Remembering Beau Biden: Obamas, Clintons join in mourning
President Barack Obama says former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden made a decision as a young boy to live a life of meaning and a life dedicated to others.
Obama is remembering Vice President Joe Biden’s son during a funeral service Saturday in Wilmington, Delaware.
- US President Barack Obama delivers the eulogy in honor of former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, son of US Vice President Joe Biden, at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Wilmington, Delaware, on June 6, 2015. (Doug Mills/AFP/Getty Images)
- Onlookers gathering across the street, photograph as the hearse and Biden family arrive for a mass of Christian burial at St. Anthony of Padua Church for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, on June 6, 2015 in Wilmington, Delaware. U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to deliver a eulogy for the son of Vice President Joe Biden after he died at 46 following a two-year battle with brain cancer. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images) Onlookers gathering across the street, photograph as the hearse and Biden family arrive for a mass of Christian burial at St. Anthony of Padua Church for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, on June 6, 2015 in Wilmington, Delaware. U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to deliver a eulogy for the son of Vice President Joe Biden after he died at 46 following a two-year battle with brain cancer. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)
- Security personnel monitor activity across the street as the hearse and Biden family arrive for a mass of Christian burial at St. Anthony of Padua Church for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, on June 6, 2015 in Wilmington, Delaware. U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to deliver a eulogy for the son of Vice President Joe Biden after he died at 46 following a two-year battle with brain cancer. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images) Security personnel monitor activity across the street as the hearse and Biden family arrive for a mass of Christian burial at St. Anthony of Padua Church for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, on June 6, 2015 in Wilmington, Delaware. U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to deliver a eulogy for the son of Vice President Joe Biden after he died at 46 following a two-year battle with brain cancer. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)
- A woman holding a “God Loves Beau and Joe (Biden)” reacts as the hearse and Biden family arrive for a mass of Christian burial at St. Anthony of Padua Church for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, on June 6, 2015 in Wilmington, Delaware. U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to deliver a eulogy for the son of Vice President Joe Biden after he died at 46 following a two-year battle with brain cancer. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)
- A funeral procession marches towards a mass of Christian burial at St. Anthony of Padua Church for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden on June 6, 2015 in Wilmington, Delaware. U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to deliver a eulogy for the son of Vice President Joe Biden after he died at 46 following a two-year battle with brain cancer. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)
- A funeral procession marches towards a mass of Christian burial at St. Anthony of Padua Church for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden on June 6, 2015 in Wilmington, Delaware. U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to deliver a eulogy for the son of Vice President Joe Biden after he died at 46 following a two-year battle with brain cancer. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)
- A flag atop White House flies at half-staff in honor of Beau Biden, on June 6, 2015, in Washington, DC. President Obama is traveling to Wilmington, Delaware to deliver a eulogy for Beau Biden the son of Vice President Joe Biden after he died at 46 following a two-year battle with brain cancer. (Photo by Drew Angerer-Pool/Getty Images)
- Onlookers gather across the street before the hearse and Biden family arrive for a mass of Christian burial at St. Anthony of Padua Church for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, on June 6, 2015 in Wilmington, Delaware. U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to deliver a eulogy for the son of Vice President Joe Biden after he died at 46 following a two-year battle with brain cancer. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)
- A woman reacts as the hearse and Biden family arrives for a mass of Christian burial at St. Anthony of Padua Church for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, on June 6, 2015 in Wilmington, Delaware. U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to deliver a eulogy for the son of Vice President Joe Biden after he died at 46 following a two-year battle with brain cancer. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)
- Onlookers gather before the hearse and Biden family arrive for a mass of Christian burial at St. Anthony of Padua Church for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, on June 6, 2015 in Wilmington, Delaware. U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to deliver a eulogy for the son of Vice President Joe Biden after he died at 46 following a two-year battle with brain cancer. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)
- An honor guard stands at attention outside St. Anthony of Padua Church before a mass of Christian burial is held for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden in Wilmington, Delaware on June 6, 2015. U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to deliver a eulogy for the son of Vice President Joe Biden after he died at 46 following a two-year battle with brain cancer. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)
- US President Barack Obama walks with his daughter Sasha as he arrives at Delaware Air National Guard, Delaware, on June 6, 2015. The first family will attend services honoring Beau Biden at St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church. Obama will deliver the eulogy for Vice President Joe Biden’s son Beau, who lost his battle with brain cancer at age 46. (Yuri Gripas/AFP/Getty Images)
- US President Barack Obama delivers the eulogy in honor of former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, son of US Vice President Joe Biden, at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Wilmington, Delaware, on June 6, 2015. (Kevin Lamarque/AFP/Getty Images)
- Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno salutes the casket of former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden during funeral services, Saturday, June 6, 2015, at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Wilmington, Del. Biden, Vice President Joe Biden’s eldest son, died at the age of 46 after a battle with brain cancer. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
- President Barack Obama hugs Vice President Joe Biden during funeral services for Biden’s son, Beau Biden, Saturday, June 6, 2015, at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Wilmington, Del. (Yuri Gripas/Pool Photo via AP)
- The funeral procession for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden arrives at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington, Del., Saturday, June 6, 2015. Biden, the eldest son of the vice president, died of brain cancer May 30 at age 46. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
- President Barack Obama, and family, from left, daughter Sasha, mother-in-law Marian Robinson, and first lady Michelle Obama get off Air Force One upon their arrival at Delaware Air National Guard base in New Castle, Del., Saturday, June 6, 2015. The First Family was traveling to Wilmington, Del. to attend the funeral service of former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, the vice president’s eldest son. Biden died of brain cancer at the age 46. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
- President Barack Obama delivers the eulogy in honor of former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, Saturday, June 6, 2015, at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Wilmington, Del. Biden, Vice President Joe Biden’s eldest son, died at the age of 46 after a battle with brain cancer. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, Pool)
- Hunter Biden, left, kisses his nephew Hunter, son of Beau Biden, as they stand with Beau’s widow Hallie, third from left, Vice President Joe Biden and Beau’s daughter Natalie before his funeral, Saturday, June 6, 2015, at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington, Del. Biden, the eldest son of the vice president, died of brain cancer May 30 at age 46. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
- Vice President Joe Biden pauses during a funeral mass for his son Beau Biden, Saturday, June 6, 2015, at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Wilmington, Del. (Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
- Vice President Joe Biden, standing next to President Barack Obama and his daughter Sasha, waves during funeral services for his son Beau Biden, Saturday, June 6, 2015, at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Wilmington, Del. (Yuri Gripas/Pool Photo via AP)
- A procession carrying a casket of Beau Biden enters St. Anthony of Padua Church in Wilmington, Del., Saturday, June 6, 2015, for funeral services. (Yuri Gripas/Pool Photo via AP)
- Children gather outside St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington, Del., Saturday, June 6, 2015, before funeral services for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden. Biden, the eldest son of the vice president, died of brain cancer May 30 at age 46. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
- Mourners view the funeral procession for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, Saturday, June 6, 2015, at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington, Del. Biden, the eldest son of the vice president, died of brain cancer May 30 at age 46. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
- St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington, Del, Saturday, June 6, 2015, during funeral services for Beau Biden. (Kevin Lamarque/Pool Photo via AP)
- Vice President Joe Biden, accompanied by his family, holds his hand over his heart as he watches an honor guard carry a casket containing the remains of his son, former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, into St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington, Del., Saturday, June 6, 2015, for funeral services. Standing alongside the vice president are Beau’s widow Hallie Biden, left, and daughter, Natalie. Beau Biden died of brain cancer May 30 at age 46. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Obama says Beau Biden found a way to make everyone else feel like they mattered. He says that’s because his father taught him that everyone matters.
The president says Beau Biden was the rare politician who prioritized his private life and his family above all else. He says Beau refused to cut corners or trade on his family name.
Beau Biden died a week ago from brain cancer at age 46. – By JOSH LEDERMAN and BRIAN WITTE, The Associated Press