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Touching Obama speech at Beau Biden funeral

Coldplay's Chris Martin has sung at the funeral of Beau Biden, the son of US vice president Joe Biden who died last week from brain cancer.

Vice President Joe Biden shares a hug with President Barack Obama
Obama delivered a heartfelt eulogy at the funeral of Beau Biden, son of US vice president Joe Biden. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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US President Barack Obama has delivered a heartfelt eulogy at the deeply emotional funeral of Beau Biden, who died a week ago of brain cancer. He was 46.

About 1,000 people gathered at St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Wilmington, Delaware, to pay their last respects to Beau Biden, among them some of America's leading political figures.

Obama said that Beau Biden, who suffered when only three-years-old from the death of his mother and sister in a car accident, chose not to withdraw into his pain but instead to "live a life of meaning. He would live a life for others" and brought his "mighty heart" to his work and to his family while making "a difference in the lives of all he touched".

"The world noticed. They felt it, his presence. Beau lives on in the lives of others," Obama said, visibly moved as he delivered a long eulogy.

Beau, whose baptismal name was Joseph R Biden III, was the eldest son of the vice president and was attorney general of the state of Delaware for two terms. He was married and had two children.

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Obama attributed part of Beau's character to "just how much he loved and admired his dad", who taught him "that he was no higher than anybody else, and no lower than anybody else", because "everybody matters".

Obama's eulogy was preceded by another speech by Army Chief of Staff Raymond Odierno, who posthumously awarded Beau Biden a military honour, the Legion of Merit, for his career in uniform and his service in Iraq.

Also voicing their feelings were Beau's two siblings, Hunter and Ashley.

Hunter Biden recalled how on the day his mother and sister were killed, Beau held his hand and said "I love you, I love you", and how on his deathbed he returned the favour.

"I held his hand, and he took his last breath."

Coldplay's Chris Martin, sang 'Til Kingdom Come, something he offered to do after learning that Beau Biden liked his band's music.


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