Election of 2012 Special

Fireworks at a Mitt Romney rally in Defiance, OH

If you followed my Trip posts, you would know that I finished my collection of Presidential Gravesites in June 2012. The day after we got back from that trip we found out that we were expecting our 3rd child. This hobby took a backseat to preparation for our new arrival, due in February 2013.

As election day quickly approached, Ohio seemed to be more and more important. Which means all the main players started coming to my area. I had looked into seeing some of them earlier in the fall, but the time never seemed to work for me. On the night of Tuesday October 23 (exactly 2 weeks before the election) I was laying in bed, and realized that I hadn't checked the canidates schedule in awhile. So I looked on both Romney and Obama's websites, and saw that Mitt Romney would be Defiance on that Thursday night, October 25. So that very night I got my ticket. This would be the first of 3 campain events that I would attend inside of 8 days.

This event was in the football stadium of Defiance High School.



T shirts buttons and hats are pretty common



I spotted Ohio Governor John Kasich on the track

Governor Kasich

Big and Rich provide entertainment

Special guest Meatloaf

From the Band "Alabama" Randy Owen

The crowd was huge

Governor Kasich and Senator Rob Portman on the telaprompter. Portman helps Romney during debate prep. While practicing, he pretends to be Barack Obama.

Presidential Canidate Governor Mitt Romney

The fireworks were an amazing finally to an exciting rally.

On the teleprompter, L to R Randy Owen, Meatloaf, Mitt Romney, John Rich and Big Kenny

Nicky loved playing with the signs I brought home.

  

On Wednesday, the day after I got my ticket to the Romney Rally, I found out that VP canidate Paul Ryan would be in Findlay on the upcoming Sunday October 28. The next day I got my tickets to the event, as well as tickets for my wife and nephew. On that Saturday, the day before the Paul Ryan Rally, it was announced that due to Hurricane Sandy, Mitt Romney had to cancel events in Virginia, and that he would be joining Paul Ryan in Findlay. So after church we grabbed a quick lunch and got in line. We were lucky enough to be one of the first few through the door, and we got very close to the podium.

Waiting in line in Findlay to see Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan

Five for Fighting singer John Ondrasik

My wife Dani and John Rich

Big and Rich perform with Cowboy Troy

Congressman Bob Latta

Canidate for U. S. Senate Josh Mandel

Ohio's Lt. Governor Mary Taylor

Vice Presidential Canidate Paul Ryan

Senator Rob Portman again

Mitt Romney takes the stage

Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan and I

After shaking hands with both Romney and Ryan, I got this picture of them continuing down the line

My nephew Christopher on the left, with Romney and Ryan in the background

On Wednesday October 31, I heard the news that President Obama would be campaigning in nearby Lima on Friday afternoon. I figured this would be the best chance I would ever have to see this President in person. So I took it.

Waiting in line to see the President at Lima Senior High School.

Waiting to see the President in Lima Senior High School Gym

Former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland

Obama takes the stage

The President and I

After attending these rallies I left with a great appreciation for the American way of life. These men are going for the most powerful job in the world. But they need our vote to get it. It is a uniquely American Experience that I strongly suggest that people check out.

A Complete Collection

Presidential seal on the back of Ronald Reagans Tomb

This is sort of a celebratory post. Just me and the Presidents.

#1 George Washington Mt. Vernon, Virginia (June 2010)

#2 John Adams Quincy, Massachusetts
(September 2009)

#3 Thomas Jefferson Charlottesville, Virginia
(June 2010)

#4 James Madison Orange, Virginia
(June 2010)

#5 James Monroe  Richmond, Virginia
(June 2010)

#6 John Quincy Adams  Quincy, Massachusetts (September 2009)

#7 Andrew Jackson  Nashville, Tennessee
(March 2012)

#8 Martin Van Buren  Kinderhook, New York
(September 2009)

#9 William Henry Harrison Tomb

#9 William Henry Harrison  North Bend, Ohio (October 2009)

#10 John Tyler  Richmond, Virginia
(June 2010)

#11 James K. Polk  Nashville, Tennessee
(March 2012)

#12 Zachary Taylor  Louisville, Kentucky (May 2009)

#13 Millard Fillmore  Buffalo, New York
(June 2012)

#14 Franklin Pierce  Concord, New Hampshire (September 2009)

#15 James Buchanan  Lancaster, Pennsylvania (June 2012)

#16 Abraham Lincoln Tomb

#16 Abraham Lincoln  Springfield, Illinois
(June 2009)

#17 Andrew Johnson   Greeneville, Tennessee (March 2012)

#18 Ulysses S. Grant Tomb

#18 Ulysses S. Grant  New York, New York
(June 2012)

#19 Rutherford B. Hayes  Fremont, Ohio
(October 2012)

#20 James A. Garfield Tomb

#20 James A. Garfield  Cleveland, Ohio
(September 2010)

#21 Chester A. Arthur  Albany, New York
(September 2009)

#22 Grover Cleveland   Princeton, New Jersey (June 2012)

#23 Benjamin Harrison  Indianapolis, Indiana (March 2011)

#24 Grover Cleveland  Princeton, New Jersey (June 2012)

#25 William McKinley Tomb

#25 William McKinley  Canton, Ohio (October 2011)

#26 Theodore Roosevelt  Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York (June 2012)

#27 William Howard Taft  Arlington, Virginia
(June 2010)

#28 Woodrow Wilson  Washington DC
(June 2010)

#29 Warren G, Harding  Marion, Ohio
(February 2010)

#30 Calvin Coolidge  Plymouth Notch, Vermont (September 2009)

#31 Herbert Hoover  West Branch, Iowa
(March 2011)

#32 Franklin D. Roosevelt  Hyde Park, New York (June 2012)

#33 Harry S. Truman  Independence, Missouri (March 2011)

 

#34 Dwight D. Eisenhower Burial Chapel

#34 Dwight D. Eisenhower  Abilene, Kansas
(March 2011)

#36 John F. Kennedy  Arlington, Virginia
(June 2010)

#36 Lyndon B. Johnson  Stonewall, Texas
(June 2009)

#37 Richard M. Nixon  Yorba Linda, California (October 2011)

#38 Gerald R. Ford  Grand Rapids, Michigan (December 2009)

#40 Ronald Reagan  Simi Valley, California
(October 2011)

So there it is...