EMAIL DETAILS

I'm not sure you ever saw this email I sent back in June to Hallie expressing my extreme gratitude for everything you all have done to help me throughout the years.

And even though the specific opportunity I was referring at the time is no longer, my commitment and resolve to service is unwavering.

My mother would read Langston Hews "mother to son" first thing every Christmas morning. I share that now as well as the below email for two reasons:

1. It's important for me that you know, while my head is currently bloody but unbowed. Like you its in my DNA to never give up. The pome best expresses this.

2. It's important to me that you know, I've been humbled and grateful for your and your families consistent help and support. There is not a day that goes by that I'm not thankful to the Biden family and especially you and Beau. I just hope and pray one day, I'll be back in a position to properly thank you. But as my below email states, the best thanks I can give to to help others.

So I know your not much for all this mushy stuff, I'll leave it with simply this.

Sincerely thank you,
Joel

Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So, boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps.
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now—
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

by Langston Hughes

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Joel Secundy <JSecundy@eriemg.com>
> Date: June 26, 2015 at 5:30:04 PM EDT
> To: Hallie Olivere <halliebiden@gmail.com>
> Cc: Ron Olivere <lronolivere@aol.com>, Joan Olivere <joan.olivere@gmail.com>, Liz Secundy <lizsecundy@aol.com>
> Subject: how the dots in my life have been connected because of your support
>
> “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart even when it leads you off the well worn path; and that will make all the difference.”
>
> – Steve Jobs [Stanford commencement speech, June 2005]
>
> -------
>
> Hallie,
>
> I wanted to reach out to you today to express my deep appreciation and gratitude to you, hunter Beau and the entire Biden family. And share how the dots in my life have been connected because of your support.
>
> In 2008, I found myself along with millions of other Americans unemployed. (directly affected by the Global Financial Crisis, considered by many economists to have been the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s). If it had not been for you and Beau's support and confidence and your pro active willingness to endorse my qualifications, I would never have been given the opportunity to interview for a position within the Obama Administration.
>
> I share this now along with the attached press release to simply say thank you. Your support, at that pivotal time proved to be a critical catalyst!!
>
> Bottom line, had it not been for your support, It is doubtful I would be able to celebrate this exciting new professional chapter in my life. (See attached press release).
>
> While I still have "miles to go and promises to keep." I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge my gratitude. I don't know what the future holds, but in honor of Beau, I can assure you, I will do my very best to leverage this exciting new role to help make a positive impact and to make him proud!!
>
> With love and thanks,
>
> Joel
>
>=2