First lady Biden meets with families of USS Delaware crew

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First lady Jill Biden meets with families of sailors serving aboard the USS Delaware, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Groton, Conn. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

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First lady Jill Biden and Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro speak to families of sailors serving aboard the USS Delaware, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Groton, Conn. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

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First lady Jill Biden and Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro speak to families of sailors serving aboard the USS Delaware, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Groton, Conn. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

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First lady Jill Biden meets with families of sailors serving aboard the USS Delaware, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Groton, Conn. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

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Eloise Horton, 6, holds a sign welcoming first lady Jill Biden at a gathering of families of sailors serving aboard the USS Delaware, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Groton, Conn. Horton is the daughter of the ships commanding officer, Cmdr. Matthew Horton. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

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First lady Jill Biden arrives to speak with families of the crew serving aboard the USS Delaware in Groton, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

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First lady Jill Biden speaks to families of the crew serving aboard the USS Delaware in Groton, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

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First lady Jill Biden speaks to families of sailors serving aboard the USS Delaware, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Groton, Conn. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

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First lady Jill Biden speaks to families of sailors serving aboard the USS Delaware, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Groton, Conn. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

GROTON, Conn. (AP) — First lady Jill Biden visited Connecticut on Thursday and met with families of the crew of USS Delaware, an attack submarine based in Groton.

Biden, accompanied by Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, shook hands and posed for photos with families at a holiday gathering inside the Submarine Veterans Club.

“I know that this is a strong community and I really honor your service,” Biden told the families.

As the sponsor of USS Delaware, Biden smashed a bottle of sparking wine against the submarine at its 2018 christening in Newport News, Virginia.

Naval Submarine Base New London is the primary U.S. Navy submarine base on the East Coast.