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SHANKSVILLE, PA -- Of all Joe Biden's political skills and foibles, perhaps his most powerful asset was on display in Shanksville, PA on Tuesday: Compassion in the face of others' grief.
Biden, who lost his wife and daughter in a 1972 car accident, commemorated 9/11 victims at the site of the Flight 93 crash and described with heavy emotion the grief he knows their families felt in the aftermath of the terror attacks.
Jeff Swensen / Getty Images
Vice President Joseph Biden speaks at the Flight 93 National Memorial during observances commemorating the eleventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, in Shanksville, Pa, on September 11, 2012.
"No matter how many anniversaries you experience, for at least an instant, the terror of that moment returns, the lingering echo of that phone call, that sense of total disbelief that envelops you," he said. "You feel like you're being sucked into a black hole in the middle of your chest."
"My hope for you all is that as every year passes, the depth of your pain recedes," he continued. "And you find comfort - as I have - genuine comfort in recalling his smile, her laugh, their touch."
The ceremony, which included a reading of each of the 40 passengers and crew members' names, took place at the still-incomplete memorial in the small Pennsylvania town where the hijacked plane crashed.
Vice President Joe Biden says, "Like all of the families, I wish we weren't here. I wish we didn't have to be here," at a 9/11 memorial service in Shanksvilla, Pa.
Offering comfort on a sparkling morning not unlike the one of the terror attacks, Biden said the nation has not forgotten the heroes' sacrifice.
"They’ve not forgotten the heroism of your husbands, wives, sons daughters, mothers, fathers," he said. "And that what they did for this country is still etched in the minds of not only you, but millions of Americans forever."
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God Bless Joe Biden for his ability to show and communicate his sincere compassion and understanding of the suffering these people have been facing and will continue to face. No matter what you think of this man, it is abundantly clear that he speaks from his heart which often gives his enemies fodder for ridicule. But he is the real deal.
The idea that any speech given by a politician will "comfort" families who have had their loved ones killed is complete baloney.
This was nothing more than the Dems trying to capitalize politically on the families of the dead. It is disgraceful.
joe1022joe -- Just let the hate go. Let it go. You'll feel better.
I live in western PA. about 45 minutes from Shanksville, I have been to the crash site. It is a work in progress, still not complete. If you ever have a chance to visit ,please do. You will come away a different person. When you look at the faces of the people on the plane and see the exact spot where the plane went into the ground it gives you a feeling that is very hard to explain.
About 10 miles from Shanksville, as the crow flies is the que creek mine cave-in and rescue. I feel very honored to live so close to the best and the worst that man can do.
Joe Biden can speak to grief more than any other candidate, and he's heartfelt when he does. I still remember he mentioned losing his wife and daughter as part of a response to a question in the vice presidential debate, and Palin, who could have at least made some type of sympathetic comment as part of her response, glossed right over it as if he'd been talking about the weather.
Joe Biden?
Joe Biden is a clueless drunk.
Whoops, they failed to mention Bozo Biden's comment on 9/11 - " Biden said. "It is a bittersweet moment for the entire nation, for all of the country, particularly for those family members gathered here today."
WTF, bittersweet? Guess he stepped on his dick again.....
Hey Joe, why don't you join Dana Rohrabacher and hopefully Rand Paul in getting the release of the doctor hero that helped get Bin Laden?? Too busy portraying you and Obama as the hero's are you??? The doc said, he helped the CIA out of love for the U.S. "I have a lot of respect and love for your people." Think about showing a little respect for him, Joe!