August 15 marks the fourth anniversary of my swearing in as US Consul General to Bermuda. And it will also mark the conclusion of our tour of duty. It is time to say goodbye and thank you to the many friends and allies that have helped us so kindly here.

As William Shakespeare put it: "I can no other answer make, but, thanks, thanks and thanks."

It has been a fascinating and wonderful four years that has seen a maturing and a deepening of the relationship between our two lands and between our two peoples.

That is certainly the legacy we'd hope to leave as my family and I depart these beautiful islands.

There are so many people we'd like to thank for partnering with us to bring Bermuda and the US closer together, for helping us feel at home here, and for their prayers and general support for our family and our work.

In fact we feel a real debt of gratitude to almost everyone in Bermuda for their strong support and daily encouragement. Thank you.

For four years I have tried to be the very best advocate possible for ever-closer US/Bermuda relations on a wide variety of fronts. I hope that, by God's grace and with the help of many great allies both here and in the US, that we have been at least somewhat successful in those efforts.

But all good things must come to an end. And so it is time for the Slaytons to depart what has become our second home – and the source of some very close friendships.

I have no doubt that my successor will do a first- rate job – and we have done everything we can to help her get up to speed on all things Bermuda. She is a top-notch professional and will be arriving in Bermuda very shortly (which is good news for everyone).

I would only ask the fine people of Bermuda to support and encourage her as you have so kindly done for us. Because while the US/Bermuda/UK partnership is of vital importance to all three lands – it is absolutely life-sustaining for Bermuda.

In the push and pull of the normal (and sometimes abnormal) political events – leaders on both sides (and the middle) of the Atlantic might be tempted to forget that fact. It is critical to the future of Bermuda – and important to the future of both the US and the UK – that they not do so.

And all of us who care about the US, Bermuda and the UK have an obligation to help our political leaders remember the importance of this partnership – and honour it.

In closing, let me just say this: We are grateful. We thank God for this opportunity – and we thank the people of Bermuda for their help and support and encouragement. As the Good Book tells us "to whom much is given, much is expected". We have been given a lot, with your help we have tried to give something back.

May God bless Bermuda – and especially its warm and caring people. And may God bless the international partnership that has benefited the US, Bermuda and the UK so richly over the past 400 years … for the 400 years to come.

Gregory W. Slayton is the outgoing US Consul General to Bermuda