Why I took the photo at Beau Biden's grave that is going viral

[catbyte]

Patricia Talorico

Delaware is a tiny state. The joke is there are no degrees of separation.

snip



I saw a lone man in a blue uniform kneeling at Beau's grave. No one else was around on this cold, windy afternoon except for a few people doing outside work at the cemetery. In my car, I had the radio tuned to CNN. Joe Biden was being sworn in as president and was about to begin his address.

The man in the uniform bowed his head and clasped his hands. The image brought tears to my eyes.

I couldn't bring myself to interrupt this poignant, solemn moment. I took some photos from a distance, and pulled my car over to a nearby roadway. I listened to the end of Biden's speech and drove back to see if the man was still there. He was. And he was still kneeling, still had his head bowed.

The journalist in me wanted to go back and find out his identity and ask why he was there. The person who once received a kind gesture from Beau when I needed it most knew it was a time to be respectful, and I drove away.

Some things in life you just let be.

https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2021/01/20/why-took-photo-beau-bidens-grave-going-viral-delaware-president-inauguration/4233905001/

[Blue Owl]

1. K&R for the Bidens

[Dem2theMax]

2. I hope President Biden sees this.

❤

[UpInArms]

3. That made my heart

Ache and be soothed ...

[stillcool]

4. potent picture

blew me away

[Cracklin Charlie]

5. I wondered if the man was there to protect Beau.

In case any knuckleheads try to do something stupid.

I had also wondered if he was there to be with Beau, when Beau’s father couldn’t be there.

Very moving photograph.

[Rebl2]

9. I like to

think he was there to be with Beau while his father was being sworn in. It’s a beautiful and thoughtful picture. Good the photographer did not approach him. Not the time for that.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

6. kick for visibility

[ecstatic]

7. "As I drove into Greenville, I thought I would drive by Beau's grave"

The mystery man was probably there for the same reason that the journalist himself attempted to go there: Beau was an amazing man who transformed the lives of many people.

I'm sure the despair showed in my face. Then I heard a friendly voice say, "Hey, how are you? Are you OK?"

I looked up and it was Beau standing over me, holding out his hand. He introduced himself (but I already knew who he was), and we shook hands and made small talk.

He wasn't in office at the time. He was just being kind. It wasn't a grand gesture, just a small one, but somehow, it made a difference that day. I never forgot that act of kindness.

[majdrfrtim]

8. I got to know Beau in Iraq while I was deployed there.

Some time after we'd become friends, I realized who he was, besides just being a Guardsman from another State.

This photo and story brought tears to my eyes.

I miss him.

[yardwork]

10. This is a good family.

[LuckyLib]

11. "Some things in life you just let be." Thank you. Americans have a hard time with this.

[BobTheSubgenius]

12. What a beautiful little vignette.

[Volaris]

13. The stark contrast I think is that every single human in this nation,

Democrat, Republican, MAGAT or Otherwise,

Knows damn well that Donald Trump will never earn such an honor as that.

The battle has been won. The war has just been engaged.

'Once more, into the breach, my friends!'

[crickets]

14. What a poignant photo and moment. nt

[Gilbert Moore]

15. Patricia Talorico

Is a damn good reporter ! Rather than do what most every other journo would do she left. Respect for Baeu, the Biden's, but also what a class act she is. I sent her a note telling her so. e-mail addy is on USA Today story.

A beautiful day ! ! !