January 24, 2009

Dear President Obama:

Your Inaugural message on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 of “Choosing Hope Over Fear” was a great message for America today. I am the product of the Hope that was created by America over 50 years ago. We need to remember that America was built on a lot of little people doing everyday good things that made us a great nation.

It was 10 years ago this day that I sat down, on a cold and dark Minnesota winter’s day, and began writing my memoirs that began with my early childhood days when I was placed in an orphanage with my brother and two sisters in Joliet, Il., in 1963. I was only 8 years old at the time I entered the orphanage. I thought that day was the worst day of my life and cried almost every night alone in my bed. 10 years later, I walked out of Boys Town, Nebraska, at 18 to find out what the world was like.

In 1998, I was 45 years old and had been through a lot in my life by this time. I was also stuck in “neutral” (so to speak) in that I could not seem to go forward beyond dealing with some things in my childhood that continued to surface and haunt me. In particular, I thought I had had a bum deal in life.

It was a newspaper reporter from Joliet, IL., John Whiteside, with the Joliet Herald News, along with the encouragement of NFL Hall of Fame coach, Bud Grant, who encouraged me to go forward by going back. Both men were right in that looking at one’s past and looking for the good, can make all the difference. The same should hold true for America.

I began to realize finally that I did not have it so bad and there were so many good people along the way who helped me like the Lions Club in Joliet who threw the annual “Guardian Angel Home Christmas Party” . They provided for many of us orphan’s that one wrapped present with our name on it every year for many of us that made us feel so important and happy. The list grew quickly as I looked back with each new discovery of the little acts of kindness that truly shaped who I am today. America was full of kind people back then who were willing to stick out a hand and help someone else up.

Today, I am a very grateful and happily married man for almost 30 years to the same wonderful woman who stood with me when no-one dared. Our two daughters are well educated and nice people whom I love and am very proud of. Life is good and I am grateful to be an American.

As I speak to former orphan’s who were raised in different orphanages around the country in the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s,I try and help them see the good and to try and thank those who helped them along the way.

I am asking you to please continue to tell the American people like the Lions Clubs, Rotary Clubs, or anyone in particular who’s trying to make a difference to “Don’t Stop Giving. You do make a difference. Not everyone you give to will be able to come back and find you. But, everything you have given was received.”

John Whitesides, the writer from the Joliet Herald News, who interviewed me in 1988 about what happened to the orphan’s from the Guardian Angel Home should also get credit for encouraging me to write my story down. It lead to writing my memoirs, “Did I ever thank you, Sister?” ( www.saldileo.com ), which was a healing process in itself.

I wish you the best in your Presidency.

Sal N. Di Leo