John Kerry: “in the course of our lives, one of the most difficult moments we face is to say goodbye to a parent. No matter how old…”

“in the course of our lives, one of the most difficult moments we face is to say goodbye to a parent. No matter how old we are or how old they are or even how long they've struggled with illness and infirmity, when you lose your mother or father, you are reminded again what it means to be someone's child, and it hits you right in the gut just how much you depend on your mother and father. It is difficult, and it has been particularly difficult for the O'Brien family of Marshfield Hills, MA, which just this month lost their patriarch, Edward Lawrence O'Brien, who was an extraordinary blessing to his family, and his friends, but also to the country he loved, which he served in the U.S. Navy. And his passing is a profound loss to us all. Ed leaves behind his loving wife Marge, his brother Gene, 6 devoted children and 17 adoring grandchildren. His son Drew has served the people of Massachusetts as my State director for almost a decade, living the spirit of public service that Ed instilled and inspired in all of his family. Ed was, to borrow a phrase Tip O'Neill liked so much, ``a beautiful person,'' and I enjoyed meeting him on several occasions. Our last meeting will be with me forever, when I had the privilege of presenting him with his World War II medals for his service in the Pacific.…”