John Handzuk, thank you very much for that introduction, for your leadership of the Fleet Reserve Association, and a special thanks to your team for partnering with VA in hosting today’s ceremony. And to all the Fleet Reserve members here this morning, congratulations on your centennial today—100 years serving your fellow shipmates and Marines.
Mr. President, Dr. Biden; Madame Vice President, Mr. Emhoff; Ranking Member Mark Takano; and most importantly, all the Veterans, your families, caregivers, and survivors. Good morning.
In all of America, no place is more sacred than the ground we stand on today here in Arlington and across our country’s National and State Veterans Cemeteries. Here lie in eternal rest presidents and privates, five-star generals, Medal of Honor recipients, and anonymous heroes known only to God. There are Veterans from every American war since the Revolution, including Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan buried in Section 60. Every new grave dug, every benediction murmured, every tear shed, every solemn commitment to this hallowed ground tells the story of our nation’s history.
Yet as I look around, I see something else, too. I see friends, loved ones, and family members of Veterans. Some are sitting next to their Veterans, holding hands, grateful for their presence. Others are here to mourn their lost loved one, buried within these sacred hills overlooking our nation’s capital. Military and Veteran family members may not wear a uniform, but their courage and sacrifices are profound and worthy of all our admiration. Military families endure the hardships of long deployments and training exercises without their loved ones, they pick up their lives and move across the country and the globe when their service member gets a new assignment, and they selflessly care for their injured or ill service member or Veteran when they are unable to care for themselves. We are here today to honor them as well.
I’m thinking of Veteran family members like Angela Bell. Angela’s son, Sean, served 20 years in the Army and died by suicide in 2021. Angela’s dedicated her life to helping other families avoid the same devastation.
Family members like Cindy and Lee Stover, who have cared for their son, Joe, a Navy Veteran, since he was partially paralyzed after a traumatic brain injury. Cindy and Lee show that Veteran caregivers are heroes, too.
I’m thinking of Danny Ingram, Marine Veteran and husband to a fellow Marine—Staff Sergeant Eric Alva, the first Marine seriously injured in the Iraq War. Danny fights for all Veterans and family members, saying that, “like so many military spouses, I do what I can to be supportive of someone who is not only my love, but [also] my hero.”
Or Ellen Gustafson, a proud Navy wife. Ellen brings together Veterans and military family members to volunteer as poll workers, strengthening our nation through public service.
And Jeremy Hilton, Navy Veteran and Air Force spouse. Jeremy has found a new mission, advocating for military children with special needs.
Family members like VA’s Deputy Secretary Tanya Bradsher—Army combat Veteran, spouse, daughter, and granddaughter of combat Veterans, an example of the shared family value of service that is so often passed down from one generation to another.
Of course, we have another military family in attendance today, the surviving mother and father of Iraq combat Veteran Major Beau Biden. President Biden and Dr. Biden have been unrelenting in their advocacy for Veterans and their families. President Biden has spent his entire career fighting like hell for Vets, just as he charged me and my VA teammates to do four years ago. He has continuously demanded that VA deliver more care and more benefits to more Veterans than ever before. Mr. President, thank you for your no-nonsense–frequently personally delivered in unmistakable fashion–demand that VA take care of our Vets, for reminding us that we still have so much more work to do, and thank you for always, always keeping the faith.
With that, it is my great honor and privilege to introduce the 46th President of the United States of America, Joe Biden.
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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.
Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.
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