Talk about your ‘Only in Delaware’ moments!
The Beast Who Slumbers attended a memorial service at the Arden Gild Hall today for Robert Cunningham. Bob was a true progressive, fiercely committed to civil rights long before there was a civil rights movement, and fiercely loyal to Joe Biden and to his family. He was also one of Biden’s earliest champions, and served as speechwriter to the Senator for 23 years. His obituary doesn’t begin to capture the depth of the man. El Somnambulo knew Bob from Democratic politics and especially through the delightful conversations on politics and sports that Bob would engage in at the Arden Club suppers. Bob always had so much to share, and he delighted in sharing it.
So, it was at this low-key, but very moving, memorial service, as one speaker put it, “Part Irish wake, part Quaker meeting”, that the Vice President of the United States got up and spoke from the heart about his longtime friendship with Bob Cunningham. He talked about their exploits together in Arden, where Bob spent many of his formative years and where Biden lived briefly. He talked about how Bob was there in the family’s darkest moments and proudest triumphs. For 30 minutes, he eulogized Cunningham and told many stories, some humorous, some touching, and some both.
While Secret Service was present, they were very low-key and did not intrude at all on this very personal event.
‘Bulo does not know whether this could have taken place in any other state in the country. He does know that Delaware is just so fortunate that events like this happen here. And the State is especially fortunate that people like Joe Biden never forget where they came from and will never forget the people who had such a profound influence on them. People like Bob Cunningham. People who should never be forgotten.