President Biden Speaks at St. Louis Cathedral
President Joseph R. Biden. See transcript of his reflections below.
January 2025On January 6, President Joseph R. Biden spoke at an interfaith service in St. Louis Cathedral, drawing from personal experience to offer comfort to the families and loved ones of those lost in the New Year’s Eve attack.
- photos by Ellis Anderson
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Those who attended the service waited in line outside the barricaded square and were only allowed in after passing through metal detectors.
A canine patrol making the rounds outside the cathedral
Security inside the cathedral was tight but inconspicuous for the most part
Press crews setting up video equipment while attendees began slowly filtering in.
Local officials and dignitaries filled the front pews
Louisiana governor Jeff Landry speaks with law enforcement officers before the service began.
Archbishop Gregory Michael Aymond joined 16 New Orleans faith leaders
The Peter Claver Choir participated in the service
The name of each of the deceased victims of the attack were called and a bearer walked to the front and placed a candle for them on the altar.
President Joseph Biden spoke at the end of the ceremony, seeming to draw from his personal experiences of loss.
Remarks by President Joseph R. Biden
Your excellency, Archbishop Ayman, members of the clergy representing Christian, Jewish, Muslim and faiths across the board, thank you for what you’re doing. Governor Landry, Representatives Carter and Fields and all elected officials of the community. Most of all, the families and loved ones of those we lost in this horrific act of terrorism last Wednesday.
I know events like this are hard and the shock and pain is still so very raw. My wife Jill and I are here to stand with you, to grieve with you, to pray with you, to let you know you are not alone. The rest of the nation is looking at you as well.
It’s not the same. We know what it’s like to lose a piece of our soul – the anger. the emptiness, the black hole that seems to be sucking you into your chest, the sense of loss, the questions of faith in your soul.
I know it’s been five days staring at that empty chair in the kitchen around the kitchen table, not hearing the voice. You think of the birthdays, the anniversaries, the holidays to come without them,
You think of everything. Everyday things, the small things, the details you’ll miss the most – the morning coffee you shared together, the bend of his smile, the perfect pitch of her laugh.
The rest of America has learned about them as well – students who dreamed of becoming engineers or nurses, star atheltes who worked on Wall Street or helped coach small children, warehouse manager, bluegrass fan, cook engaged to be married, a single mom just promoted at work, teaching her young son to read.
They came from different states, even different countries. There were children at dinner with their parents shortly before joining their friends on New Year’s Eve. Some of them ran toward the chaos to try to help save others. We remember them.
Today, we also stand with the 35 people who were injured in the attack, and we think of the brave responders and law enforcement officers who risked their lives to stop the terror and save others, including two of those officers that I met tonight who were injured in the firefight. Now, thankfully both are recovering at home,
I’m directing my team to make every resource available to federal, state, and local law enforcement to complete this investigation quickly and do whatever else we can.
The French Quarter is also home to so many people. We will support everyone who lives there – all the people of New Orleans as they heal. And if there’s one thing we know, New Orleans defines strength and resilience, you define it – whether it’s the form of this attack, or hurricanes or superstorms, this city’s people get back up. That’s the spirit of America as well.
Let me close with this, to the families left behind: We know from some experience it’s hard, but I promise you the day will come, when the memory of your loved one – you pass that park, open that closet door and smell that fragrance, just remember that laugh - when the memory of your loved one will bring a smile to your lips before a tear to your eye. It will take time, but I promise you – I promise you – it will come. It will take time.
My prayer is that that day comes sooner rather than later, but it will come. And when it does, you may find purpose in your pain, to live the life worthy of the one you lost.
In a hymn based on the 91st Psalm, in my church: May he raise you up on eagles’ wings and bear you on the breath of dawn and make you to shine like the sun and hold you, hold you in the palm of his hand.
God Bless you all. May god protect our troops, God bless you.
Law enforcement in Jackson Square stand guard
A group of onlookers waited outside the square hoping for a glimpse of the president as attendees made their way through the barricades.
The Victims of the New Year’s Eve Attack
Kareem Badawi
Martin “Tiger” Bech
Andrew Dauphin
Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux
William DiMaio
Hubert Gauthreaux
Reggie Hunter
Nicole Perez
Edward Pettifer
LaTasha Polk
Matthew Tenedorio
Brandon Taylor
Terrence “Terry” Kennedy
Elliot Wilkinson
French Quarter Journal offers condolences to their families and loved ones.
