I received a letter today from President Barack Obama.

[mikekohr]

Dear Mike:
Thank you for the moving letter you sent this spring. I was touched by your words, and saddened to learn of the passing of your father, Patrick.
Stories like your father's remind me why I ran for this office in the first place, and I trust you take great pride in his legacy of service and in the values he passed ...on to you. Please know your message will remain in my thoughts, and I will not stop fighting to build a brighter future for our nation.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
9/3/2013

------------------my letter to President Obama 5/20/2013-------------------

Dear President Obama,
My father and I met you in July of 2004 at the Depue, Illinois VFW. It was just a few weeks after your address before the Democratic Convention. I was the last person in line to shake your hand after you had addressed the people gathered to meet you. I told you I was not sure you understood or were aware of the hope and promise that people saw in you. As you signed a copy of your convention speech that I had brought with me, I added, "Don't get the big head when you get to Washington, DC." You motioned to Michele and said, "She won't let me."
Neither of you have disappointed me. Both of you have inspired me as you have held your poise and grace in the face of vitriol most extreme and regrettable. But you should never lose sight of the fact that for every bitter voice there are many more that quietly admire and respect you.
My father passed over on March 3rd of this year. His last few years were a struggle. His last days were hard. As we talked the day before he passed into the Great Silence he told me he was glad he had lived long enough to see you re-elected. A life-long Democrat, a former precinct committeeman, he took great comfort knowing you were putting this nation back on the path of prosperity and respectibility. You gave my father something to smile about during his long goodbye. For that I am forever grateful.
Respectfully,
Mike Kohr


A SMILE
A smile is a very special thing. It costs nothing, but gives so much.
It creates happiness in the home. It fosters goodwill in business.
It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad.
It happens in a flash, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.
Yet it cannot be begged, bought, or stolen.
It is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away.
Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours.
For no one needs a smile as much as he who has no more to give.
-Olde Irish Saying-

?
Patrick Henry Kohr 2/10/1931 – 3/3/2013

[AtomicKitten]

1. K&R - thanks for sharing this

[blue neen]

2. Thank you for bringing "A Smile" to us.

So sorry about the loss of your beloved dad.

[Andy823]

3. Thank you

That was a truly wonderful letter you wrote to the president.

[Summer Hathaway]

4. I'm not crying.

I just seem to have something in my eye.

I think that 'something' is the something special about you, and your dad, and the president you both admire. And it's going to linger there for a while.

Thanks for sharing that something special with all of us.

[Grateful for Hope]

5. This is beautiful

Thank you for sharing this with us.

[sufrommich]

6. Very,very touching.Your beautiful tribute to

your dad is so heartfelt,he was obviously greatly loved.

[sheshe2]

7. So beautiful, Mike.

Thank you for sharing your moving letter with us, and your "Smile".

I'll bet that your dad was as proud of you as you were of him. I'll just bet that you read the Presidents response to your Dad in a quiet moment. Beautiful.

To Patrick Henry Kohr

[Isoldeblue]

8. What a heartwarming

story. Thank you for sharing it here.

Your dad sounds like he was a really special guy, with a wonderful son.

Sending you my best for peace and healing.

[BrotherIvan]

9. A loving tribute

Nothing better can be said of a person than that those who knew him loved and honored him. He is a great father. Peace to you and your family.

[Cryptoad]

10. yes! nt

[Skinner]

11. What a great tribute.

Thank you for posting.

[graywarrior]

12. Beautiful!

Touching and honest. Thanks so much for sharing, mikekohr. So sorry about your dad's passing. He lives through you.

[grantcart]

13. Thanks for posting Mike

[Hekate]

14. Oh, Mike -- how very beautiful and heartfelt from first to last

Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

Hekate

[Cha]

15. Thank you so much for posting your very interesting letter to President Obama

and his reply, Mike!

I love what you said and so glad you got to be there with your Dad to meet him and shake his hand. And, I'm sure he felt the honor was his.

"But you should never lose sight of the fact that for every bitter voice there are many more that quietly admire and respect you."

And, this..

"You motioned to Michele and said, "She won't let me."

So true!

To you and your Dad

And, the Olde Irish Saying..

[redwitch]

16. Lovely.

Thanks for sharing this Mike and I am sorry for your loss. I'm glad you had a good father that you loved so much.

[mountain grammy]

17. Thank you for sharing a wonderful story.

[Triana]

18. That is a beautiful tribute to your father and a thoughtful letter

back from the President. My condolences to you and your family on your loss.

[freshwest]

19. Tears in my eyes for this inspiring letter and your dad's inspiring life. Best wishes, mike.

[Blanks]

20. I get letters from the president all the time, but not like that...

Thank you for sharing.

When I clicked on the link I thought you were going to share one of the fund raising letters like I always receive. I was pleasantly surprised to see a positive message from (and about) the president.

I'm sorry for your loss.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

21. beautiful. :)

my warmest wishes to you and your Dad.

I wish I were as eloquent as you. That is a beautiful letter to President Obama.

[tblue]

22. A very lovely, thoughtful reply.

Sweet.

[Rebellious Republican]

23. That was an awesome letter you wrote Mike.

May your father rest in Peace.

[IrishAyes]

24. Beautiful indeed, through and through.

Thanks so much for sharing this uplifting personal story. I hope you gain some comfort by knowing your dear father's at peace now, and how proud of you he must've been.

[TuxedoKat]

25. Thank you

for sharing this and I'm sorry for the loss of your beloved dad. I'm glad he got to see President Obama reelected too.

[Doctor_J]

26. thanks for sharing

[Scurrilous]

27. K & R

[mikekohr]

28. Thank you, and God bless you, one and all. nt

[Number23]

29. I apologize. When I saw the thread title and the recs I automatically assumed that in keeping with

the New DU this was yet another "I have voted for Dems for the last 300 years but NO MORE!!1" bash Obama thread.

So, so happy to see something different. Thank you for this. Cheers to you and to your dearly departed father.

[calimary]

30. This is just utterly LOVELY, Mike!

Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this with us. May your dad sleep with the angels. Please know we are grateful for his service and his faith and convictions. So touching. I believe President Obama cares for our troops in ways that those bastards just before him never did. I remember how, very early-on in his first term, he went to Dover AFB to meet and pay his respects to the American war dead whose flag-draped coffins were returning from the war. AND he allowed it to be covered by the media - something the chickenshit chickenhawks of the bush/cheney NEVER did, and NEVER allowed. Like the true cowards they were (and still are!!!).