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Soldier's Mother "Ecstatic" about Obama's Bracelet
The mother of a Wisconsin soldier who died in Iraq says she was "ecstatic" during Friday's debate when Senator Barack Obama mentioned the bracelet she gave him in honor of her son.
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16 Comments 
POSTED: Sunday, September 28, 2008 --- 4:40 p.m.
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The mother of a Wisconsin soldier who died in Iraq says she was "ecstatic" during Friday's debate when Senator Barack Obama mentioned the bracelet she gave him in honor of her son.
Tracy Jopek of Merrill told The Associated Press on Sunday she was honored that he remembered Sgt. Ryan David Jopek, who was killed in 2006 by a roadside bomb.
She criticized Internet reports that suggested Obama exploited her son for political purposes.
She acknowledges e-mailing the campaign in February asking that Obama not mention her son in speeches or debates.
But she says Obama's mention on Friday was appropriate because he was responding after Senator John McCain said a soldier's mother gave him a bracelet.
Jopek says Obama's comment rightfully suggested there's more than one viewpoint on the war.
Latest Comments
My nephew PFC Seth Stanton was killed with the soldier named on McCains bracelet. Up front I am a Obama supporter. I have a problem with either one of them wearing the bracelet. I have a bracelet with my nephews nameI bought mine in 2007. I do feel like the death of our boys is being used as a political statement. Seth was not a statement he was an amazing 19 year old boy whos death has left a hole in our life that will never be fixed. He was a son, a brother, a nephew and a friend not just a name. Almost two years later we still cry on a regular basis for a loss much bigger a political gain they think they are getting by wearing them. If you are wearing them cause you believe in supporting our troops great. Wear it proudly but remember the name you talk about on the campaign trail was not alone when he was killed. Wear your bracelet with the dignity it was given to you. Silently with deep appriciation for the mother who will never hold her child again.
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Yes, Senator Obama is wearing a HeroBracelet in the name of SGT Jopek. The bracelet was presented to him by his mother. I am with HeroBracelets.org and Senator McCain and President Bush have both been presented HeroBracelts by the mothers of fallen soldiers. Recently, other members of the Jopek family have ordered HeroBracelets to "read exactly like the bracelet Senator Obama is wearing." So, from my direct experience, this is a non-issue. In addition, this is from an AP news story: "Tracy Jopek of Merrill told The Associated Press on Sunday she was honored that Obama remembered Sgt. Ryan David Jopek, who was killed in 2006 by a roadside bomb. Jopek criticized Internet reports suggesting Obama, D-Ill., exploited her son for political purposes. "I don't understand how people can take that and turn it into some garbage on the Internet," she said. Jopek acknowledged e-mailing the Obama campaign in February asking that the presidential candidate not mention her son in speeches or de
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LOL! You people crack me up! Why can't you just get over that the story was fake. Just get over it and move on to actually issues. This bickering makes me sick. All this based of statements from her ex? How many of your ex's would tell lies about you?
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