In his last act as President, Mr. Obama surprised Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Thursday by bestowing the Presidential Medal of Freedom on him, calling Biden “my brother” in a tearful goodbye in the East Room of the White House. Filled with friends, family and colleagues of Biden’s, Obama awarded the medal with distinction for the first time – a designation most recently given to President Ronald Reagan, Pope John Paul II and Gen. Colin Powell.

During the televised ceremony President Obama had some very kind words for his colleague of 8 years. “To know Joe Biden is to know love without pretense, service without self-regard, and to live life fully.” He then went on to say, “My family is so proud to call ourselves honorary Biden’s.”

Mr. Biden broke down and turned his back to compose himself only to openly cry when President Obama bestowed the medal around his neck. He then spoke about Obama. “You have more than kept your commitment to me by saying you wanted me to help govern…. I can say I was part of a journey of a remarkable man who did remarkable things for this country. This honor is not only well beyond what I deserve, but it’s a reflection of the generosity of your spirit,” Biden told Obama. “I don’t deserve this. But I know it came from the president’s heart.”

Biden then added that he hoped the history books would record that he was an asterisk in Mr. Obama’s historic presidency. Both Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden will be missed.

Although they have left the White House, the bromance between these two is still alive and well and so are the memes honoring their relationship. Check out the gallery below:

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