November 5, 2008 Suzanne McDaniel Hayes
It's easy to get caught up in the individual heroics of Election Day. Once the dust has settled, voters often end up swapping stories of how many hours they stood in line, waiting to vote. It's easy to look back nostalgically at the women and men who fought to secure universal suffrage stuffed into history books. But when a person uses every last resource available to them to express themselves politically, it's a beautiful thing. One of the last things Suzanne McDaniel Hayes, of Columbus, OH., did was vote. Her body ravaged by terminal cancer, she wasn't sure she'd be able to hold on until her ballot arrived in the mail. She was recently recorded for National Public Radio's The Story. She said last year when discussing her prognosis, she told her doctor, "I don't care what you have to do, just make sure I live to vote." So weak she couldn't speak and nearly lacking the power to sign her own name, voting by absentee ballot was a real struggle for Hayes. But she did it. Hayes passed away peacefully three days later. It wasn't enough for Hayes to simply cast a ballot. She's been volunteering since age 12. She always brought her three children to the polls. Her oldest son is 18, and not only is he voting, but he's also a poll worker. She wanted to rent a limo and drive people to the polls. She wanted to celebrate with an election night party. Sadly, she didn't live long enough to see her candidate, Barack Obama, become president-elect of the United States. Hayes kept democracy alive in her heart during her final days on this earth. We can't help but be thinking of her on this day after Election Day. May she rest in peace. * * * Nominated by the BuzzFlash staff.
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