COLUMBUS, Indiana — Vice President Mike Pence returned to his hometown Sunday when Air Force Two touched down at the Columbus Municipal Airport at 9:17 a.m.
Eight minutes later after the plane came to a halt, the Columbus native and former Indiana governor stepped out of the plane and down a ramp with his wife Karen at 9:25 a.m. Both were greeted by State Rep. Milo Smith, R-Columbus, at the head of a small reception line – who had hugs for both Mike and Karen Pence. Smith’s wife Diane also had a hug for Karen Pence.
The vice president’s mother, Nancy Pence Fritch of Columbus, welcomed her son with a hug as well.
The vice president arrived in a dark blazer, blue polo shirt and khaki trousers, while his wife wore an Indy 500 racing theme black-and-white checkered blouse with black jacket and pants.
Leaders of the Bartholomew County Republican Party, including chairwoman Barb Hackman and vice chairman DeWayne Hines, a high school classmate of Mike Pence, were among local people welcoming the Pences on the airport tarmac. Columbus business executive Tony Moravec, a friend of the vice president, was also near the front of the welcoming line.
The Pences’ morning stop in Columbus was a brief one, as they got onto an Indiana National Guard helicopter for a 9:45 a.m. scheduled ride to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to attend today’s Indy 500 race.
Read full details and see more photos in Monday’s edition of The Republic.
Julie McClure photo.
