I once saw a greeting card that read: “Home is where you start”. That’s a pretty simple statement, and also, a pretty profound thought.
Home is the place where the tracks of your character and the DNA of your value system are laid down – it’s the place that surrounds you and protects you.
It’s an incubator: through its windows you get a glimpse of the world before you have to step out into it – you can see The Possibilities – and when you are ready – when it is time, you walk out its door into that world – to become all you can be – all you are capable of.
Vice President Joe Biden greets people on Rehoboth Avenue in Rehoboth Beach in 2012 while his wife, Jill, signs copies of her book at Browseabout Books. The Bidens, who are frequent visitors to Rehoboth Beach, recently bought a vacation retreat in the Cape Henlopen State Park area.
Delaware is home.
And now for the final time, Jill and I, nurtured and chiseled by the State, have come home to stay – with gratitude and love for the opportunities you have given us to listen, to learn, and to lead.
You celebrated with me in 1972 when I was elected to the US Senate at 29 years old – you mourned with me 6 weeks later at the death of my wife and baby daughter. Your grief washed over me and helped heal my soul – and 5 years later, your joy at my marriage to Jill sealed my heart.
You marched with me in parades from Hockessin to Laurel, you ate with me at the Italian and Greek festivals, manned the booth with me at the Harrington Fair – stood beside me when I was bent but not broken, stood behind me when I need that extra push of courage, stood in front of me when I needed to listen and follow your wisdom.
You, my fellow Delawareans, have been the wind beneath my wings. We are a nation of promise and possibilities, of dreamers and doers, of ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things. That’s what you showed me.
So Delaware, from the bottom of my heart, thank you, thank you, thank you. It has been the privilege of my life to represent you, as a County Councilman, US Senator, Vice President of the United States and President of the United States.
Because of you, Delaware will forever be written on my heart.
I’ll see you back home.
Joe Biden is the 46th president of the United States and a lifelong Delawarean. He will be returning to The First State when he exits office on Jan. 20.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: President Joe Biden pens letter to Delaware before leaving White House