Politicians Gather At Beau Biden's Funeral

It was a somber morning in Wilmington, Delaware, Saturday as politicians and dignitaries gathered for Beau Biden's funeral, held in a Catholic church not far from where Joe Biden's eldest son lived and worked for most of his life. Beau Biden died of brain cancer last Saturday at the age of 46. He previously served as the Delaware attorney general and was thought to be a front-runner for the state's 2016 gubernatorial election. But most importantly, Beau Biden was the "finest young man" you could have ever known, said Father Leo O'Donovan, who presided over Saturday's funeral Mass.

It was the third day of public mourning for the Biden family, which sadly is familiar with grieving in the public eye. Joe Biden lost his first wife, Neilia, and his young daughter in a car crash shortly after being elected to the Senate in 1972. Beau Biden and his brother, Hunter, were also in the crash, but survived.

Now, the vice president, who has become something of a professional eulogizer, is once again at the center of tragedy. Photos of the vice president taken at Beau Biden's public viewings over the last two days show Joe Biden looking stricken as he stands beside his wife, Jill.

The vice president's heartbreak was apparent on Saturday during the funeral Mass of St. Anthony of Padua. Joe Biden shared some touching embraces with President Obama, who delivered a eulogy in which he called the vice president his brother.

In addition to the president, First Lady Michelle Obama, and their daughters, Malia and Sasha, numerous politicians from both sides of the aisle attended Beau Biden's funeral. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Bill and Hillary Clinton were among the mourners. Speaker of the House John Boehner, however, did not attend.

According to The Hill, a number of Congressional members were also there on Saturday, including: Reps. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.), Niki Tsongas (D-Calif.), David Cicilline (D-R.I.) and John Carney (D-Del.).

Chris Martin of Coldplay also performed. He volunteered to attend the funeral and sing a tribute to Beau Biden after finding out that the former Delaware attorney general was a huge Coldplay fan.

Hunter Biden, Beau's brother, delivered the last eulogy. "I held his hand as he took his last breath," he said. "His hand will never leave mine."

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