Earlier this year, during a visit to the Excel Bottling Company in Breese to load up on Ski to bring back to the Capitol, I had the opportunity to try their newest flavor: Freedom Punch. The sweet and tart drink was created to celebrate America’s 250th Birthday, and it quickly became a favorite.
As the weeks went on, I started planning a trip to Washington, D.C., to celebrate the Semiquincentennial over the Fourth of July weekend, after all I had not been in 49 years since my Senior Trip in high school.
While thinking of ways to make the trip even more memorable, I had an idea: how cool would it be to get some Freedom Punch and Ski into the White House? After all, our President has never been shy about his love for soda. The planning for how we would accomplish this began in March.
I reached out to Congressman Mike Bost to see if this was even possible. He loved the idea and immediately put his Director of Operations, Myles Nelson, on the case. Before my trip, we shipped a case of Ski and Freedom Punch to Congressman Bost’s Washington, D.C., office with hopes that it could make its way to the White House.
Once I arrived in Washington, the record heat forced the planned parade to be canceled, and for a moment, I thought the plan had fallen through. But then I received a call from Congressman Bost’s office with some exciting news – they had found a way for us to deliver the drinks.
I made my way to the White House, passed through security, and had the incredible opportunity to step inside the White House grounds to drop off the Ski and Freedom Punch. Getting a case of liquids through security was a tall task on its own. The staff member I was working with informed us that the drinks would make their way to the President of the United States and one would end up in his hand.
As I was leaving, I was able to oversee the spectacle of Vice President JD Vance leaving the White House to get into his motorcade. It was a humbling moment that a farmer from Okawville was in Washington D.C. watching the Vice President of the United States.
I know the President has a busy schedule, but it was still a pretty special moment knowing that a hometown soda from my district traveled all the way from Breese, Illinois, to the White House during America’s 250th Birthday celebration. It was a great reminder that even small ideas can create memorable moments.
-State Representative Charlie Meier