Photo by Andrew Richards
Vice President Joe Biden visited Granite City’s America’s Central Port, Wednesday, Feb. 19, in honor of the fifth anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Meeting the Vice President of the United States, posing for photos, and chauffering his staff around the area are experiences Alton Police Chief Jake Simmons and Alton Fire Chief Bernie Sebold will not soon forget.
“I can only imagine how much of a thrill it was for both Chief Sebold and Chief Simmons to subsequently meet the Vice President as they represented our great City with pride,” Alton Mayor Brant Walker said.
Chief Sebold and Chief Simmons participated in the motorcade of Vice President Joe Biden during his visit to Granite City, driving vans carrying Vice Presidential staff from Lambert Airport in St. Louis to Granite City and back again.
“It was very interesting to see just a portion of the behind-the-scenes preparation that goes on for a Vice Presidential visit,” Chief Sebold said.
Following Biden's speech, both met Vice President Biden and posed for photos. Vice President Biden also gave both a Vice Presidential Challenge Coin as a memento of the experience.
“Being selected to participate in the Vice President’s motorcade and subsequently meeting Vice President Biden was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Chief Simmons said.