Meeting and posing for photos with President Barack Obama and driving in the motorcade during Tuesday’s presidential visit to Nashville were experiences that Alma Paz-Sanmiguel and Max Pendergraph say they will never forget.
Paz-Sanmiguel, a Center for Latin American Studies staff member, and Pendergraph, a doctoral student in the Department of History, were among seven volunteers selected to transport the president’s staff and guests, including Tennessee congressmen Jim Cooper and Steve Cohen, during the president’s Dec. 9 visit to South Nashville.
Paz-Sanmiguel, who began working at the Center for Latin American Studies in 2011, learned of the potential volunteer opportunity several days ago through her sister, who is on the faculty at University School of Nashville. Around that same time, Pendergraph, whose research focuses on Brazil, had dropped by the center. They both applied and went through a background check before being approved by the Secret Service.
Tuesday morning, Sanmiguel and Pendergraph reported for their assignments at the Berry Field Air National Guard Base and watched as Air Force One landed. “I was impressed that within five minutes of Air Force One’s arrival, the president was jogging down the stairs at the front of the aircraft,” Pendergraph said. “I know there was tremendous advance planning, and everything seemed to run smoothly.”
The presidential limousines and vans for the motorcade were already lined up on the tarmac for the short drive to Casa Azafran, where the president held a town hall-style forum on immigration. “Driving in the motorcade was exciting and fun but also a little nerve-wracking,” Paz-Sanmiguel said. “I needed to accelerate to keep pace with the ‘SWAT team’ vehicle ahead of mine. That’s the only time I can remember driving in Nashville and not seeing any other cars on the interstate!”
After the motorcade arrived at Casa Azafran, which offers a variety of services for immigrants, refugees and the community as a whole, Paz-Sanmiguel and Pendergraph had the opportunity to chat briefly with Obama and pose with him for a group photo. “He was very courteous and appreciative of our assistance,” Paz-Sanmiguel said.
Following the forum, which Pendergraph and Paz-Sanmiguel watched on their phones while waiting outside, they drove their passengers to La Hacienda, where Obama and representatives of the media made a brief visit. Obama ordered five steak tacos, five flautas and chips and guacamole to go.
Last stop was the return to the Air National Guard Base, where Pendergraph and Paz-Sanmiguel watched the wheels go up on Air Force One before their very special day ended.