{"id":13935,"date":"2015-08-18T16:03:53","date_gmt":"2015-08-18T20:03:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/?p=13935"},"modified":"2016-07-07T15:57:13","modified_gmt":"2016-07-07T19:57:13","slug":"vice-president-biden-addresses-community-memorial-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2015\/08\/vice-president-biden-addresses-community-memorial-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Vice President Biden addresses community memorial service"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"vp-biden-memorial-featurette\"<\/a>On Saturday, August 15, Vice President Joe Biden spoke at a memorial honoring the five servicemen who lost their lives during the July shooting rampage in Chattanooga. In UTC\u2019s McKenzie Arena, Biden joined the families of the fallen, the Marines and sailors in attendance, and the Chattanooga community in mourning.<\/p>\n

Addressing the families of the fallen, Biden said, \u201cPlease know that he will always be with you in the deepest recesses of your heart, in your every thought. He\u2019ll be the voice you hear in your ear telling you it\u2019s OK. It\u2019ll be that feeling in your chest that just calms you down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although Biden knew none of the servicemen personally, he empathized from his recent personal loss of his son Beau Biden, former Delaware attorney general who served in Iraq with the Delaware National Guard. \u201cBut, oh, I knew them. Confident, committed, determined, trustworthy, passionate, and always loyal\u2014I knew them. They were my son,\u201d said Biden.<\/p>\n

In response to the tragedy that claimed the lives of Logistics Specialist 2nd<\/sup> Class Randall Smith of the Navy, Sgt. Carson A. Holmquist, Gunnery Sgt. Thomas J. Sullivan, Lance Cpl. Squire K. Wells, and Staff Sgt. David A. Wyatt of the Marines, Biden said, \u201cAmerica never yields, never bends. Never cowers, never stands down. Endures, responds, and always overcomes. Because we are Americans. And never, never underestimate us.\u201d<\/p>\n