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Recently, the presidential candidates haven't been saying much about Utah, but this evening, two local families shared a special experience with vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden. They were invited to listen to a live conference call for military families.
The military families have supported their troops at the highest cost. They are Obama supporters who want to see an end to the war in Iraq. Tonight they heard some personal words from Biden, and they allowed us to listen in.
Biden told his listeners, "Let me start off by saying thanks to everybody on this call for your service to our country."
The group, called Veterans and Military Families for Obama, received a personal invitation to participate in the nationwide conference call.
Carla Hitz's son Justin Sasso served two tours in Iraq as a helicopter pilot. She said, "I was really thrilled to get the e-mail yesterday inviting me."
Hitz and Joan Maymi listened as Biden talked about how he and Obama will best serve members of the armed forces. "Too many people, too many people have made the ultimate sacrifice," he said.
"He spoke to the nightmare and the life I have been living as a military family for the last five years," Hitz said.
Maymi's nephew, Capt. Ernesto Blanco-Caldas, was killed by an IED in Iraq in 2003. She said, "I could feel that connection with him because he is sitting on the edge of his seat right now because his son is over there."
The war in Iraq has played a dramatic role in the lives of both women.
"That has been my grief and my suffering for five years. That is something that I'll carry on my heart and on my shoulders for ever," Maymi said.
Tonight Biden spoke to a number of people nationwide, but for Carla and Joan, the message was personal.
Biden was calling from Washington state where he just finished up a rally there. His conversation was live and unscripted. Nobody was able to ask questions, but he did ask all of those listening to volunteer for the campaign.
E-mail: wjohnson@ksl.com
