VA: Margaret's Letter

[Omaha Steve]

Run time: 09:15 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH9FkGt3FgA   Posted on YouTube: October 30, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: November 01, 2008 By DU Member: Omaha Steve Views on DU: 577

 

OS: Today I am one very proud AFSCME member!

Julie Hunter, Labor 2008 Virginia communications director, sends us this great story of 93-year-old Margaret Stanton, a retired social worker and AFSCME member. Hunter shows just how communicating with union members and retirees about politics can make a big impact.

Margaret Stanton is a retired social worker and AFSCME member who lives in Front Royal, Va. After receiving a mail piece from the Virginia AFL-CIO explaining that Sen. Barack Obama and former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner were our endorsed candidates, she decided to write a letter.

In her letter, Margaret, 93, explained that she read both of Sen. Obama’s books and her daughter in Connecticut is working on Obama’s campaign.

Margaret believes that the current policies in Washington are “killing the middle class” and hopes and prays Obama becomes president.

Inspired by the response, Doris Crouse-Mays, Virginia AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer, tracked down Margaret and discovered she has a remarkable life story.

Margaret came to America from Holland when she was in her 20s. She was working with a Dutch resistance group who hid Jews from the Nazis. It is estimated that her group saved the lives of 15,000 people. The Nazis eventually discovered her actions and were planning on killing her. Margaret escaped to Genoa, Italy, and then took a ship bound for the United States.

Margaret went to Chicago and received a degree in social work from the University of Chicago. She was a social worker for Montgomery County, Md., and, for many years, was involved in the civil rights movement.

Margaret and her boyfriend, Palmer, voted last week for Barack Obama. When asked why she voted for Obama, Margaret explained:

I admire him. I think he’s honest. He works for the people. He’s blessed and I believe in him.

As Doris notes:

You never know how much a mail piece that we send or a phone call means to people.

This mail piece meant enough to Margaret for her to write a letter and send a check to the Obama campaign.
Margaret keeps the mail piece at her table along with The Audacity of Hope and Dreams from my Father and made sure to remind Doris (a few times) during the visit that she would like a framed copy of the Obama and Warner flier.

______________________________

Paid for by the AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education Political Contributions Committee, www.aflcio.org, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

[LynnTheDem]

1. A heroine.

:patriot:

And not someone who would ever deny a piece of candy to anyone's child.

Ms. Margaret, YOU are a TRUE American. And a Lady.

[Triana]

2. I hope she gets to meet Barack! What a remarkable, sweet, heroic lady. n/t

[wisteria]

3. I would love to see Senator Obama meeting her. Margaret is truly a special person. n/t

[mmonk]

4. Worth a recommend.

:thumbsup:

[MadMaddie]

5. She is simply amazing!

K & R!!:grouphug: