WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Under gray clouds and pouring rain at Arlington National Cemetery, Vice President Kamala Harris told the nation's veterans Friday their work makes America stronger, as the administration announced new support for children who live with wounded service members.
"Every day, through your life's work and your example, you make America stronger," she told the crowd. 鈥淥n Veterans Day, we come together to express our profound gratitude for all you have done and you continue to do.鈥�
鈥淰eterans represent the best of America,鈥� she said.
The initiative, known as the , helps young people who act as caregivers and was announced by first lady Jill Biden, who hosted a breakfast for veterans on Friday before she, Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff came to the annual ceremony at the Virginia cemetery.
With President Joe Biden in Egypt for a United Nations conference on climate, it was Harris who placed the wreath in a somber ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is dedicated to deceased service members whose remains have not been identified. She arranged it carefully, fussing a bit with the ribbons to move them back in place after they were blown askew by the wind and rain.
Harris said the nation owes soldiers a great debt, and that the Biden administration was working to deliver on help with housing, health care and jobs. She noted Jill Biden's work with the families of veterans, saying 鈥渨hile our veterans wore the uniform, they're not the only ones who have served.鈥�
鈥淎s Americans, we have a sacred obligation to take care of our veterans and our military families," she said. 鈥淔ulfilling that obligation means making sure veterans can access the support and resources they need to thrive.鈥�
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, himself a veteran, joined.
This is the first Veterans Day since Biden for service members who were exposed to burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan or to chemicals that were used in previous conflicts.
The legislation, known as the PACT Act, was a priority for Biden. died of brain cancer in 2015, several years after he was exposed to a burn pit during military service in Iraq.
From Egypt, Biden acknowledged the sacrifices of America鈥檚 veterans there.
鈥淭his day is a day of commemoration at home in the United States. It鈥檚 Veterans Day,鈥� he said. 鈥淎merica鈥檚 veterans and their families, survivors and caregivers are the very spine and soul of the United States. And on this special day, on every day, I honor all those who sacrifice to our nation, like my son.鈥�
More than 137,000 claims involving toxic exposure have been filed, the Biden administration says. The Department of Veterans Affairs also began asking veterans about possible toxic exposure earlier this week in an attempt to identify any health complications.
The Democratic president also released a video message before . He also has stops in Cambodia and Indonesia before he returns for his granddaughter鈥檚 wedding at the White House on Nov. 19.
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Chris Megerian And Colleen Long, The Associated Press
