00:00At this time, please welcome U.S. Representative Sarah McBride.
00:10Good morning, everyone.
00:14Commissioner Lewis and to all of the commissioners and every office, every Delawarean who made today possible,
00:21thank you very much for bringing us together.
00:23Can we give them another round of applause for always organizing such a powerful, powerful ceremony?
00:32It is an honor to join you all today as your new representative in Congress.
00:38While I have joined for this ceremony before alongside my former colleagues in the Delaware General Assembly,
00:44it is a privilege to be before you all today representing the greatest state in the Union in Congress
00:50and to have the privilege of speaking before you today.
00:54It's a privilege to join so many friends.
00:58General Vavala, General Burton, thank you for your service.
01:03Mr. President, thank you for joining us today,
01:08for setting the bar in public service for Delawareans.
01:13I woke up today recognizing that this week is a solemn week.
01:21This ceremony is a solemn ceremony.
01:23But my heart was particularly heavy as I woke up and realized what you knew,
01:31which is that today is the 10th day, 10th year since we lost Major Beau Biden to cancer.
01:39A cancer that many of us believe he developed because of the toxic burn pits in Iraq
01:45that he was exposed to during his service and his bravery overseas.
01:51My heart was heavy as someone who learned from Beau,
01:57who worked from Beau,
01:59who was mentored by Beau,
02:01whose service today is possible because of Beau.
02:04And I hope that the love that you feel today from all of us,
02:11the fact that we feel just a fraction of the sorrow that I know you and Hunt feel today,
02:18that the entire Biden family feels today,
02:20I hope that carries you forward today and every day.
02:24because we, Mr. President,
02:26we know what you have told many of us
02:30when talking about our relationships with Beau
02:33and sharing with us that you believe that Beau is proud of us.
02:37We know that Beau is proud of you.
02:41And we are grateful to you for raising a son of such dignity and grace,
02:46goodness and sacrifice,
02:50someone like Beau.
02:51And, Mr. President,
02:54you have the unenviable
02:56moniker of a parent
03:00who has had to bury a child.
03:03It's a responsibility that you share with
03:06the Gold Star families
03:08who we honor today.
03:11And to all of the Gold Star families,
03:14you carry with you
03:16the courage
03:17of those left behind.
03:19Please know that your loved one's service,
03:23your loved one's bravery,
03:26lives on in you.
03:29They live on in you.
03:32They live on in the legacies that they leave behind
03:35in our communities,
03:36in our values,
03:37and in every act of freedom
03:39that those of us here under this tent
03:42and millions beyond exercise
03:44every single day
03:45because of their service
03:47and because of their sacrifice.
03:50In so many ways,
03:51in so many ways,
03:56Delaware understands that service and sacrifice
03:59more deeply than perhaps any other state.
04:02because we have a larger percentage
04:06of veterans in Delaware
04:07than many other states.
04:09Because of the valor of the service members,
04:12the veterans,
04:13our National Guard
04:14that is on full display
04:16here in Delaware
04:17and across the country.
04:19Because of the solemn responsibilities
04:21that our service members
04:23of the Dover Air Force Base
04:24perform all too often
04:25with the dignified transfer.
04:29Delaware understands that service
04:31and sacrifice better than most.
04:35And it is why all of us are here.
04:38Because that service here in Delaware,
04:40it runs deep.
04:41And it runs
04:43through every single person
04:45who was here
04:47who served their nation.
04:51Individuals
04:51like retired Lieutenant Ray Fermani.
04:56Someone who I first met
04:58through General Vavala.
05:00Ray, your presence here
05:02is more than just symbolic.
05:06It is living history.
05:08And it reminds us of a truth
05:10that we cannot forget
05:11as we gather here
05:12at Memorial Day
05:14to honor those
05:16who gave their last full measure
05:17of devotion to this nation.
05:20You remind us
05:22that our freedom is not free.
05:25Your service was in defense
05:27of democracy.
05:30It was in defense of the values
05:32that make this nation great.
05:36And as we lose more and more
05:39of the greatest generation,
05:40as those with a living memory
05:43of the lessons learned
05:44as you took on tyranny
05:47and defended democracy
05:48for the 20th century,
05:50you remind us
05:51that history is not cumulative.
05:54Like freedom,
05:55it's not something
05:56that we inherit passively.
05:58It's something we must actively learn
06:01and protect
06:02and pass forward.
06:03It's our job in this moment
06:06to learn from you, Ray,
06:09to learn from those remaining members
06:12of the greatest generation
06:14the lessons that they fought for
06:16and in many cases died for.
06:19It's the lessons of veterans,
06:21the tolls of war
06:23and the urgency for peace
06:25and democracy
06:25that we inherit
06:27and we must live
06:29and embody every day.
06:30And that's what Memorial Day
06:31demands of every elected official here.
06:35For decades,
06:37Senator Tom Carper
06:38made Delaware's veterans
06:40a cornerstone
06:41of his public service.
06:43He did it not only
06:45because of his experience
06:46as a service member
06:48and as a veteran,
06:49but because he understands
06:51what President Biden talked to.
06:54That we as a nation
06:55and as elected officials
06:56have one truly sacred promise.
07:00He didn't just talk
07:01about that support,
07:03he delivered it.
07:04And now as he has passed the baton
07:07to leaders who are sitting here
07:10and before me,
07:12all of us understand
07:14that we must uphold his legacy
07:16with the same determination
07:18and purpose.
07:20As your new member of Congress,
07:22know that constituent services
07:24are at the heart of my office.
07:27That's not a slogan.
07:29It's a promise.
07:30And if you are a veteran
07:32or a family member of one
07:34and you need help with benefits
07:35or care or navigating the system,
07:38know that our office is here for you.
07:41And I mean it.
07:42Do not hesitate to reach out.
07:45We will answer your call
07:46because we understand
07:48that we must be there
07:49for those who have answered
07:51the call to serve this nation.
07:53President Lincoln
07:54President Lincoln once charged us,
08:02quote,
08:02any nation that does not honor
08:04its heroes
08:05will not long endure.
08:07So let us remember
08:09that charge.
08:11Let us remember
08:12the sacrifice of those
08:14who are no longer with us
08:15and the service of those
08:16who we are privileged
08:18to see before us today.
08:20Let us honor
08:21and above all,
08:24let us honor that service
08:25with action.
08:27May God bless the fallen.
08:29May God bless their families.
08:30And may God bless
08:31the United States of America.
08:32Thank you all very much.
08:33applause
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