Bidens thank U.S. troops for their service during 'Friendsgiving' feast at Fort Bragg
Reuters
Published Nov 22, 2021 04:41PM ET
Updated Nov 22, 2021 09:01PM ET
By Nandita Bose
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Reuters) -President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, on Monday helped serve Thanksgiving meals to U.S. troops at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, thanking them for their service and dedication to country.
Biden told the service members he knew how much their loved ones missed them, especially during holiday celebrations, reflecting on his son Beau's service in the U.S. Army in Iraq and Kosovo before his death of cancer in 2015.
"I know how hard it is to have someone who's not at the table," Biden told the hundreds of troops before donning an apron with a presidential seal and doling out stuffing. "You do so much and your families give so much."
Biden said he was "damn proud" to serve as commander in chief of what he called the finest military "the world has ever seen."
It was Biden's first visit to Fort Bragg since becoming president in January. He was joined at the event by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.
The first lady also invoked Beau Biden's memory, telling the troops, "We're so grateful for everything that you do. And Joe and I feel like, you know, you're family to us. And we cannot thank you enough."
Before leaving the base, Biden met with special operations forces who often serve as the "tip of the spear" in U.S. military operations, the White House said.
Biden joins many of his predecessors in spending some time with the troops during the holiday season.
Since he has withdrawn troops from Afghanistan and is set to end the U.S. combat mission in Iraq by year's end, Biden chose to visit U.S. forces within the United States rather than go abroad.
Former presidents including Donald Trump, Barack Obama and George W. Bush all traveled to visit troops in either Iraq or Afghanistan during the holiday season.
Biden's decision to pull out of Afghanistan prompted a chaotic withdrawal that has been heavily criticized.
Many troops who have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan have been stationed at Fort Bragg.
Biden on Tuesday will travel to Nantucket, an island off the coast of Massachusetts, to spend Thanksgiving with his family, resuming a decades-long tradition that was interrupted last year due to the pandemic. He spent the holiday at his Delaware home with family instead.
Get The News You Want
Written By: Reuters
Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.