John Kerry

Newly appointed Secretary of State John Kerry began his Thank You tour across the state Thursday morning at YouthBuild USA in Springfield.

"I just say to all of you, you have given me the privilege of a lifetime to represent this extraordinary Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a United States senator," said Kerry. "I can't think of any better work, better job, better opportunity and I just wanted to come out here and say thank you."

Kerry thanked his supporters for allowing him to serve nearly three decades in the Senate.

"This is not an ending," said Kerry. "I am privileged now to start four years of a journey with the president of the United States and the administration to try and help bring peace."

Around 100 packed into the event. And many say it's an experience they'll always remember.

Kerry enjoys hearty send-off in Worcester
At the end of a reflective speech to a crowd of more than 300 at the College of the Holy Cross Thursday afternoon, Secretary of State-elect and US Sen. John Kerry graciously thanked everyone for supporting and called his 21-plus year run representing the state the “ride of my life.

The best reward of all, Kerry said, is helping people. "We cannot afford to be a country that doesn’t work together 24/7 for the greater good," he said. "Special interest groups can’t out-voice the opinion of average Americans. We are losing democracy when that happens."

As he closed his speech, Kerry, who enjoyed several rounds of applause as he spoke, said he prides the country on “being exceptional because we do exceptional things.”

John F. Kerry, on farewell tour, visits Middlesex DA’s office

WOBURN — On a farewell tour of the state he represented as US senator for 28 years, John F. Kerry returned this afternoon to the place where he cut his teeth as a criminal prosecutor, waxing nostalgic about his early days in the Middlesex district attorney’s office.

Things have changed since he last worked there, said Kerry, who was confirmed by the Senate Tuesday as the new US secretary of state.

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Standing before a room full of people, Kerry talked about going after the Winter Hill gang when everyone thought it was impossible. When Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone reminded him that the former leader of the gang, Howie Winter, now an octogenarian, was indicted last year on new charges, Kerry quipped, “Get him in jail soon. Don’t tell him I’m here.”