PHOTOS Marcelas Owens' Special Day

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A very, very, very long day:




Seattle 5th grader Marcelas Owens stood on stage with President Obama when he signed the historic health reform legislation into law as his grandmother Gina Owens. Marcelas had received an invitation to attend the bill signing directly from the White House according to Joshua Welter, spokesperson for the Owens family with Washington Community Action Network – a community organization that Marcelas and his mother Tifanny volunteered for supporting health care reform.

Tifanny Owens died of pulmonary hypertension in 2007 due to lack of health insurance and Marcelas and his Grandmother Gina have been telling her story ever since. Marcelas has given a face to the health reform campaign and it is believed his personal story has crystallized the issue for many.

President Barack Obama said "Today I am signing this reform bill into law on behalf of my mother who argued with insurance companies even as she battled cancer in her final days...I'm signing it for 11 year old Marcelas Owens who is also here. Marcelas lost his mom to an illness, and she didn't have insurance and couldn't afford the care that she needed. So in her memory he has told her story
across American so that no other children would have to go through what his family has experienced."

"It's exciting to think that I might have played some small role in helping the health care bill pass," said Marcelas, who, in the past few weeks, has become a nationally recognized spokesperson for health care reform in honor of his mother, Tifanny. "It's tough not having my mom around, but she's been with me in spirit every time I talk. I hope I've made her proud."

http://blog.seattlepi.com/capitolhill/archives/199151.asp?from=blog_last3

I'm so glad he got to be there!

I don't know why I'm surprised, but really?

I'm tearing up at work.

Thank you for the great pics, Jackeens. I wish I could've seen it live.

he really got to me.

Love the high five to the Prez :)

your Mom is very proud and many others who have never met you are proud of you, too. :hug:

on C-Span one day.

Or even better, President Owens. What an inspirational moment!

Such a tragedy for a very brave little boy. I hope he has a great life.

I love how he dressed just like Obama.

What a day!

Many of them are wearing blue or a touch of blue, the President, VP, Nancy Pelosi (necklace), Marcelas, Vicki Kennedy (shirt).

This look on the President's face is priceless..thank you Jackeens!

young man. I am just so happy that he was able to attend the signing.
For all the hideous things the RW said about him, he rose mountains above them.
You bet she would be proud of him.