NEW CASTLE, Del. (NewsNation Now) — President Joe Biden spoke at an annual Memorial Day observance in Delaware Sunday.

“Our military community is the solid spine of this country,” Biden said.

Biden, a longtime Delaware senator, is back in his home state for the Memorial Day weekend.

“On my first Memorial Day as commander in chief I want to reaffirm my long-standing belief,” Biden said. “We may have many obligations as a nation, but we only have one truly sacred obligation and that’s to equip those we send into harms way with all they need and to care for them and their families when they return home and when they don’t.”

President Biden also spoke about his son Beau. who died of brain cancer on May 30th. 2015 at 46. He served in the Delaware Army National Guard, including a year in Iraq.

“I know how much the loss hurts,” Biden said. “I know the black hole it leaves in the middle of your chest. It feels like you may get sucked into it and not come out. Greetings like this and gatherings help.”

The annual memorial service was hosted by the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs at Veterans Memorial Park at the Delaware Memorial Bridge in New Castle.

Biden has frequently attended the event, which is held every year on May 30.