Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has been spotted wearing a local fallen soldier’s bracelet at many of his campaign trail events.
Jane Horton, the wife of Oklahoma fallen soldier Spc. Christopher Horton, met with Romney during the Republican National Convention in Florida. She attended as a delegate for Oklahoma but also wanted ten seconds with Romney to thank him for his support after her husband died last September.
Spc. Christopher Horton was killed in Afghanistan’s Paktia province on September 9th, 2011 while he was serving with Oklahoma’s 45th Infantry brigade combat team. Jane Horton describes him as the state’s best sniper.
Mrs. Horton showed FOX23 a letter Romney mailed to her in October of 2011, expressing his sincerest apologies about Spc. Horton’s sacrifice.
Romney invited Mrs. Horton into his campaign bus with his family and him for ten minutes as they talked about Spc. Horton and the other Gold Star families. Mrs. Horton was deeply touched by him taking the time to chat with her on, what Mrs. Horton says, is the most important week of his political career.
“On the most important day of his life, not only does he take the time to meet with me but he brings me on to his tour bus with his family,” said Mrs. Horton.
“I had two lines I was going to say to him, and then he spent so much time with me I didn’t know what else to say,” she laughed.
She said she was more excited to meet with him in honor of her husband’s sacrifice than she was nervous.
“I know he is a governor and I know he is running for president but my motive was to thank him for taking the time for me, a little person, who is so insignificant in his big life.”
What impressed Mrs. Horton the most was that Romney only allowed his family and her into his bus.
“Romney didn't have any media there, he didn't tell anyone. And the way I judge people is the way they judge the little people. Romney had time for me. “
She gave him a black bracelet she had made after losing her husband. It has Spc. Horton’s name and the date he was killed printed on it along with the 45th infantry brigade’s symbol. That way, Romney will carry with him that brigade’s image.
“It means so much to me because of how much it would mean to Chris. That Chris loved governor Romney so much and he is wearing his bracelet.”
Mrs. Horton is aware that some people might think Romney is only wearing the bracelet for her and her husband but for Mrs. Horton, it means so much more than that.
“You see that it is a bracelet of a fallen soldier and it represents this community,” said Mrs. Horton. “I was humbled by it, very humbled.”
