A 97-year-old who grew up in segregated Oklahoma and who never got to take field trips as a child was granted the excursion of her lifetime on Tuesday.
Vivian Bailey, who served domestically in the Women's Army Corps during WW2, was invited by President Obama to meet him at the White House to honor her commitment to Maryland children.
'It was quite a surprise! I had no idea we were going to meet the President and the Vice President, and it was awesome,' Bailey told ABC News.
'It was a dream come true.'
Bailey has spent 15 years of her retirement raising money for students at Running Brook Elementary School so that they could afford to take field trips.
Bailey accompanied a class of fourth graders from her school to Washington DC on her first field trip ever earlier this month.
And this one certainly qualifies.
I'm smiling. Thank you for posting this wonderful story.
ReplyDeleteI'm grinning from ear to ear! What a wonderful story and spirit Mrs. Bailey represents.
DeleteA lovely story and what a deserving woman! May Ms. Bailey have many more good years and field trips.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Yes, we did need this and Yes, it more than qualifies.
ReplyDeleteWow.
ReplyDeleteJust, Wow.
Oh, & #WOW
Wow!
ReplyDeleteJust, Wow!
And, a #Wow!
Yay! Wonderful!!
ReplyDelete(sorry for the double post above, ...got an error message on the first try, but looks like it went through anyway)
ReplyDeleteWonderful story!
ReplyDeleteI want to hold hands with the President!
ReplyDeleteI swear if that man gets any more attractive I just may have to stop looking at him. I have to wear a drool bib as it is. :-)
DeleteShe looks fantastic for 97 years old. What a gift she is to others, and wonderful that she received this "field trip" in turn.
ReplyDeleteWhat a heartwarming story! This woman deserves the pleasure of meeting the president. He looks happy, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this story.
Just lovely!!
ReplyDeleteA lovely way to end a a day!
ReplyDeleteHow we who have shared this will sleep knowing such extraordinary beautiful women exist.
A gift.
Thank you.
Aw, thanks, Gryph! I needed that.
ReplyDeleteAnd she was a WAC. I wonder how many WACs were African American.
ReplyDelete"From its beginning in 1942, black women were part of the WAAC. When the first WAACs arrived at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, there were 400 white and 40 black women. Dubbed "ten-percenters," recruitment of black women was limited to ten percent of the WAAC population—matching the black proportion of the national population. Enlisted women served in segregated units, participated in segregated training, lived in separate quarters, ate at separate tables in mess halls, and used segregated recreation facilities. Officers received their officer candidate training in integrated units, but lived under segregated conditions. Specialist and technical training schools were integrated in 1943. During the war, 6,520 black women served in the WAAC/WAC."
Deletehttp://www.womensmemorial.org/Education/BBH1998.html
This brought tears to my eyes. Students that benefited will pay it forward impacting generations to come.
ReplyDeleteThis has spurred me to find out how underprivileged children in my school district are treated in the matter of field trips or other "extras."
ReplyDeleteThat little lady looks so cute and happy.
ReplyDeleteFor the life of me, I do not understand the reasoning for the constant negative and disrespect put out there about President Obama. He has such a goodness and kindness about him!
I'm delighted I voted for him both times!!!
She's all like "where's my Obama phone bitch?"
ReplyDeleteI hope I look that great if I ever get to 97.
ReplyDelete97 and she looks great! Bless her heart...What an awesome lady! I'm so happy for her.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the sweet story !
It's stunning to realize this woman, at 97, lived through segregation, and here she is, meeting the first African-American president of the United States! I bet this couldn't even have been in her dreams growing up.
ReplyDeleteAn exceptional woman got to me our very exceptional president and vice president. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
Thanks for this Gryphen. I viewed the clip last night and got something in my eye and couldn't post a comment.
ReplyDeleteI am saddened that I didn't see this story all over our media, while as usual, the Kardashians dominated, typically 1-3 "front page" stories.
Back to this wonderful story though, what a beautiful woman, inside and out. She absolutely does not look 97 - it really makes the point about how the hate seething inside Sarah is aging her rapidly, far beyond her years.
It warms my heart that this woman got the best field trip ever, and she so deserves it!!!
I also love that we have such a kind and gracious President and VP in office. Uh-oh, I'm starting to get something in my eye again.
If only our wonderful President could have walked hand-in-hand with his grandmom and mom through the White House. What an exceptional experience for them all.
ReplyDeleteWhat emotion is smiling through tears? Imagine what she experienced in her lifetime, and all that sacrifice for her students? She's pretty spry for her age. What an honor!!
ReplyDelete