Former President Joe Biden delivered his first public remarks since being diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer during a Memorial Day service at Veterans Memorial Park on Friday. The event also marked the ten-year anniversary of the death of his son, Beau Biden, from brain cancer. Biden's office has not disclosed whether he has begun treatment for the cancer, which has spread to his bones.

This appearance was his first public address since the diagnosis, although he was seen at an airport in Connecticut last Friday attending his grandson's high school graduation. "Every year we come together to remember, to remember, to remember the brave women and men who gave their all for this nation, or as Lincoln called it, the last full measure of devotion. That's what it was, the last full measure of devotion.

They laid down their lives so we could live our lives in peace and maybe the most important word with possibilities," said Biden. "The military is a solid spine, the spine of our nation, our troops, our veterans, our military families, and our Gold Star families in particular. Only around 1% of all Americans defend 99% of us, 1%.

Just 1% of Americans risk the ultimate sacrifice. We owe them so much more than we can ever repay them," he added. Reflecting on the personal significance of the day, Biden said, "For the Bidens, this day is the 10th anniversary of the loss of my son.

Beau spent a year in Iraq. And to be honest, it's a hard day. His son and I, Hunter, who's there in the crowd."

"His daddy came to this event with me a lot at the same age when he started. He just graduated high school, heading off to college. And, you know, it's, uh, being with all of you, quite frankly, it makes things a little bit easier.

It really does. So thank you for allowing me to grieve with you." Biden also shared memories of his son Beau's military service.

"Some of you know, some of you knew my son Beau. He served the Delaware National Guard, including a year in Iraq. Remember?

I got a phone call. 'Dad, can you. What are you doing Friday?'

I said, 'what do you need?' He said, 'I want you to pin my bars on', I said 'pin your bars on? You have two kids, you know', 'dad, somebody's got to do this, dad'.

Proudest day of his life was putting that uniform on. That's not a joke. That's not a joke.

That's not hyperbole. That's real. You know, it's one of the proudest things I ever did.

Putting that – his bars on him. And it means so much to our family. At the headquarters of the Delaware National Guard, as we renamed after Beau.

His legacy lives on," he said. The event also featured speeches from Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, Representative Sarah McBride, Lieutenant Governor Kyle Evans Gay, and former Senator Tom Carper.