By: Clay LePard
clepard@cbs4qc.com
Kids at a QCA school had the experience of a lifetime Thursday morning.
Vice President Joe Biden held a rally at West Middle School in Muscatine.
It's the first time this year one of the presidential campaigns has rallied at an eastern Iowa school.
"They got to see the Vice President of the United States and that's the honor of that office," says John Lawrence, Principal at West Middle School. "They get to see the Vice President come to their school and they get to touch him and talk to him and see him in person."
They watched and listened for a government class, filmed for media class, and even played music for band.
"It's a life accomplishment," says Nolan Osland, an 8th grader in the band. "Not many people get to play for the Vice President."
"It's probably the biggest gig of their life to say they played for the Vice President," Lawrence adds.
Middle schoolers in the band say they practiced for two days straight and it was all worth it in the end.
"Most people don't get to play at all or be in the same room as him," says Liz Hulbert, a 6th grader in band. "We're playing for him and not grown up; we're kids playing for him!"
And it didn't stop there.
CBS4 was invited to ride along in the motorcade as the Vice President shook hands with almost every student at West Middle and McKinley school.
"The Vice President decides to step out of the vehicle, not leave, and greet the kids is totally phenomenal," says Lawrence.
Kids say it's going to be tough getting their parents to believe they shook hands with the Vice President.
"Probably not, but I'll make sure they will," says Robert Ribbink, an 8th grader at West Middle.
School leaders say this visit is one their students will surely never forget.
Several hundred gathered to hear from the Vice President as Election Day draws near. At one point, Vice President Biden took a swipe at Governor Romney calling his plans not only sketchy, but "etch-a-sketchy."
Students and supporters heard the Vice President talk about everything from cuts to the middle class to moving forward as a country after Sandy.
"Not just problems," Vice President Biden adds. "So many incredible opportunities as a nation; and we start working together again. Imagine, just imagine what we can do as a nation."
