20181006-_DSC2587

He was a Senator and Presidential candidate who saw the world clearly.  Long after he left the Senate and ran for the Presidency, an issue would be solved, a law changed.... I took a certain pride in knowing the guy who made that stuff happen.  He took great pleasure in progress and worked for change in agriculture, education and healthcare....and of course veterans benefits.  I got to know him better when I starting documenting the WWII Memorial in 2001-2004.  He supported my being on the construction site and wrote the introduction to the book.  He then encouraged my participation in Honor Flight and from then on we saw a lot of each other!   

I was the only photographer present when he invited all the Senators and Congressmen who were WWII veterans to lunch in April 2004 at the World War II Memorial a week before it was opened.  It was a beautiful Spring day and we sat in the warm sun on the plaza and they told jokes.  I suppose it was his way of thanking them for their service and also for the site location which was a hotly debated subject. He knew the real cost of war and was a sensible force.

And yes...He would come down to the Memorial for most of a day and often.  He enjoyed chatting and would sit with veterans all day long if he could...and he did!

I'll miss you Bob.