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Hi, Everyone. VP spoke at the Colby commencement back in May. He met with
a young lady, Grace Dunn, who is battling cancer. This is a note from
Grace's roommate's mother. VP asked me to distribute to you all. Kathy


Dear Pete:


I am finally back home from my sojourn in Maine and wanted to follow up
because I am not sure you realize how incredibly grateful I am to you for
your behind the scenes work for Grace vis-à-vis Vice President Biden. His
speech in general was superb but his mentioning her by name, with so much
kindness and empathy in his voice, literally made shivers go up my spine.
I am not a terribly religious person but his thundering speech, from the
height of Mayflower Hill, on a day that was made in heaven, touched me
more than any speaker in any venue ever has. It defined the word
"heartfelt". I have found his speech on Youtube and forwarded it to others
who know of Grace's illness. It was a superb speech and his focus on
kindness and dignity was the perfect antidote to what we hear daily in the
media. It was celebratory, funny and profound and he delivered it with
perfection. His audience was awestruck.


You, too, in your actions these past weeks by listening to my sad story
--and then following thru--have been humbling to witness. I was a lobbyist
in another life and I have a small idea how much work and thought goes into
a politician’s speech. I am sure you have zillions of people with zillions
of issues coming at you daily and the fact that a man of your stature
took the time help a girl you had never met was SO kind and decent of you.
Colby is lucky to have you.


The meeting with Vice President Biden was pretty exceptional too as he
spent about 25 minutes with Grace, her family and Caroline. Caroline said
he could not have been nicer and more caring and offered them any help he
could. The Dunns are very grateful and Grace felt, for a few minutes at
least, that she is not alone. Her parents knew they were talking to
someone who has been through the horrors they are experiencing. I cannot
imagine what the whole weekend was like for them.


On a humorous note, (and because we have to keep laughing), I don't think
my daughter will ever again get near a podium without her speech in her
HAND!

She learned a lot of academics at Colby but she never learned the
importance of not trusting that the President of the College will remember
to leave "your" speech on the podium. I think Caroline now knows to never
let her speech out of her sight before she steps foot on a stage.


Caroline hopes she can meet you one day.


With heartfelt gratitude,

Kitty Dove


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