Joe Biden: Veterans Our Only Sacred Obligation

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In the first of two stops in C0lorado on Saturday, Vice President Joe Biden dedicated the first few minutes to a stirring talk on “Our Only Sacred Obligation” – to take care of veterans and their families.

Speaking at a local high school in Arvada, Colorado, Biden opened his speech by delivering a stirring note of gratitude for veterans and talked a bit about the Vietnam veteran, Steve Simmons, who introduced the vice president to the crowd.

“You’re looking at a hero here man,” Biden said with Simmons at his side. “A Vietnam generation went over there and fought. This guy had that Agent Orange rained down on him. This guy came back and he fought, he fought health problems, he fought like hell. And I want to tell you what: I am proud to stand here with this man.”

“Because of guys like you, the president and I decided – and everyone decided – we’re never again gonna do, never again gonna do to veterans who fought for America what happened to the Vietnam veterans,” Biden said. “That’s why I’m so proud to serve with the president. We not only made sure we vastly increased the assets available to Veterans Affairs and the Veterans hospitals and education. But you know what we did? They’re an awful lot of people of this man’s generation – warriors who fought, who got left behind, Agent Orange we fought for years and years, post-traumatic stress for years and years wasn’t acknowledged … and I apologize it took so damn long.”

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