In a deeply personal and emotional ceremony last Friday, Vice President JD Vance honored his mother, Beverly Aikins, for achieving a remarkable milestone: ten years of sobriety.
The celebration took place in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, where family and close friends gathered to witness Aikins receive her 10-year sobriety medallion — a symbol of hope, strength, and redemption.
“This year marks my mom’s 10th year of sobriety, and I’m grateful that we were able to celebrate in the White House with our family,” Vance shared on social media, posting touching photos of the event. “Mom, I am so proud of you.”
According to journalist Salena Zito of The Washington Examiner, who was present for the ceremony, the event was filled with heartfelt emotion and quiet reflection. At one point, Vance himself choked up, recalling the difficult years he wrote about in his bestselling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, which chronicled the pain of growing up in Appalachia amid addiction and family instability.
“Well, here we are. And you made it, and we made it. And most importantly, you’re celebrating a very, very big milestone. And I’m just very proud of you,” the vice president said during the ceremony, his voice trembling. “I’m gonna try not to cry here.”
“When I think about everything you’ve accomplished over the last 10 years and the fact that when I was thinking about becoming a father, I didn’t know whether you would live long enough to have a relationship with my kids,” he said. “And now here they are, almost 8, 5, and 3, and you’re the best grandmother that these kids could ever ask for.”
“It is really an amazing thing to watch. It is one of the great blessings of becoming a father, is that I’ve been able to see these kids develop the love and the affection for you and to see it in return. And that’s just an incredible blessing,” he added.
What made the moment even more powerful was the presence of Vance’s three young children, whom he admitted he once feared his mother might never meet.
The event, though private, speaks volumes about the American spirit of resilience and redemption, and it highlights the kind of family values and faith-driven perseverance that so many Americans relate to.
Vance’s story — and now his mother’s — is a testament to the idea that no one is beyond saving, and that with God’s grace and family support, healing is possible.
This moving milestone serves not only as a personal victory for the Vance family but also as a symbol of hope for countless families across the country struggling with addiction.
