WASHINGTON — Underneath grey clouds and pouring rain at Arlington Nationwide Cemetery, Vice President Kamala Harris instructed the nation’s veterans Friday their work makes America stronger, because the administration introduced new help for youngsters who dwell with wounded service members.
“Every single day, by way of your life’s work and your instance, you make America stronger,” she instructed the group. “On Veterans Day, we come collectively to precise our profound gratitude for all you’ve gotten carried out and also you proceed to do.”
“Veterans signify the very best of America,” she stated.
The initiative, generally known as the Hidden Helpers Coalition, helps younger individuals who act as caregivers and was introduced by first woman Jill Biden, who hosted a breakfast for veterans on Friday earlier than she, Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff got here to the annual ceremony on the Virginia cemetery.
With President Joe Biden in Egypt for a United Nations convention on local weather, it was Harris who positioned the wreath in a somber ceremony on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is devoted to deceased service members whose stays haven’t been recognized. She organized it fastidiously, fussing a bit with the ribbons to maneuver them again in place after they have been blown askew by the wind and rain.
Harris stated the nation owes troopers an important debt, and that the Biden administration was working to ship on assist with housing, well being care and jobs. She famous Jill Biden’s work with the households of veterans, saying “whereas our veterans wore the uniform, they’re not the one ones who’ve served.”
“As People, now we have a sacred obligation to maintain our veterans and our navy households,” she stated. “Fulfilling that obligation means ensuring veterans can entry the help and assets they should thrive.”
Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin and Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Employees, together with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, himself a veteran, joined.
That is the primary Veterans Day since Biden signed laws increasing well being look after service members who have been uncovered to burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan or to chemical substances that have been utilized in earlier conflicts.
The laws, generally known as the PACT Act, was a precedence for Biden. His eldest son, Beau Biden, died of mind most cancers in 2015, a number of years after he was uncovered to a burn pit throughout navy service in Iraq.
From Egypt, Biden acknowledged the sacrifices of America’s veterans there.
“This present day is a day of commemoration at residence in america. It’s Veterans Day,” he stated. “America’s veterans and their households, survivors and caregivers are the very backbone and soul of america. And on this big day, on day-after-day, I honor all those that sacrifice to our nation, like my son.”
Greater than 137,000 claims involving poisonous publicity have been filed, the Biden administration says. The Division of Veterans Affairs additionally started asking veterans about attainable poisonous publicity earlier this week in an try and establish any well being issues.
The Democratic president additionally launched a video message earlier than he left Thursday night time for Egypt. He additionally has stops in Cambodia and Indonesia earlier than he returns for his granddaughter’s wedding ceremony on the White Home on Nov. 19.