In 2001 and 2002, my son Beau served our U.S. Department of Justice abroad by helping train judges and prosecutors in Kosovo as it began to overcome the war and... war crimes committed there over the previous decades. And this week, my family and I had the honor to stand alongside the people of Kosovo as they named a highway between two of their great cities in Beau's honor.
Beau had volunteered to be one of the U.S. federal representatives in Kosovo helping put together the training programs for local judges and prosecutors, and laying the groundwork for what would become Kosovo's Judicial Institute, which I'm told still operates to this very day. At that time, when the wounds of war were fresh and the landscape was still scarred with abandoned vehicles and earth that had been blown up, at that time, Kosovo's justice system had been hollowed out by decades of totalitarian rule. Beau played a small part, but he played a part, in making sure that the war crimes were prosecuted and, most importantly, from his perspective, prosecuted based on hard evidence, not on emotion. He helped introduce and develop for the first time in Kosovo's legal system, a system built on what we call the adversarial model, where the role of the prosecutor is not just to prosecute but to do justice. And the accused is entitled to a defense, no matter how reprehensible the accused may be.
I have always been proud of him, but I was never more proud of him than when I was with him in Kosovo. He and his brother are cut from the same cloth -- men of courage. My mother had an expression that applies to my son, Hunter, and his brother, Beau. She said, remember, Joe: you're defined by your courage and you're redeemed by your loyalty. I think that's why we both have come to love Kosovo so much. Beau not only threw himself into his work but he really did come to love the people, the cultures, the history of the incredible country of Kosovo.
As a family, we Bidens are working to focus on what Beau was about and devote our lives to making fulfilled what he fought so hard for. That's how how my family views this memorial. Five, 10, 20, 60 years from now, my grandchildren, my great-grandchildren, my great-great-grandchildren, every Biden born will make the trip to Kosovo. Every Biden born will make the trip to see that monument to their father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great grandfather.
!['"This month, we’re celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. And I want to encourage all of you to 'Find Your Park' so that you and your family can experience these sacred places, too." —@[424207551102424:274:President Obama]. Learn how military families can access all national parks for free through the @[217042158310061:274:Joining Forces] initiative, and families with a fourth grader can get a free pass by visiting EveryKidInAPark.org. #FindYourPark'](https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p100x100/14088454_10154650460204238_7050521151705880793_n.jpg?oh=45a49627a7253580e84ca58e611e4370&oe=5844626B)
!['As Rio 2016 comes to a close, @[18000802685:274:Team USA] finishes with 46 gold medals, 37 silver medals, and 38 bronze medals—more than any other country in competition. Their athleticism, talent, perseverance, and humility will be remembered for generations. Congratulations, @[18000802685:274:Team USA]—we are so proud of you!'](https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p100x100/14100268_10154647869964238_3351975408744170182_n.png?oh=b6b427bcc3cc116cdb2a4cb8504e9d5a&oe=5853E7AB)
!['July wasn’t just the hottest month of 2016—it was the hottest month in all of recorded history. Climate change is one of the biggest threats we face, it is being driven by human activity, and it is disrupting Americans’ lives right now. That’s why @[424207551102424:274:President Obama] is acting to protect our planet: whitehouse.gov/the-record/climate'](https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p100x100/14063817_10154633769129238_9139136155199258709_n.jpg?oh=d4cd9acf5d2667c5b1b3b7f562032337&oe=58598985)
!['Earlier this year, @[424207551102424:274:President Obama] called on the private sector to help eliminate unnecessary hiring barriers for the approximately 70 million Americans who have a criminal record. This week, 185 employers—including Walmart, Dropbox, and the University of Pennsylvania—have answered that call. By signing the Fair Chance Pledge, these companies are committed to making sure all Americans have a fair shot at a future. Check out the full list of employers: wh.gov/fairchancepledge'](https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p100x100/14046134_10154633357384238_1789117566532333293_n.jpg?oh=e7fa958c233f1c34ad48831c1f322a35&oe=581387DD)
!['Today, we’re fulfilling one of the central promises of @[424207551102424:274:President Obama]'s Climate Action Plan. We’re finalizing the standards that will promote a new generation of cleaner and more fuel efficient trucks. That means 1.1 billion fewer tons of CO2 will be emitted into the atmosphere, and operators will save 2 billion barrels of oil and $170 billion in fuel costs. Today, we’re helping to protect our climate for future generations: go.wh.gov/FFCthc'](https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p100x100/14046078_10154629319914238_8487960781040071865_n.jpg?oh=c65df369fc96a3695093bdaf2621c80a&oe=585B5610)
!['Since @[424207551102424:274:President Obama] took office: We’ve multiplied wind power threefold, we’ve multiplied solar power more than thirtyfold, and carbon pollution from our energy sector is at its lowest level in 25 years. That’s progress: go.wh.gov/SgLMLo #ActOnClimate'](https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p100x100/13935097_10154625631879238_4578064408271174664_n.jpg?oh=b42ce2b9e42701613c61c196e6f0c914&oe=58543AF0)
!['“There’s nothing quite like the pride of seeing @[18000802685:274:Team USA] walk in.” Go behind the scenes with the Presidential Delegation to the Opening Ceremony of #Rio2016: go.wh.gov/qYFSxY'](https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p100x100/13920747_10154623170024238_1571483241575890843_n.jpg?oh=ce2559149ca403944c328f8463c70b3c&oe=58504603)
!['Pulitzer Prize-winning surf memoir ✓ Psychological thriller ✓ Science fiction novel ✓
Check out what's on @[424207551102424:274:President Obama]'s summer reading list: http://go.wh.gov/ut58mm'](https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p100x100/13934688_10154614497504238_7798377518301091865_n.jpg?oh=aff2786e4b6a843e7fd5f78b0d6bc4ec&oe=585188B5)
!['"I think this country needs more spunk." —Lily. Lily is eight years old. Her dad serves in the Air Force. And she wrote to @[424207551102424:274:President Obama] with some advice. Read her letter, then see how the President replied: http://go.wh.gov/LilyLetter'](https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p100x100/13901522_10154614102304238_792019755215812051_n.jpg?oh=b8f745dcbb93fbc9f339cdf968983655&oe=583D5336)
