Vice President Joe Biden Attends Son Beau Biden's Emotional Viewing Service Surrounded by Family

See photo of the moving ceremony

By Brett Malec Jun 04, 2015 10:07 PMTags
Joe Biden, Beau Biden FuneralAP Photo/Patrick Semansky

Beau Biden's viewing service was emotional to say the least.

Vice President Joe Biden, whose son tragically passed away from brain cancer five days ago at the young age of 46, was surrounded by friends and family Thursday at Beau's public service and viewing at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del.

Biden, his wife Jill Biden, Beau's wife and kids and the rest of their family were understandably emotional while watching honor guards carry Beau's casket, which was draped with an American flag. The famous fam shed tears as they said goodbye to the former Attorney General, who had been battling brain cancer for several years.

In addition to the service and viewing, Beau was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross, Delaware's highest honor, for his "heroism, meritorious service and outstanding achievement."

Keith Bedford/Bloomberg via Getty Images

"To the Biden family, we cannot begin to understand the depth of your loss," Delaware governor Jack Markell reportedly said earlier today. "Know that we grieve with you."

Beau passed away on Sat, May 30. "The entire Biden family is saddened beyond words," Joe said in a statement last weekend. "We know that Beau's spirit will live on in all of us—especially through his brave wife, Hallie, and two remarkable children, Natalie and Hunter."

The statement continued, "In the words of the Biden family: Beau Biden was, quite simply, the finest man any of us ever knew." The vice president's office said that Beau died when surrounded by his family.

Beau was first diagnosed with brain cancer in August of 2013.