as Valley Forge and Gettysburg in Pennsylvania.
Biden also announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs is expanding the types of cancers covered under the PACT Act, legislation he signed to expand healthcare services for veterans who served at military bases where toxic smoke billowed from “burn pits”.
More than 1 million veterans and families have been helped under the law, he said.
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The president opened his brief remarks by saying that America’s “truly sacred obligation” is to prepare those it sends into harm’s way and care for them when they come home, or do not.