I got a close photo of Obama's bracelet

[dancingme]

From the Whistle Stop in Wynnewood, PA

[sniffa]

1. Incredible pictures

You were really close. :bounce:

[goclark]

3. Great pixs

[roguevalley]

23. His smile is beautiful.

[FrenchieCat]

2. So what did you think?

Was that your first time seeing him?

How did the whistle stop go over?

[dancingme]

6. yes, first time seeing him in person

It was very inspiring. Great speech. I could not see him when he spoke. But I lucked out when he came by to shake hands. I shook his hand and Bob Casey's hand.

[Exilednight]

4. Looks like a POW/MIA bracelet.........

[Quixote1818]

20. It does. It looks exactly like that. nt

[JI7]

5. it's like you were right there

did you get to shake his hand or touch him in any other way ?

[dancingme]

8. I shook his hand

He was very happy and pumped.

[El Supremo]

7. Got any more pictures of the train???

I'm a train nut.

[dancingme]

11. all photos are from the same view

I couldn't move, it was so crowded. Nothing else to see of the train in any photos.

[otohara]

9. Beats A Flag Pin

IMO, but that's just me.

[Willo]

15. That is so right. And, great shots Dancing...thanks. n/t

[IndependentDem]

27. my thoughts exactly! n/t

[K Gardner]

10. OK. You were THAT close to him and could manage to focus on his bracelet?? LOL.. I bet

the Secret Service was like.. "ok.. what's the deal with the bracelet.."

EXCELLENT, and I'm jealous ! :hi:

[dancingme]

12. I wasn't focusing on the bracelet

just aiming the camera at him after I shook his hand. Just so happened that I got the bracelet. I have another photo of just before he got to where I was standing and a secret service guy behind Obama is looking directlhy at me, I swear. I'm not going to post that one. Obama is obscured by the person next to me in that one so not a good photo.

[NightWatcher]

13. I wonder if you might send those pix (with the bracelet) to someone in the bloggosphere

Jane over at firedoglake might like those
So too might someone at Moveon, HuffPo, or any other group that Hillary has trashed.
I would hate to start something, but someone gave that to him and he's wearing it for them to send a message. Maybe it would bring light to the life and death of another soldier (btw Hillary voted for this.........)

I think it sends a message that he cares. He may not wear a flag lapel pin that was made in China, but he'll honor the life and death of a fallen soldier.

[dancingme]

17. good idea

thanks!

[jgraz]

14. Any guesses on how long it will take before the Hillary camp photoshops a 666 onto the bracelet?

[NightWatcher]

16. do you really think they'd want to sink that low?

that would kill her if it could be traced back to her

[jgraz]

26. I'm obviously joking, but then again...

Hillary always manages to dip under even my low expectations

[dancingme]

18. The wristband is for a soldier killed in Iraq

Found this on google.

Both men running for President are wearing wristbands in memory of soldiers killed in Iraq.

Tracy Jopek gave Obama his wristband at a rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Friday night. Reporters noticed Obama was still wearing it Saturday, campaigning before the Wisconsin primary Tuesday, although he did not make a point of showing it.

Obama's bracelet carries Mrs. Jopek's son's name, Sgt. Ryan David Jopek, and says Aug. 2, 2006, when he was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq. He was 20 years-old. It says, ''All gave some -- He gave all." (NY Times article here).

Mrs. Jopek showed Obama a photo of Ryan smiling, dressed for battle. She said the Senator hugged her and her daughter, asked questions about her son, and told her how much he appreciated the bracelet. ''I wanted him to know my son's name for one thing, for when he's Commander-In-Chief.''

Obama told the Green Bay rally, "'She gave me this wristband, which I'm very grateful for.'' He added, 'I meet mothers and family members all over the country who are still mourning their children but are also thinking about the young men and women who are still over there and wondering when it will end.''

Mrs. Jopek said she'd seen John McCain on television, wearing a siimilar bracelet. The mother of Cpl. Matthew Stanley, who was also killed in Iraq, gave McCain his wristband in August. McCain's worn it regularly since, but he sees the message differently.

"It means any political ambitions of mine pale in comparison to the sacrifice that nearly 4,000 family members have made," McCain told AP. Referring to reporters who claim his determination to continue fighting in Iraq will end his political career, McCain said, "When you meet the mother of Matthew Stanley, then what difference does that make?''

Two (men) and one (woman) in line to be the next U.S. President; in a 2008 world of changing mores, the men wear the bracelets, not the woman.

http://www.americans-away-from-home.com/node/25

http://digg.com/politics/Obama_Wears_Bracelet_of_American_Soldier_KIA_in_Iraq

[Stephanie]

28. McCain wears one, Obama wears one - and Hillary?

Nah, she wouldn't want a reminder of what she's done.

[Cha]

19. Brilliant pics, dancingme... makes

me feels like I'm almost there at the train station trying to get a glimpse of Obama and you got to shake his hand..that's Awesomely historic:patriot: :bounce: :kick: :party:

[babylonsister]

21. Here's an AP story about the bracelet:

and those pix are great! Thanks for sharing. :hi:

Fallen Soldier's Bracelet Inspires Obama
Sat Feb 16, 2008 5:42 PM EST
Nedra Pickler, Associated Press Writer


EAU CLAIRE — Barack Obama is wearing a wristband in memory of a soldier killed in Iraq, given to him by a mother who said she wants the Democratic presidential candidate to keep others from dying.

Tracy Jopek of Merrill, Wis., gave Obama the bracelet at a rally Friday night in Green Bay, and Obama was still wearing it Saturday as he campaigned across the state before Tuesday's primary.

The bracelet has her son's name, Sgt. Ryan David Jopek, and the date the 20-year-old was killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb, Aug. 2, 2006. "All gave some — He gave all," it says.

"She gave me this wristband, which I'm very grateful for," Obama told the Green Bay audience, halting and lowering his voice from his normally upbeat presentation. "I meet mothers and family members all over the country who are still mourning their children but are also thinking about the young men and women who are still over there and wondering when it will end."

Obama has not made a point of showing it to reporters or others on the campaign trail. A campaign staffer described it as black metal band with silver lettering.

more...

http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2008/02/16/1306131-fallen-soldiers-bracelet-inspires-obama

[AzDar]

22. ..."has not made a point of showing it..." : kinda says it all, no?

GOBAMA!!:loveya:

[noel711]

24. But but but he's not wearing a flag pin!

So unpatriotic!

(grin)

[JimGinPA]

25. Great Pictures...

We didn't get to see the train in Lancaster/


K&R

[gateley]

29. Anybody know where we can get those bracelets?

I'd like one, and I'd like to send some to friends (especially my nephew who is breaking my heart by backing McCain).

Thanks.

[dancingme]

30. don't know

I'd like one too.

[liberaldem4ever]

31. Thanks for the great pics-K&R

I will be so proud when he is President. Barack Obama is a great man. I'm not taking anything away from Hillary Clinton or her accomplishments when I say that. I just think that we really need a man like Obama as our president at this time in our country's history. He could accomplish a lot for all of us.

[flpoljunkie]

32. Great candid shots! Thanks for sharing.