Lynn Classical student Alex Pedro, along with his sisters Amelia and Olivia, was able to snap a selfie with First Lady Michelle Obama at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport two weeks ago. The Obamas are vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard. Courtesy Photo
By Dillon Durst
On a recent dreary day, Alex Pedro waited for the president and first lady to arrive at Martha’s Vineyard Airport.
President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and their daughters were flying in via helicopter to begin their vacation on Martha’s Vineyard.
Pedro, a senior at Lynn Classical High School, said he and his family received clearance to be there that day through a friend of a friend who works in the Obama administration.
He and his parents, sisters and four dozen other guests, waited at the airport on the island for about two hours before the convoy of choppers appeared through the rain and clouds.
“There were about six or seven other helicopters that flew in with President Obama,” Pedro said. “He finally flew in on one of the last two.”
The Obamas happily greeted the crowd, Pedro said, which is when he snapped a selfie with the first lady and his two sisters, Amelia and Olivia.
“I tried to get a good one with Obama, but he was a little preoccupied with everybody else,” he said. “Michelle Obama came over and shook my mother’s hand. My mom wished her a good vacation and she said it right back. She was a lot more attentive with everybody, and was more than happy to come over and snap a picture with us.”
Pedro, 18, said he worked at Among the Flowers Cafe on Martha’s Vineyard this summer, and has worked at Vineyard Scoops, an ice cream shop on the island, for the past three. Obama’s daughter, Sasha, briefly worked at Nancy’s Restaurant on Martha’s Vineyard this summer.
Dillon Durst can be reached at [email protected].