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High praise, indeed: Mitt Romney banner hung on Willis Tower [by 74 year-old ironworker]
Chicago Sun-Times ^ | October 16, 2012 | Michael Sneed

Posted on 10/16/2012 1:17:22 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

.........John Rukavina, 74, a Local 1 ironworker — who claims to have put up “every antenna and tower in Chicago since Marina Towers in 1974” — affixed a Romney banner as well as an American flag on the ABC antenna on Willis Tower minutes after it was completed Sept. 30.

“The flag is a symbol — an old ironworker’s custom — which is hung if the job went well,” said Rukavina, who said he worked on the Sears Tower antenna in 1978. He’s also worked on the John Hancock Center and New York’s World Trade Center.

“I promised my sister, Anna, a year ago I would use the burial flag of her husband, a World War II Navy veteran, when we topped off the antenna,” he told Sneed.

“But I didn’t tell anyone I was going to put up the Romney poster. I did that on my own and it was hard going. The wind was blowing like crazy that day,” he said. “But I wanted to make that gesture the last thing I did.

(Excerpt) Read more at suntimes.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: american; exceptionalism; illinois; patriot; romneyryan2012; searstower
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110-stories-high sanction atop the Willis (Sears) Tower


Ironworker John Rukavina, 74, put a Romney banner on top of the Willis Tower. Photo by Stephen Brown.

1 posted on 10/16/2012 1:17:32 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

So is he 74 or 60? Sneed seems to be a bit confused


2 posted on 10/16/2012 1:29:11 AM PDT by sharkhawk (Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Amazing !

Bravo !

That is the American Spirit that the loathsome muslim puppet hopes to destroy, ladies and gentlemen !


                           

3 posted on 10/16/2012 1:36:08 AM PDT by tomkat
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To: sharkhawk
So is he 74 or 60? Sneed seems to be a bit confused

No confusion. He's 74 and has WORKED for 60 years as an ironworker.

4 posted on 10/16/2012 1:43:18 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: tomkat
That is the American Spirit that the loathsome muslim puppet hopes to destroy, ladies and gentlemen !

The Great Loss of What It Means to Be an American [We're not what Obama sees and thinks of us]

5 posted on 10/16/2012 1:44:51 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: sharkhawk
So is he 74 or 60? Sneed seems to be a bit confused

"A 60-year ironworker..."

Poorly constructed phrase, but pretty sure he has been an ironworker for 60 of his 74 years.

6 posted on 10/16/2012 1:45:11 AM PDT by Brandonmark (2012: Our Hope IS Change!)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Nice. Bless him.


7 posted on 10/16/2012 1:48:01 AM PDT by snarkytart
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To: snarkytart; tomkat; Brandonmark; All
Breathtaking video high above Chicago "October 2012 (WLS) -- These are some extraordinary video clips of the recent installation of the new ABC 7 antenna atop Willis Tower.

The amazing shots were taken by tiny cameras on the ironworker's helmets, the antenna sections themselves, and another helicopter. The video features Local 1 ironworkers John Rukavina and his nephew Bob East.

Director Stephen Brown and Zoo City Productions were filming the entire event for a documentary entitled "Cowboys of the Sky", which chronicles the journey of 74-year-old Local 1 ironworker John Rukavina..........."

8 posted on 10/16/2012 1:51:10 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: All

Use FULL SCREEN on the video link in post #8.


9 posted on 10/16/2012 1:56:49 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
What'cha talkin' about "Willis?"

It's the Sears Tower!

10 posted on 10/16/2012 2:01:35 AM PDT by Cowboy Bob (Greed + Envy = Liberalism)
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To: Cowboy Bob

In 1969, in honor of the return of Apollo 11, John Rukavina hung an American flag on the Hancock antenna.


11 posted on 10/16/2012 2:06:46 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

I’m in awe of this man!!! This IS the American spirit, isn’t it.


12 posted on 10/16/2012 2:12:13 AM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (PRAY for this country like your life depends on it......because it DOES!)
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To: Brad's Gramma
He worked on the New York’s World Trade Center towers too.


13 posted on 10/16/2012 2:33:22 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

I just hope the union doesn’t send a couple of thugs to beat him up.


14 posted on 10/16/2012 2:37:30 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (If Obama is an empty chair, then Biden is the whoopee cushion.)
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To: tomkat
You can use mine if you like.


15 posted on 10/16/2012 2:51:53 AM PDT by Carry_Okie (Islam offers us choices: convert or kill, submit or die.)
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To: Fresh Wind

PWAAHAhahahahaha!!!

Your tag line.

Eggs - cellent!


16 posted on 10/16/2012 2:52:05 AM PDT by USARightSide (SUPPORTING O U R TROOPS)
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To: Fresh Wind

"Originally sold as a boot for hunters, the 877 soon gained popularity among skilled craftsmen. An ad from 1970 shows John Rukavina, a Chicago iron worker, atop the Sears Tower in his 877."

17 posted on 10/16/2012 2:53:38 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Thanks Cincinatus' Wife. And, the morning sidebars: and now, the pro-Obama topics:
18 posted on 10/16/2012 2:57:32 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Amazing! I am several years younger and I can’t even climb up on my step stool! LOL.


19 posted on 10/16/2012 3:00:07 AM PDT by CitizenM (Obama - The architect of the decline of the U.S.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Thanks CW. That was very cool!


20 posted on 10/16/2012 3:01:59 AM PDT by poobear (Socialism, in the minds of the elites, is a con-game for the serfs, nothing more.)
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