melvin. all of the guys were brilliant. all of these ladies were brilliant. yet they never had the opportunity to stand where i stand now. in fact, judge melvin told me he never even fathomed getting the opportunity to stand where i am standing now so i don't take this for granted. i have spoken to many of them over a little while, and one of the things that stood out to me about all of them is the heart that they had. the integrity that they had. the care for their communities that they had. i hope to be able to emulate that. so i know i stand on the shoulders of giants. i can't even imagine what it must've have been like for doug wilder, first black governor of maryland. 1989. or fergie read, first black person elected to the general assembly since reconstruction. for george delmer who was elected during the construction to the general assembly, a black man from portsmouth. and he was a republican. every time i look around this room, i do see this. i see the ghosts of those people who worke