Family celebrates the 4th with President Obama

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI)- One local couple celebrated the Fourth of July in a big way - with President Barack Obama.

Meeting President Obama is something that Jeff Armes and his wife, Cheri, had always dreamed about.

The couple donated $25 to the president's campaign fund and were unknowingly entered into a contest. In fact, they didn't find out about the content until they received a call saying they'd won a trip to meet the President in person.

The Armes were flown to Detroit and driven to Northern Ohio to spend 20 minutes chatting with the president on his tour bus. The reality of the situation hit them when Obama departed Air Force One.

"We just had goose bumps that were as big as Air Force One," said Alan Armes.

The couple spent their time chatting about family and thanking President Obama for providing bailouts they said helped keep their Tootle chimney sweeping business afloat.

The Armes say they'll continue to donate $25 a month to President Obama, but they wouldn't want to win another meeting.

The couple says they'd rather have someone else win the once-in-a-lifetime experience that they did.