What the Veep? More than a game

(LIN) — This year’s Army-Navy game carried a different tone for Vice President Joe Biden.

Now that each of his sons are reservists in both the Army National Guard and Navy National Guard, the game carried a new meaning, and Biden was there to watch the two sides battle it out this year on the gridiron.

Photos: Biden at the Army-Navy game

His oldest son, Beau, served one year in Iraq in 2008 and is currently a major in the Delaware Army National Guard.

Biden’s youngest son, Hunter, just joined the Navy Reserve in November 2012. Because he is 42, he needed special permission to join, and received a direct commission to serve as a public affairs officer.

While neither son is serving active duty, military matters weigh heavy on Biden’s heart, from stances taken in the 2012 vice presidential debate to spending Thanksgiving with wounded troops.

At the game Saturday, Biden presented the Commander-in-Chief trophy to the victor. Navy topped Army in a close 17-13 win.

Did the Veep pick a side? If he did, he kept it hidden. Anything other than cheering for any member of the armed services to Biden would just be malarkey.

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What the Veep is a bi-weekly feature about the office of the vice president. Jessica O. Swink is a contributing editor to onPolitix . Join in the conversation on Facebook and Twitter .