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The rug depicts the presidential seal and was created in anticipation of Edmund Muskie's election as president.

By BETTY ADAMS, Kennebec Journal January 15, 2009

A presidential seal rug that has hung in the Augusta district office of U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, is winging its way to Washington, D.C.

Sherley Geyer of Pemaquid Beach, whose wife created the rug 36 years ago, anticipating that Edmund Muskie would be elected president, paid to have it shipped to the New Zealand Embassy, to be presented to President-elect Barack Obama.

"I'm a Republican, but I voted for one Democrat (Obama)," said Geyer.

Muskie, who had been a U.S. senator and Maine governor, was the Democratic candidate for vice president in 1968 and an early contender for the presidential nomination in 1972. His campaign derailed after an emotional public appearance outside the Manchester (N.H.) Union Leader.

The 45-inch presidential seal rug – with the spread eagle's talons grasping an olive branch on one side and 12 arrows on the other – will arrive in time for Mainers to see it at the embassy, which will host a luncheon Monday to celebrate the inauguration of Obama.

Hundreds of Mainers, including the congressional delegation and Democratic Gov. John Baldacci, are expected to attend.

Geyer, 78, said it took two years for his wife to create the intricate wool rug.

"She dyed all the fabric," he said. "It's made of white wool, not yarn."

Francina Geyer died in September 1988 at the age of 52. Geyer, a former manager and buyer for Senter's Department Store in Brunswick, also was treasurer of the Maine State Grange. His wife's prize rugs were displayed at various Grange events.

He will not travel to the embassy for the Maine Obama fete.

"I'm too old," he said. "I'd like to go down in the spring, when the weather is better and I get to meet him."

Geyer arranged to send the rug through the offices of the Augusta-based law firm Preti Flaherty Beliveau & Pachios, which is organizing Monday's event.

"The rug is stunning," said Deborah McNeil, who works in Snowe's Augusta office, where the presidential seal rug hung for several years. "He loaned us another one. It's beautiful. She did absolutely stunning work."