National Guard member takes photo with every US Senator: 'I couldn't believe it'
Sen. Cassidy helped Scalise find the last ten senators he needed
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Vincent Scalise of the New York National Guard was deployed to Washington, D.C., to help safeguard it following the deadly Capitol riot, but he was able to find a bright side to the mission after he was able to take a photograph with all 100 current senators.
The National Guard was divided into two teams – Team Senate and Team House – and Scalise found himself working in the Senate buildings.
The nearly two-month task started after Scalise spotted Sen. Susan Collins, R-ME, and she agreed to take a picture with him. He saw Amy Klobuchar, D-MN, the next day, and one of his fellow officers asked if Scalise planned to get a picture with every senator.
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Scalise figured, "Why not?"
His mission stagnated after a month and a half at around 54 senators, and he tried to look at committee schedules to figure out who he might run into.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Then I was told I couldn’t work the committees anymore, and I got discouraged, I thought I wasn’t going to do it," Scalise told Fox News.
He started visiting open offices and speaking with senate staffers, and he picked up some momentum again until he hit 77: At that point, no senator wanted to be left out of the collection.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I got a lot of help from Senator Cassidy," Scalise explained. "He really helped me, last night, to get the last ten or so."
"He asked me, ‘Where are you?’ and I told him I was by the elevator and he said ‘Wait there.’ I told him who I was missing, and he went right into the senate chamber and started pulling them out."
"When I finally got to number 100, I couldn’t believe it," Scalise added.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Scalise said he enjoyed meeting everyone, but that Sen. Kyrsten Sinema was especially nice: She gave him a brief tour of the senate chamber after their photo.
Of all the missions he has worked, Scalise ranked the Capitol mission as top of his list.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"You can’t help but be in awe," Scalise said.
Born and raised in Utica, Scalise’s family had a history of serving in the National Guard. When he returns to the Utica armory, he’ll add the photos to the mission display for everyone to see.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}After that, "you best believe" he’ll put the photos up in his home office.