The Day We Met President Obama on Marilea Rd

(To view with captions, see Youtube video.)

On September 29, 2010 my neighbors and I enjoyed the rare thrill and honor of meeting President Barrack Obama only a few yards from our homes. The President was making a series of neighborhood visits to hear what everyday citizens' concerns were. In each of the visited cities, a host family was selected and in Richmond, that was the Perry family (Matt, Stephanie, Matthew and Lucy) across the street from us on Marilea Rd in the Stratford Hills neighborhood of Richmond. Thanks to the Perrys, many of the neighbors were invited to meet the President. Due to rain that day, it was moved indoors to the clubhouse at Southampton Recreation Association, a few doors down the street.

Our son, Paul, who had campaigned door-to-door for Obama (as had Lucretia and I) was spending that semester abroad in Madrid and was shocked to learn that the President was coming to HIS STREET! As a consolation, we offered Paul that, if we had the chance, we would ask HIS question of President Obama, which we did.

At the 17:19 mark in the video above, President Obama pointed to me and said "yes, sir?" At that moment, he had no idea what I might say or ask about, as there was NO SCREENING OF QUESTIONS and no selection of attendees by political affiliations. It was a genuine opportunity for spontaneous dialogue.

Meanwhile, sitting around a laptop computer in a Madrid kitchen with his host family, Paul got to hear President Obama answer his question.

For another perspective, our dialogue over Paul's question begins at the 6:50 mark on this C-SPAN video.


Both before and after the Q&A, President Obama met each person in the room, addressing each of us by name. His aura and charisma were amazing.



Last and definitely least, here is the "horror movie" (listen to that music!) produced by area Republicans about the President's invasion of our neighborhood. Included for some of the rain and unforgettable security images from that day (police, buses parked to provide sightline shields, etc) that even we at the meeting couldn't see.