Remembering Wade Edwards

[Bluebear]

Wade, your Dad is about to become Vice-President. How I wish you could be here to see it. You're remembered tonight.



Wade is the son of John and Elizabeth Edwards. He was born in Nashville, Tennessee on July 18, 1979, and he died on April 4, 1996, at the age of 16.
====
FANCY CLOTHES AND OVERALLS

BY WADE EDWARDS

A little boy and his father walk into a firehouse. He smiles at people standing outside. Some hand pamphlets to his father. They stand in line. Finally, they go together into a small booth, pull the curtain closed, and vote. His father holds the boy up and shows him which levers to move.

"We're ready, Wade. Pull the big lever now."

With both hands, the boy pulls the lever. There it is: the sound of voting. The curtain opens. The boy smiles at an old woman leaving another booth and at a mother and daughter getting into line. He is not certain exactly what they have done. He only knows that he and his father have done something important. They have voted.

This scene takes place all over the country.

"Pull the lever, Yolanda."

"Drop the ballot in the box for me, Pedro."

Wades, Yolandas, Pedros, Nikitas, and Chuis all over the United States are learning the same lesson: the satisfaction, pride, importance, and habit of voting. I have always gone with my parents to vote. Sometimes lines are long. There are faces of old people and young people, voices of native North Carolinians in southern drawls and voices of naturalized citizens with their foreign accents. There are people in fancy clothes and others dressed in overalls. Each has exactly the same one vote. Each has exactly the same say in the election. There is no place in America where equality means as much as in the voting booth.

My father took me that day to the firehouse. Soon I will be voting. It is a responsibility and a right. It is also an exciting national experience. Voters have different backgrounds, dreams, and experiences, but that is the whole point of voting. Different voices are heard.

As I get close to the time I can register and vote, it is exciting. I become one of the voices. I know I will vote in every election. I know that someday I will bring my son with me and introduce him to one of the great American experiences: voting.

(c) 1996 Wade Edwards Foundation

http://www.wade.org/

[sandnsea]

1. Remember Wade. Vote n/t

[Xenus Sister]

2. I am so crying right now

For a parent to lose a child, it's the worst that can happen. They're tough people and can take the right-wing crap because they've already been though the worst.

I love the Edwards family. My heart is with them.

[Maiden England]

3. Honor Wade, Make his Daddy the next VP

[choicevoice]

4. Remembering Wade Edwards

When your father and family stand victorious with the Heinz/Kerry family I believe you will be there with them. You are in my thoughts this evening.

[GOPNotForMe]

5. "I know that someday I will bring my son with me..."

God, how utterly tragic. :cry:

[deadparrot]

6. Hi, Wade. Wish we could have gotten to know you, too.

RIP. We'll try our hardest to make your dad our next VP. Thanks for sharing your wonderful family with us.

O8)

[berni_mccoy]

7. I'll remember this story

as I bring my 6-year-old son to vote with me. I brought my son with me to the polls in the last election and in this election's primaries. This story has touched me deeply. Thank you.

[Lex]

8. Thanks for this thread. Wade should definitely be remembered

in the next few days, particularly.

The last paragraph in Wade's essay gets me every time:

"As I get close to the time I can register and vote, it is exciting. I become one of the voices. I know I will vote in every election. I know that someday I will bring my son with me and introduce him to one of the great American experiences: voting."

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

9. That's a wonderful site

I have visited it before. I was struck by how, in the depths of a grief that could have destroyed them, the Edwards established a foundation to honor their son and do good in his name. When George Bush's sister died, his parents played golf the day after her funeral and never spoke of her again. Another one of those says-it-all moments.

[DesEtoiles]

10. The Lord is my shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

[displacedyankeedem]

11. Tomorrow night Wade....

will be smiling down on his father as he becomes the next Vice President of the United States.

Where's the final speech (hopefully the victory speech) going to be given at? Harvard Square in Boston? In front of the capital in Boston or Raleigh? Station Square in Pittsburgh?

[Lex]

12. John says he and Wade were best friends . . .

I love this picture of the two of them.

[gratefull4u]

13. What a beautiful combination of his Mom & Dad.

I have come to love the families of our two candidates so much. There is so much contrast between the shallow political bull crap of the Bushies and the deep care & concern displayed by the Kerry & Edwards families.

[babylonsister]

15. RIP, Wade. I saw Theresa on CNN last night w/

Larry King. She was asked about Elizabeth Edwards. There are people who lose their loved ones that cannot go on, but we have two women, Elizabeth and Theresa, that have lost their heart when loved ones died and have decided to move forward. I salute both women! President Kerry and VP Edwards, your wives, I salute you!

[AnIndependentTexan]

14. I believe the point they are trying to make

I believe the point they are trying to make is remember the little boy who wanted to vote and whois father is about to become our next Vice President. Remember his memory and that vote that he never got to cast. If you think your voting doesn't matter then remember our Vice Presidents son who if was here today would be voting for his father proudly and make your vote count.

[babylonsister]

16. Amen! Well said! nt

[cheshire]

17. Thanks I'm sobered from my giddiness but happy to meet Wade Edwards.

[Straight Shooter]

18. Look at the sweetness on that young man's face. Look at those eyes!

That young man was a good man. I'm sorry he's gone. Such heartache for his mother and father, for all his family.

Losing a child is the worst that can happen.

[AnIndependentTexan]

19. just a note before it happens here

Don't focus on the how cause remember his parents could also be viewing these post. We need to focus on just remembering. It was his parents wish for it not to be used in a political way his death. What we are trying to do is remember the memory cause there are many other americans out there who have lost their children. Those are votes that never got cast. This election matters and each vote matters.

[Bluebear]

20. Yes, I didn't mean my post to be using him in a political way

We're Democrats here. We don't have to try to convince any voters. But the families will be gathered for what I hope is a huge victory party and many don't know there is an Edwards that went before, and his beautiful essay is a call to exercise our precious right to vote. :)

[Reciprocity]

21. Gone but not forgotten.

Wade I see you face and hear your voice every time I listen to your parents speak.

[Stinky The Clown]

22. A year younger than my youngest son.

I couldn't even read this cuz its 3 AM and my eyes are **real** watery. I know the story. I know the bond JE had with him. My heart is both heavy and happy.

[DeepModem Mom]

23. I included in my prayer before the VP debate...

that Wade's spirit would be with John on that stage, and I have no doubt that it was.

[Lex]

24. Kick

:kick:

[Bluebear]

25. :)

[spooky3]

26. My heart goes out to all families who have lost loved ones before their

time.

[sandersadu]

28. Edwards

I was (and am) a passionate Edwards supporter during the primaries, working for him in South Carolina and having met him several times starting in June 2003.

I've always loved JRE (as we die-hard Edwards fans call him), in large part b/c of his wonderful family. I've always secretly thought that Wade was bestowing his blessings on Sen. Edwards from heaven. This is one of many reasons that tomorrow we can all say.

PRESIDENT KERRY & VICE PRESIDENT EDWARDS.

RIP Wade, your Dad has done us proud.

[symphony]

27. he will be missed even more on

Inauguration Day. Standing on the podium with his parents. I promise to think of him on that day. :cry:

[Lex]

29. True, on Inauguration Day he will be a big presence

even though he's not actually there.

[PopSixSquish]

30. His Time Here on Earth was Too Short...

but by his words he will be forever remembered.

I remember seeing the Edwards family with Cate, Emma Claire and Jack arriving in Penn after the VP announcement and I thought of Wade.

Wherever you are tonight Wade, I know you're smiling.