Mae Kedley To Meet Pope

KEDLEY

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 3/4/2009 at 22:28:59

Maquoketa Community Press
October 13, 1979

Selected to Greet Pope on Des Moines Visit
By Jackie Bellendier

Mae Kedley, Route 1, Miles was selected in a random drawing to be one of 75 handicapped and elderly people to greet Pope John Paul II at the Des Moines airport on his departure from the capital city on Thursday, Oct. 4.

For the Miles woman, who contracted polio in 1952 and is confined to a wheelchair, the invitation was a “miracle”.

Mae and her husband, Loras, did not know of her selection until contacted Monday afternoon, Oct. 1 by the Quad City Times, Davenport. The next morning she contacted the papal visit office and it was confirmed.

When the Kedleys knew that the pope was actually coming to Iowa they made two room reservations for two nights. They wrote to the papal visit office and asked how they could get close enough at the airport to see the pontiff. Mae was told to send her name, address, age and how she was handicapped to them. She heard nothing more about it until the Quad City Times called and told her she had been chosen.

The Kedleys were accompanied by their son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Kedley and grand-daughter, Elizabeth, of Clinton and their son, Stephen Kedley of DeWitt.

They left early Wednesday morning and were told just what route to take to their motel. By doing this it was easy for them to get through the security guards.

Mae received her passes that evening from Vi Hedgepath, of the papal visit office, who delivered them. They were told to be ready at 1 p.m. Thursday to go the Brody School. From there the caravan went to police escort to the airport.

After reaching the airport the Camp Sunnyside workers took over. They helped people out of their cars, gave them wool blankets, and got them to a spot, where the pope’s helicopter was to set down.

The group was to have had an audience with the pope, but due to the fact that his schedule was running and hour and a half late, they only saw him alight from the helicopter and board his plane.

Security was very tight, but due to the small crowd (7,500) all of the Kedley family accompanied Mae, although she has passes for only three.

When the pope arrived he gave them his blessing and was quickly taken aboard the plane for Chicago.

Mae said it was a thrill she was not able to express. She never thought she would ever get close enough to see him. She felt the pope acted as if he hated to leave the people, the crowd was in awe. They were smiling and courteous. Everyone was in a happy spirit. There was no pushing or shoving, even after the pope’s plane had departed.

Mae is hoping that the people will heed his words and get a little out of his sermons.

The next morning the Kedleys went to Living History Farm. They were dismantling the altar and rolling up the sod that had been laid earlier in the week.

Mae was very appreciative of all the flowers, cards and congratulations that were sent and for the kindness shown her family by the Camp Sunnyside and the papal visit office workers.