Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin addresses a small group of guests at the Welcome House Michael T. George Center in North Olmsted. On the right are Michael T. George, whom the center is named for, his mother Kristine George and father businessman Tony George. (Photo courtesy of Annie Kilbane)

Palin visits Welcome House
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published Oct. 15, 2008

For supporters of Welcome House, the North Olmsted group home which works with people with Down Syndrome, it was an unexpected pleasure.

Tony Thomas, the director for Welcome House, said last Friday’s visit by Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin to dedicate a plaque in front of the home before a small group of officials and visitors, came about very quickly.

“It’s a great opportunity to make people more aware of Down Syndrome,” said Thomas. “It started when Tony George spoke to the McCain campaign about us. He’s been a contributor to the campaign and asked if  Mrs. Palin would consider visiting us.”

George and his wife Kristine, like Palin, have a young son with Down Syndrome, a chromosomal disorder which can cause some impairment of cognitive ability and physical growth. The Michael T. George Center for Community Living operated by Welcome House is named for the George’s son, Michael. The George’s are major backers of the project.

Thomas said Welcome House was contacted early last week and met with representatives of the McCain/Palin campaign and Secret Service last Tuesday.

“It happened pretty fast,” Thomas said. “They said she was going to be at a rally Friday morning and that she could stop by at about 2 p.m. on the way back to the airport.”

The campaign wanted the event limited to less than 100 people and kept relatively private, Thomas said.

“We were able to invite a few guests and Mr. George was able to invite some,” Thomas said. “It happened so fast that some people weren’t able to rearrange their schedules.”

Campaign officials continued their policy of limiting media access to the candidate at the event. Area reporters were not allowed to go on the tour and there was no meeting with the candidate.

The bus carrying Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin pulls into the Welcome House parking area last Friday. (West Life photo by Larry Bennet)

Thomas said Palin was gracious with all the people saying she spoke with different people after arriving and then went on a tour of the Center with Thomas.

“That took about 15 to 20 minutes and she asked a lot of questions about it,” Thomas said. “You can tell that she takes a great interest in the subject. She was glad to go through a facility which is state of the art for people and their families dealing with Down Syndrome. She talked about her concerns for her son.”

After that, Palin came out and dedicated a plaque in front of the center before giving a short speech.

“She kept it non-political and focused on her hopes for continuing progress and hope for dealing with Down Syndrome,” Thomas said.

Thomas said he enjoyed watching Palin and Michael George.

“You can tell she’s a very caring person,” he said. “We appreciated the opportunity.”

Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska speaks with Carrie Copfer, North Olmsted's finance director, during a visit to Welcome House in North Olmsted. (Photo courtesy of Annie Kilbane)

Annie Kilbane, North Olmsted Mayor Thomas O’Grady’s administrative assistant, attended the event with the mayor and a few other city officials. Kilbane said she enjoyed having a brief conversation with Palin.

“She was very gracious and asked about a picture of my daughter Brigid that I had on my lapel,” Kilbane said. “You could tell she and Michael George got along well.”

Kilbane also gave a letter her daughter Brigid had written to Palin’s daughter to McCain’s advance team.

“It was pretty cute,” Kilbane said. “She (Brigid) was asking me later about what went on at the event.”

North Olmsted resident Ann Griss holds up a handwritten sign showing her support for Palin. (West Life photo by Larry Bennet)

A few citizens gathered across the street. Both supporters and opponents of the McCain/Palin campaign were present.

Ann Griss, a longtime Republican from North Olmsted, held up a handwritten sign of support for Palin in the hopes she would see it from the campaign bus.

“She’s great,” Griss said. “She can do a lot for the country with her position.”

Opponents also registered opinions.

Mike Gillis, the Ohio-communications director for the AFL-CIO, said his group’s reservations about the McCain campaign remain.

“We have major concerns about the McCain health plan,” said Gillis. “It would put a lot of people into private plans and leave many others without it.”

Thomas said he appreciated the non-political nature of the actual ceremony.

“It’s great because it allows us the chance to show people what is being done to deal with Down Syndrome,” Thomas said. “It’s great because she is being seen nationally but we would appreciate the visit and attention to our efforts whether it was her, Joe Biden or another candidate. We just want to continue our work and help people out and this type of exposure helps that.”

On the Web:

• Welcome House
• Gov. Sarah Palin biography at McCain-Palin campaign Web site