From Jessica Capitani, Hershey, PA:

October 18, 2008
Rally at the Lancaster, PA, Barnstormers minor league baseball field.

Gov. Sarah Palin holding Caden Capitani, age 3.

Caden had come to the rally with his mom and dad, wearing a mom-made sweatshirt that read “Perfect … like Trig.” They were waiting on the field when Palin finished her speech and stepped off the stage to sign autographs. In Jessica’s words:

“We were at least 10 people deep in the crowd, from which she was separated by a barricade. I assumed we’d never get up close ourselves but pulled off Caden’s sweatshirt and begged for it to be passed to Sarah. People looked perturbed as they themselves were trying to get items autographed but as soon as they read the shirt, they passed it along.

“Finally it made its way to her hands and  (more…)

From Elizabeth Robbins, Boardman, OH:

September 16, 2008
Rally at the Youngstown, Ohio, airport.
Nathanael Robbins, age 10, in a homemade t-shirt.

Elizabeth Robbins says she and her son, Nathanael, waited for the candidates behind a waist-high barrier outside the hangar where McCain and Palin were to arrive. When the candidates came along, shaking hands and greeting the crowd, another couple invited Nathanael to stand in front of them.

Governor Palin simply saw Nathanael in the crowd and seemed to be genuinely delighted to see him. She asked his name, spoke to him (”You remind me of my Trig,”) then leaned to Mr. Palin and said, “Oh, Todd. Come meet Nathanael.” At one point she said either, “I just love you.” or “I just love him.”

Nathanael has Down syndrome.

Photos by Elizabeth Robbins.

Editor’s note:

Readers, if you’d like to have your snapshots included here, please send them to patricia@patriciaebauer.com. We’re looking for shots of people with Down syndrome alongside Sen. Obama, Sen. McCain, Sen. Biden or Gov. Palin.

Please enclose the following information: Your full name and city or town; where and when the photo was taken; IDs and relationships of the people in the photo (and ages, for kids), and a few lines about the circumstances. Please also let us know where we may contact you. By sending photos, you are granting permission for their publication.

Earlier posts here, here, here, and here.

From Gretchen and Dan Thibault of Shoreview, Minnesota:

September 19, 2008
Rally at the Anoka County-Blaine Airport outside Minneapolis
Ricky Thibault, age 2, with Gov. Sarah Palin.
(That’s Ricky’s mom, Gretchen Thibault, whispering in Todd Palin’s ear.)
Photo by Beth Knutson.

The Thibaults and their children waited by the runway where the candidates left the bus and headed toward the stage. They were holding signs mounted on popsicle sticks that said “Trig is perfect” and “Trig in the White House!” In Gretchen’s words:

As Governor Palin approached, she paused, crouched down, and said, “Oh … what is his name. I love him.” She asked, “Could I hold him please? Is that okay?” She was so moved by seeing Ricky. She just squeezed him. She said she was going to work for “these guys.” I thanked her. I gave her husband an article that I had written for our St. Paul Pioneer Press (“The value of these precious lives”) that was printed the day before.

Ricky has Down syndrome.

Editor’s note:

Readers, if you’d like to have your snapshots included here, please send them to patricia@patriciaebauer.com. We’re looking for shots of people with Down syndrome alongside Sen. Obama, Sen. McCain, Sen. Biden or Gov. Palin.

Please enclose the following information: Your full name and city or town; where and when the photo was taken; IDs and relationships of the people in the photo (and ages, for kids), and a few lines about the circumstances. Please also let us know where we may contact you. By sending photos, you are granting permission for their publication.

Earlier posts here, here and here.

From the Grand Rapids [MI] Press:

September 17, 2008

Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Grand Rapids, MI

Katherine Crouch with Gov. Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin descended down the stairs from the jet and walked right to Katherine Crouch and gave her a big hug. Crouch is a 41-year-old John McCain volunteer with Down syndrome.

“She gave me a big hug and said she wants to work very hard for people with special needs,” Crouch said. “It was so exciting.”

(Grand Rapids Press Photo)

Editor’s note:

Readers, if you’d like to have your snapshots included here, please send them to patricia@patriciaebauer.com. We’re looking for shots of people with Down syndrome alongside Sen. Obama, Sen. McCain, Sen. Biden or Gov. Palin.

Please enclose the following information: Your full name and city or town; where and when the photo was taken; IDs and relationships of the people in the photo (and ages, for kids), and a few lines about the circumstances. Please also let us know where we may contact you. By sending photos, you are granting permission for their publication.

From Marlene Prange of Quarryville, PA:

September 9, 2008
Rally at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA
Aleena R. Prange, 4, and Gov. Sarah Palin

With an hour to go before the speeches, little Aleena was getting tired of her perch on mom’s shoulders. Reluctantly, Marlene Prange surrendered their spot toward the front of the packed gym and went off to the sidelines so Aleena could play.

That’s when a member of Gov. Sarah Palin’s advance team approached Shirley Kullander, Marlene’s mother. She said she had noticed that Aleena had Down syndrome, and asked if they would like to come past security and meet Sarah Palin. From Marlene’s account:

“She said, “Awwww” and kind of melted when she saw Aleena. She asked her name and age. Then she hugged her. She actually got watery eyes.”

Marlene said she hopes Palin’s candidacy will bring better public awareness to people with Down syndrome. “I’m excited that people will not be so afraid, and will not think it’s the end of the world,” she said. Here’s her blog post about it.

Editor’s note:

Readers, if you’d like to have your snapshots included here, please send them to patricia@patriciaebauer.com. We’re looking for shots of people with Down syndrome alongside Sen. Obama, Sen. McCain, Sen. Biden or Gov. Palin.

Please enclose the following information: Your full name and city or town; where and when the photo was taken; IDs and relationships of the people in the photo (and ages, for kids), and a few lines about the circumstances. Please also let us know where we may contact you. By sending photos, you are granting permission for their publication.

Earlier campaign snapshots here.

From Kara Parker of Victoria, MN:

December 27, 2007
Nevada Elementary School, Nevada, IA
Craig Parker, Wesley Parker, 3, Sen. Obama

Kara Parker’s photo shows her husband and son with Sen. Obama after a rally in her husband’s hometown last December. Wesley gives Senator Obama a high five.

“Wesley sat quite patiently during the speech portion of the rally, entertaining his neighbors as usual.  Craig rushed to the handshake line at the end of the speech to get a closer look … and get a picture for Wesley’s scrapbook. “

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From Jeanne Devine Bolewitz of Rochester Hills, MI:

September 5, 2008
Freedom Hills Amphitheater, Sterling Hts., MI
Jeanne D. Bolewitz, Josh C. Bolewitz, 5, and Gov. Palin

“I then shook hands with Sarah Palin and asked if she would take a picture with my son (whose face was buried in my shoulder) and she said, “Of course!”  When he lifted his head and she saw his beautiful little face, her eyes lit up and she said “OH!” She was so excited to see a child with Down syndrome. She asked how old he was as we stood very quickly for pictures and as she moved on still shaking hands with other people in the line, she kept looking back at my son, Josh, and me — and she shouted to us “That’s my Trig!” And I said, “Yes! And Trig will be great.” She had tears in her eyes at that point.”

Editor’s note:

Readers, if you’d like to have your snapshots included here, please send them to patricia@patriciaebauer.com. We’re looking for shots of people with Down syndrome alongside Sen. Obama, Sen. McCain, Sen. Biden or Gov. Palin.

Please enclose the following information: Your full name and city or town; where and when the photo was taken; IDs and relationships of the people in the photo (and ages, for kids), and a few lines about the circumstances. Please also let us know where we may contact you. By sending photos, you are granting permission for their publication.