>> From the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. [ Silence ] >> John Cole: Good morning everyone, good morning, good morning. Good morning, good morning, I'd like to hear a good morning. Good morning. >> [group response] Good morning. >> John Cole: Good morning. Hello, welcome to the Library of Congress. I'm John Cole. I'm the Director of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. And today we have a very special program aimed at supporting children of military families and we also have a very special guest and I think you know who she is. It is great to see so many kids here and so many families and I'm going to do just a little roll call. I mean are there any kids here from Fort Belvoir? [ Crowd cheering ] I heard a rumor too that there were kids from Walt Whitman Middle School. Is that true? The D.C. National Guard, Andrews Air Force Base, River Naval Air Station. They're not here yet, but we have room in the back for them. This is the first in our Books and Beyond talks for Young People. The Center for the Book, which promotes books and reading opened a Young Reader's Center just three years ago and this is a talk that's in the series of Books and Beyond. Our very special guest as you know is Dr. Jill Biden. But, before we introduce Dr. Biden I would like to introduce the Head of the Library of Congress. For-- how many of you kids are here for the very first time at the Library of Congress? Can I see a show of hands? Well, a special welcome to you. You may know that the Library of Congress is the largest library in the world and you're about to meet the man who runs it. The Library of Congress has 155,000,000 items and they're stored on over 830 miles of bookshelves in three buildings on Capitol Hill and in other places near Washington. Dr. Billington oversees all of this and he's been Librarian of Congress since 1987 when President Ronald Regan nominated him and the U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed his nomination. He is only the 13th person to be a Librarian of Congress. We were created way back in 1800 and there have only been 13 librarians. If you've been on the library's website at loc.gov you'll know that Dr. Billington created our National Digital Library, which is where you'll find many of the marvelous things we have online. He also created the World Digital Library where you can learn about most of the countries of the world and see their wonderful historic treasures. Thanks to the foresight of Dr. Billington we can make our most important treasures available on the website. You can see Thomas Jefferson's draft of, "The Declaration of Independence" or Abraham Lincoln's. "Gettysburg Address", which he delivered during the Civil War. You can also see the first map that used the word America. Dr. Billington also was the inspiration for our Young Reader's Center and when you come back to the Library of Congress I suggest, I hope that all of you will visit us in the north, in the northeast corner, which is the Young Reader's Center. Now, please welcome the Librarian of Congress, Dr. James H. Billington. [ Applause ] >> Dr. James Billington: Thanks very much and welcome to you all. I hope you noticed that it was very dark a couple hours ago. But, with the arrival of our very special and honored visitors today the sun has come out. So, it's great to see so many children of our men and women in the military. As children of these brave men and women that serve our country so well you share in the sacrifices that military families make in keeping our country strong and free. We are very grateful to all of you who are here today. Now, our special guest, Dr. Jill Biden, knows about the concerns and sacrifices of military families. She's a step mother of two of Vice President Joseph Biden's children Beau and Hunter Biden, mother of Ashley Biden. Beau Biden's unit of a Delaware National Guard was deployed to Iraq in 2008. Now, Dr. Biden is a key member of the Blue Star Families Project. Delaware you know is the first star in the flag of the United States and Blue Star Families is a national institution founded by military families to support one another and to enlist the surrounding community in supporting them. Dr. Biden is an eloquent and effective champion of military families and also of the importance of community colleges to America's future. She has a Doctors Degree from the University of Delaware, worked with and was especially admired by some of the greatest teachers at that university. This is according to my wife who's also an alumni of the university. You hear so many positive things. She is herself a lifelong educator and is an esteemed Professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College. Now, among her many other accomplishments Dr. Biden cofounded the Book Buddies Program, which enlists trained volunteers to provide instruction to young students who need extra support in literacy. Dr. Biden is also the founder of the Biden Breast Health Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and prevention of breast cancer. And Dr. Biden's also an author. She has written a marvelous book for young people in military families thus as many of you are today. It's called, "Don't Forget, God Bless Our Troops." We are very fortunate that Dr. Biden will read from her book here to you today and the accompanying images will be available on the screen. We are grateful, really grateful that she has taken the time out from her busy schedule as the wife of our Vice President to with us today. So, ladies, gentlemen and particularly all you great kids from military families let's all welcome Miss Godmother of good causes and special friend of military families for our country, ladies and gentlemen Dr. Jill Biden and her granddaughter. [ Applause ] >> Dr. Jill Biden: Hi. Hello, hello everybody. How are you? My name is Jill Biden and I am a military family and the Bidens are a military family. We have our son Beau, who I think Dr. Billington mentioned is in Delaware Army National Guard. And our son Hunter is just joined the Navy and he's 43 years old so he joined a little late in life. But, so we have two children in the military. And you know when I took this job when my husband became Vice President, Michelle Obama and I traveled all around this country and we realized that one percent of the military families are fighting our wars. And, but 99 percent of Americans really need to support our military families. And we realize that a lot of people don't know anybody in the military, which is you know strange to you and to me because we are military families. But, a lot of people don't realize what military families go through when you have your mom or your dad or your husband or your brother or your sister who's deployed to fight a war like Iraq or Afghanistan. So, when Natalie's daddy was deployed to Iraq I saw how hard it was for her and her little brother Hunter. And I thought you know what, other American families need to know what it's like for families when their moms or dads or family members are deployed. So, Natalie was my inspiration for the book. And I-- so it's her story so that's why I brought her and because it's things that our family went through that year that my son Beau, her daddy was deployed. And it was a hard year, right, like many of you I'm sure have had moms or dads who are deployed haven't you? So, you know how hard it is when there are special days that go by and you know you really want your mom or your dad or your husband or your wife there with you and they're off somewhere else. So, Skype has been a really good thing, I think, for a lot of families. And so, that does help, but it's nothing like having your mom or your dad or you know right there with you. So, anyway I'll read the book. You'll see the things that our family went through. You'll see how hard it was for Natalie. I see that you brought your daddy doll with you. Is your daddy deployed? And where's your daddy? >> Quitar. >> Dr. Jill Biden: Quitar, okay. So, you know what, we have a daddy doll in the book. So, when you-- when I read that part you know you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. And how many of you at this point have a mom or a dad who's deployed somewhere? Wow, a lot of you, a lot of you. Well, I want you to know that the President and Michelle Obama and the Vice President and I are really so proud of all of you because we know how hard it is for you. And we're so proud and honored to be here today. So, I'll read the book and then Natalie's going to read the last page. So, you want to sit there Natalie? Okay, so the title is, "Don't Forget, God Bless Our Troops" and on the front of the book there is Natalie and there's her daddy Actually, Natalie drew this. This was her drawing that we included in the book. And so, it's nice to have your artwork in there. Okay, does daddy really have to go? Daddy is a soldier, Natalie's mom answers in a quiet voice. Soldiers have to do hard things sometimes. She runs her hand through Natalie's hair. Her father takes Natalie in his arms. Home is wherever I'm with you, he sings softly. Natalie smiles, I like that song daddy. I like it, she whispers. Natalie sits on the floor of her room with stuffed animals all around her. Her dolls are here. Her books are here. Even her dog Webbie is here, but one thing isn't here. Daddy isn't here. Outside the October sky is gray. Leaves are falling. Daddy's not here, Natalie thinks again as she watches a red leaf drift past the window and out of sight. Natalie calls it, the day we eat turkey. So, what day is that? >> [group response] Thanksgiving. >> Dr. Jill Biden: Thanksgiving. Make a wish says nana and pull. Tug, snap, Natalie pulls the wishbone and wins. I wish that daddy would-- shh, nana says putting a finger to her lips. Keep your wish secret and hope that someday it will come true. Be brave Natalie. The wind is blowing outside the kitchen window. Natalie helps her mother bake holiday cookies. Yum, says her little brother Hunter. They will send the cookies to daddy. How many of you have done that, probably lots and lots of you. Will daddy be coming home, Natalie suddenly asks? Natalie sees her mom turn away and wipes her eyes. She runs over and puts her arms around her mom. I love you mommy. I love you. Be brave Natalie. So many people are kind to the family. Yesterday the neighbors brought over a homemade pizza. Today dad's friend Alex is shoveling the sidewalk. Your dad is sure helping our country, Alex says. I want to help too. On the lawn Natalie and Hunter are rolling big snowballs. They are making a snowman. Natalie puts an Army cap on the snowman's head. Hunter claps his hands and cheers yea. A snow soldier, Natalie shouts. Be brave Natalie. Natalie stands in the church hallway looking at a page of the church bulletin. She touches the page here. Her father's name is here along with the names of many other soldiers. People will pray for all of them. A girl behind her is also looking at the names. Natalie wonders, is her mommy or daddy far from home too? Is her mom or daddy safe? Hi Natalie says, shyly. Hi, the girl answers, smiling. Right away Natalie knows that they will become friends. Be brave Natalie. Natalie's baby tooth is hanging by a thread. Okay, so this was a couple of years ago and Natalie's a big girl now. Mom turns on the computer and gets dad on video chat. So, I'm sure a lot of you are used to this. Daddy, daddy Hunter waves. Natalie's tooth is ready to come out, says mom. She's going to pull it. Natalie sees her dad waving and waves back. I'm afraid, daddy. It may hurt. Natalie smiles, dad smiles. Go, go, go, you're a big girl. Natalie's teacher holds up a picture. There are many soldiers in the picture and one of them is Natalie's dad. The teacher points to him. The soldiers are far, far away, she says. They are fighting for our country. Natalie feels special, proud, which I'm sure is how so many of you feel about your moms and dads. On her way to research she looked-- recess she looks at the picture again. She leans over and kisses her dad right on the nose. Be brave Natalie. Natalie and Hunter are playing soldiers with their daddy dolls, so there's the part about the daddy doll. Hunter starts to cry, I want daddy. Natalie holds her doll up in front of her face. She pretends the doll is a puppet. Don't cry Hunter. Be a big strong boy, she says in a daddy voice. That's not daddy talking, says Hunter. Yes it is. That's what daddy would say. Hunter nods. He stops crying. He wipes his eyes. Be brave Natalie. Oh I'm tired, Natalie yawns. Natalie and Hunter are staying overnight at nana and pop's house. That's what they call us, nana and pop. Hunter is already asleep. Natalie snuggles next to her grandmother. We had a busy day didn't we nana? Nana smiles, but it was a good day. You were such a helper too. We sent hundreds of boxes overseas. You know honey; your daddy isn't the only soldier in the Army. There are many soldiers far away from home along with him. Now, they'll know we care. Okay, let's say a prayer before we fall asleep. Natalie closes her eyes and everything is quiet. Then, she opens her eyes for a brief second and don't forget nana, she says in a sleepy voice, God bless our troops. Be brave Natalie. Natalie stares at the blue shimmering water. She hears a sound of splashing kids. I can't mommy. Her mother stands in the pool waiting. You can do it. Pretend you're swimming to daddy. Natalie takes a deep breath, one, two, three, jump. Natalie feels the water over her head. She sputters as she comes up laughing. I did it mommy. I did it. I did it. Be brave Natalie. Natalie and Hunter wear their Army t-shirts all summer and I'm sure you guys wear your shirts, your Army t-shirts too. Their mom chuckles, Natalie that shirt is so dirty it can stand up by itself. Let me wash it. But mommy, soldiers get dirty when they wear their uniforms. Why can't I? Webbie seems to agree. Woof woof, Webbie barks, woof woof. Natalie is making a picture. Carefully she draws long red stripes leaving white spaces after each one. Next she picks up a crayon and colors in a blue square in the corner. What's she going to make? >> [group response] The flag. >> Dr. Jill Biden: The flag. It has to be the best picture ever. It's for someone very special. Be brave Natalie. Natalie is so excited. She bounces here. She bounces there. She sees soldiers everywhere hugging their families. Suddenly she sees someone hurrying toward them. Mommy, Hunter, nana, everyone, there's daddy. Natalie races to her father and hugs him around the legs. So, that's something I'm sure some of you have been through before or you're looking forward to when your moms or you dads come home. Okay, so this is the best part. So, Natalie's going to read this to you. Here I'll hold it and you can read the-- >> Natalie Biden: He lifts her up, up, up in his shoulders, daddy my brave daddy. Her dad laughs. No, no, no, it's my little Natalie. You are my brave, brave girl. >> Dr. Jill Biden: The end. Her dad comes home. [ Applause ] Thank you. [ Applause ] So, you know as I said before, we are a military family. I would love to meet all the children here. Natalie would love to meet the children. Once again, thank you for your service to our country. So, if you come by and you just want to say hello or give me a hug I'd love that too. So, I'll see you down in front. >> John Cole: Let's give Dr. Biden another round of applause with Natalie as well. [ Applause ] [ Silence ] >> This has been a presentation of the Library of Congress.