Remember this - 90 yr. Old Struggles to Feet to Shake Pres.'s Hand

[packman]

Obama told him he didn't have to stand. Archie said, "You're the President" and rose to shake his hand

The man's name is Archie Hackney. He was born in Newton on Sept. 18, 1921, the youngest of nine children. At 19 he hitchhiked to Davenport to help assemble military equipment for Rock Island Arsenal. He received his draft notice in August 1942, and went on to serve three years in the United States Army, including 13 months as part of a bomb disposal unit on Bougainville Island.

After returning home, he worked for 35 years in a machine shop in Newton, and then two years for a window factory after the machine shop closed down. As a boy, he was an accomplished boxer; in 1938, at the age of 16, he was invited to take part in the first Golden Gloves event ever held in Iowa. In his retirement, he was an avid coin collector and wood carver; his favorite past time, however, was coaching little league baseball.

He married Margery Hallam in 1946, with whom he had one daughter.

Sadly, Archie Hackney passed away in January 2014, at the age of 92. President Obama was the first sitting President he had the chance to meet.

[WinkyDink]

1. Tears here. That photo. Those men.

[Maynar]

25. And I

Godspeed, Archie.

[Squinch]

2. RIP.

[Tanuki]

3. I also loved this 106 year old lady who was overjoyed to meet the Obamas

https://m.

[sprinkleeninow]

6. Sage wisdom of our elders. This is BEAUTY! eom

[sarge43]

12. "I'm here to celebrate Black History."

Someone posted awhile back, "Ma'am, you are Black History."

[progressoid]

13. That is fantastic! So much joy.

[uponit7771]

22. sigh, sannity

[Skittles]

35. that gal makes being 106 years old look EASY

[Tanuki]

41. "Just keep moving!"

[Skittles]

42. I very much agree with her assessment

I've taken a couple of falls that made me think: I would have busted my ASS if I wasn't in shape.....yes indeed

[3catwoman3]

37. One of the best moments EVER!

Her enthusiasm was irresistible.

[sprinkleeninow]

4. Photo speaks VOLUMES! Nothing more to say. eom

[PearliePoo2]

5. Oh yes, I do! Brought tears then and brings them again now.

Rest in peace, honorable Sir!
You're a fine man and true patriot. I salute you

[whathehell]

7. That was beautiful..

[enough]

8. What it meant to have a President who respected the office, the country,

his fellow citizens, and fellow human beings!

[Zantar]

9. One of my fav photos

This photo speaks volumes about President Obama and the mutual respect both men have for each other. It also makes me sad to see how far as a country we've fallen and if we can ever recover from trump. Rest In Peace Mr. Hackney on a life well lived.

[calimary]

28. Welcome to DU, Zantar!

Such a touching photo. The grace and dignity that Barack Obama brought to the Office of the President... it made me want to stand up straight and feel great pride.

THIS - that we've got at present? From the sublime, then, to the inane and ridiculous and utterly disgraceful now.

[Zantar]

31. Thank you Calimary!

I've been around for a long time just recently started posting. It's my go to place for info and lately for comfort, especially in these trying times. It's nice to be surrounded by such thoughtful and sincere folks.

[sandensea]

10. To think the only 90 or 100 year-olds Cheeto would deign to greet like that

are money launderers, John Birchers, Duke brother-types (as in Trading Places), and of course Nazi escapees.

[lebkr]

15. and even then

you can bet there would be no evidence of compassion expressed in body language like the Obamas demonstrate in these photos.

[sandensea]

17. +1

Some despots have a polite, even gentle side - not so our friend Cheeto. The man treats everyone like he treats his wives (or tries to, anyway).

[calimary]

29. Welcome to DU, lebkr!

It just serves to make me feel even MORE proud of my vote in 2008, and in 2012, and last year, too. Because I voted for Hillary. And all of us who did can feel justly proud that we weren't fooled, or taken in, or sold a load of snake oil, or waltzed down the garden path to Hell.

[dalton99a]

11. A real American president.

[Raster]

24. Obama brought class, grace and intelligence to the White House...

...NONE of which can be said for his successor.

[dalton99a]

26. Our country went from class to trash

[Raster]

27. From class to trash...

...in one shiesty election of ill repute.

[fierywoman]

14. packman, I love the stuff you put up here! You remind us that

there's a whole huge life and world outside the things we all obsess about here. And NO I'm not saying we shouldn't obsess about these things; but by what you put up you give us a strength to deal with these things.

[Vinca]

16. Tearing up. A real POTUS.

[MLAA]

18. I think there must be thousands up uplifting President Obama pictures.

We all have our favorites. This one of Archie is right up there. For me, my all time favorite is the one where President Obama bends down to let the little boy touch his hair. Glorious pictures that capture his pure decency and caring with children, the elderly, the physically challenged, all races and genders.

And not a single one of the Resident that captures a drop of decency. Not a single one.

That says it all.

[SunSeeker]

19. ...

[smirkymonkey]

20. Just beautiful.

Brings tears to my eyes.

[shenmue]

21. Who is chopping onions?

[trocar]

23. So strong, thanks for the reminder n/t

[oppressedproletarian]

30. Obama forever my Prez...respect! n/t

[DesertRat]

32. K&R

[leftstreet]

33. DURec

[Blue_Roses]

34. Awwww...

[Stellar]

36. So very touching!

Thank you for sharing!

[dchill]

38. They both look like Americans.

A LOT!

[Doug the Dem]

39. He knew he was shaking hands with The President

Not a dimwitted electoral fluke like Trump.

[Trueblue Texan]

40. Very moving

Ya can't look at that and not get emotional. Both men are missed.