The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: PegLeg45 on October 22, 2012, 06:41:14 PM
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Taking pride in his country, which he's already served in WWII, and doing civic duty right up to the end.........by casting what is most probably his last ballot.
I just hope it gets counted properly.
http://news.yahoo.com/photo-second-world-war-veteran-casting-ballot-captures-082154483.html
(http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/GdVwW5ttvOcup3NXczAtvA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9OTkyO2NyPTE7Y3c9MTcyODtkeD0wO2R5PTA7Zmk9dWxjcm9wO2g9MzYyO3E9ODU7dz02MzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/316242f9c77aaf1d1e0f6a7067003861.jpg)
HONOLULU, Hawaii - A photograph of a 93-year-old Second World War veteran casting what will likely be his last ballot has captured the hearts of tens of thousands of Internet users.
The photo shows Frank Tanabe lying in a hospital bed at home as his daughter Barbara Tanabe helps him fill out his absentee ballot. A half-million people saw the picture on the website Reddit after his grandson posted it there on Thursday, making it one of the most popular items on the social media network for a day after.
"True Patriotism," was the top rated comment on the post. "This is America. Amen," was next, followed by "Thank you, Citizen."
Doctors diagnosed Tanabe with an inoperable cancer tumour in his liver two months ago. He's been in hospice care for the past three weeks at his daughter's home. His condition has been deteriorating, and he's been speaking little lately.
He's been determined to vote regardless, eagerly asking when the ballot would be arriving in the mail, his daughter said. She kept telling him, "don't worry, it's coming." He filled it out immediately when it landed in the mailbox on Wednesday.
Barbara Tanabe read aloud the names of the candidates to her dad. He either nodded "yes" to the names or shook his head "no." She filled in the boxes on his behalf, following his instructions even when he didn't pick the people she wanted.
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Barbara Tanabe said her father, a quiet, unassuming man, would wonder what the fuss over the photo was about. But he'd be thrilled it encouraged others to vote, she said.
"That would be the ultimate honour for him," she said.
More at link above.