Biden consoles family of late U.S. Rep. Takai at memorial service
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vice President Joe Biden, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., and others, attended a Celebration of Life ceremony for Hawaii Rep. Mark Takai, on Capitol Hill in Washington, today. Takai died earlier this year after a months-long battle with pancreatic cancer.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sami Takai, wife of the late Hawaii Rep. Mark Takai, spoke on Capitol Hill in Washington, today, during a Celebration of Life ceremony for Rep. Mark Takai. Takai died earlier this year after a months-long battle with pancreatic cancer. Seated, from left are, Vice President Joe Biden, House Majority Nancy Pelosi of Calif., and House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vice President Joe Biden spoke on Capitol Hill in Washington, today, during a Celebration of Life ceremony for U.S. Rep. Mark Takai. Takai died earlier this year after a months-long battle with pancreatic cancer.
WASHINGTON » Speaking of his own experience after his son Beau’s death, Vice President Joe Biden consoled the family of the late Rep. Mark Takai today, telling them to “hang on to each other” to make it through the rough days.
Biden joined members of Congress and Takai’s family at a memorial service in the U.S. Capitol to honor the Democratic lawmaker, who was serving his first term representing Hawaii in the House when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Takai died in July at age 49.
The vice president recalled meeting Takai earlier this year. He said that despite Takai’s own grim diagnosis, the lawmaker offered Biden condolences about his son Beau, who died in May 2015 at age 46 after battling brain cancer.
Biden called the congressman courageous and told his wife and two children to keep his memory close.
“The only thing I have observed is, deep in your broken heart the only way to get through it is to hang on to each other, hold each other,” said Biden, whose words elicited an emotional response from many in attendance.
He told Takai’s children that their dad will be with them for the rest of their lives.
“I promise you the day will come when Mark’s memory brings a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye,” Biden said. “I promise you.”
At the service in Statuary Hall, ukulele players strummed “Aloha Oe,” a Hawaiian song performed to bid farewell. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California and members of the Hawaiian congressional delegation also spoke.
Biden has occasionally talked about his grief after Beau’s death. In September 2015, he teared up as he told talk show host Stephen Colbert that “sometimes it just overwhelms you.”
7 responses to “Biden consoles family of late U.S. Rep. Takai at memorial service”
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A death of a family member is a life long emotional grief. It never goes away, but memories of love and happiness are boundless and it helps us navigate throughout our own trials and tribulations. Until we meet again in our celestial home, where there are no tears, we await the encounter of peace and happiness that surely be ours for all eternity!
Joe Biden seems like a very nice guy. Too bad he chose not to run.
Having gone through this at a young age when my only other brother died in a tragic and preventable accident, I can tell you when you think about it a lot, it is like it was yesterday and the trauma and emotions can be as raw as the day it happened. The only thing you can say about it is the expression “you can never forget, but you learn to live with it” and that is how it is, because you have no choice and life has to go on for you and your family.
Whatever your religious beliefs (I happen to believe Heaven can be any form you so desire), I too hope that you will see your loved ones again and in that one moment be able to dry the tears from a lifetime of grief, because it just wouldn’t be right and just in our existence otherwise.
I certainly feel the emotional and painful loss of Rep. Takai. He would have been a great leader for Hawaii but, unfortunately, his time was cut short. Certainly a great loss to not only his family but to the State of Hawaii. Tremendous character and leadership and family man that stood out among our congressional delegates. He definitely will be missed.
and where was Obama.
campaigning for Clinton?
This is how you honor Mr. Takai?
Piece of garbage.
not you again, stop insulting other people that you disagree with.
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if you keep this up you will be banned.