“Remember, don’t call him ‘Barack’ or ‘Obama’. He should only be addressed as ‘Mr. President’”, explained a JDRF staffer at Children’s Congress 2009 in Washington in June. The meeting with the President of the United States was a first in the history of Children’s Congress, America’s equivalent to our Kids in the House events. Thirteen year old Sydney boy Brendan, Australia’s delegate to Children’s Congress, was thrilled to be in Washington to join the occasion.
The Presidential meeting was a secret until the previous day, to avoid disappointment in the event that the schedule had to be changed. Luckily the meeting went to plan, and so Brendan joined the 150 other delegates from across the US and the world who buzzed with anticipation as they visited the heavily guarded presidential residence. Few people are granted access to this building, so envious parents, volunteers and staff were not permitted to join the photo shoot. A close encounter with one of the world’s most powerful men was saved just for the children; after all they are the ones with type 1 diabetes and the best advocates for government support.
Read more...