Beau Biden, Guard head to Iraq

DOVER - October 3, 2008 Joe Biden was a featured speaker at the send off ceremony for members of the Delaware Army National Guard's 261st Signal Bridgade and he is a vice presidential candidate, but today, Biden was no different from Leon Newton of Fredricia Delaware or Chris Brigandi from Bear.

Everyone at the Dover capitol will have the heart wrenching task of saying goodbye to a loved one going off to war this weekend.

Biden could have talked about last night's debate with his GOP rival Sarah Palin or about the Oboma/Biden stance on the war, but instead, this senior senator, known for lengthy speeches, focused on the men and women standing here; his eyes, no doubt, honed on his own son Beau

"Today, I come as you prepare to deploy as a father, a father who got some sage advice from his son this morning, 'Dad, keep it short, we're in formation,'" Senator Biden said.

Biden wasn't the only one who wanted to put politics aside today, the families gathered here only wanted to think about their departing loved ones.

"It's absolutely devastating, I think we're trying to take it one day at a time, and we are, we're very proud of him," Jaylee Pernol of Harrington, Delaware said.

It is a pride shared among all; these citizen soldiers will leave their families and jobs for one year. For Beau, that means Delaware's Attorney General will become Captain Biden, a lawyer for fellow soldiers like Sgt James Pernol, who appreciated Senator Biden's brief and non-political farewell.


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