Mourners paid tribute Thursday in Delaware to Beau Biden, the 46-year-old former state attorney general and late son of Vice President Joseph R. Biden.
At a service in the state Senate chamber in Dover, the vice president shed tears as Delaware Gov. Jack Markell said of Beau Biden, “Never has a son’s love been so genuine and so deep.”
The younger Biden, who died Saturday after a battle with brain cancer, is lying in honor in a flag-draped casket in the state Senate chamber. Mr. Markell called him “a model for what a public servant should be.”
“He cared deeply about the people of Delaware,” the governor said. “We the people of Delaware loved Beau, if possible, even more. To the Biden family, we cannot begin to understand the depths of your loss. Know that we grieve with you.”
In addition to the vice president and his wife Jill, mourners included Beau Biden’s widow, Hallie, and children Hunter and Natalie; New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo; U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power, former state Supreme Court justice Myron Steele and various elected state officials.
The vice president arrived for the service in a light drizzle, wearing aviator sunglasses.
During the service, Beau Biden was awarded posthumously with the Delaware Distinguished Service Medal and the Conspicuous Service Cross for heroism, meritorious service and outstanding achievement Rl2 — the highest award the state of Delaware can present. Mr. Beau served in the Delaware National Guard for nearly 12 years, beginning in 2003.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Delaware on Saturday; President Obama will deliver the eulogy.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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