Rockefeller Honors Local Veterans
By CASEY JUNKINS
POSTED: April 21, 2008
Article Photos
“Our veterans were asked at very young ages to go overseas and take great risks ... and veterans are veterans, no matter where they have served,” he told a group of combat veterans during a presentation of quilts by the Quilts of Valor Foundation Sunday at West Virginia Independence Hall in Wheeling.
During the ceremony, Rockefeller presented quilts to 12 local combat veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Desert Storm and other overseas deployments.
“Quilts are built to last hundreds of years, which is fitting because this is symbolic of our commitment to you,” he told the veterans.
One of those receiving a quilt was Army National Guardsman Steven Bliss Jr. of Wheeling.
“I was held captive as a government detainee for three days in 2003. To receive a quilt from someone is great because it lets you know they care,” he said.
Monica Myers of Belmont is a veteran of the U.S. Navy who also makes some of the quilts.
“We make these quilts everyday because we know how much they mean to people,” she said.
Jeremy Harrison of Wheeling is a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“This is a very meaningful way to express appreciation for what veterans have done for this country over the years,” he said.
Rockefeller acknowledged the need for the U.S. Congress to provide more support for combat veterans.
“The truth is that you do not have to be physically wounded by a war to be profoundly wounded by it,” he said in reference to the mental and emotional scars combat veterans can face.
Rockefeller believes the current Congress is going to do what it can to improve the service provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
“Many veterans right now are stuck at the VA hospital looking for treatment and looking for benefits. But I have never seen a Congress this angry and this committed to helping our veterans, so I am hopeful that things can get better,” he said.
Member Comments
View Comments: | 1-25 |26-26 | Post a comment
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Georgetwin
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04-22-08 9:29 AM
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BBekket, THANK YOU :)!
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atoddh
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04-21-08 11:43 PM
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Senator Rockefeller has a net worth of 200+ million.He is the second wealthiest person in Congress.He is by far he wealthist person in WV.He will be with us as long as he elects to be.No one can afford to oppose him. Rockefeller does have Senate seniority now and could & would help us if presented with realistic proposals-especially in the Homeland Security area.He has been persuasive in attracting Asian business to WV via family & financial connections going back a couple of generations. His family is from Cleveland and made their original fortune in 19th Century Western PA oil and a Cleveland refinery that made kerosine for heating.
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Honesty
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04-21-08 11:14 PM
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Rockerfeller should stay away from the Military in everything. He never served and he votes against funding for our troops . He also voted against English being our language.30 years in congress and we are still #50. I wonder if he looks in a mirror in the morning or does he get shaved so he doesn't have to see the shameful face . vote him out!
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atoddh
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04-21-08 10:51 PM
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The Senator probably came to do this because he feels guilty about the comments.However,the War has now cost 1 trillion - all debt:that is $3,300 for every man,woman and child in the US.It will break us if it goes on at this rate.1 trillion is a 1 followed by 12 zeros.We really do need to get real on this issue.
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vietnamvet
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04-21-08 7:22 PM
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TruthinPolitics, The point is, how can a THINKING man put down a military profession one week and honor the military the next.
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bekbekket
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04-21-08 6:09 PM
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gotta' give credit to those who come on here and stand up for the guy. He totally disses all aviators that were in battle, doesn't even come from our state, buys his elections, votes against our flag, (you get the point),and you STILL stick up for him. Not sure, and honestly don't care, why...but that takes balls... not much brains, but iron clad balls. GEORGE- Jay STANDARD OIL Rockefeller... I LOVE it!
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CTMountaineer
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04-21-08 6:07 PM
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Like his politics or not, McCain is a true hero. Rockefeller is not necessarily a bad person, but he is definitely not in a category with McCain in terms of service to his country. A person doesn't have to have seen combat to have served. At the same time, his belittling of a person who has served much more than he has is inexcusable. Peace Corps vs. POW = no comparison.
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tmoore
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04-21-08 5:18 PM
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And he will not sit in the oval office getting hummers from interns while discussing the war with a senator. Nor play cigar games with the interns.
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TruthinPolitics
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04-21-08 4:47 PM
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Clearly by reading most of these comments you are bitter. This guy came to honor veterans and all you can do is jam him. John McCain facts. He was raised in a military family. Both his father and grandfather were high ranking officers in the Navy. He went to private schools where he was known as McNasty. He has a reputation in the government as having a bad temper. He cusses out his fellow senators. He graduated second to the bottom of his class at the Naval Academy. He spent 5 and 1/2 years enduring physical and mind bending torture in Vietnam. When he returned, he left his wife and children, she was in a wheelchair from an auto accident at the time. Wife #2 was a much younger millionaire beer heiress. Wife #2's Daddy funded his political ambitions. Her estimated worth is $100 million dollars. Look it up, not a stellar guy.
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acousticportal
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04-21-08 4:07 PM
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Does a senator or congressman have to have seen up front battle in order to be an advocate for our soldiers?
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vietnamvet
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04-21-08 3:47 PM
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JRock should not have been invited to the Quilts of Valor Ceremony in light of his latest comments. -- He was nice and safe in the Peace Corp. during Vietnam. If he feels this way he shouldn't be on the armed services committee. And what about the 4 vets that were arrested and found not guilty. I'm sorry I'll quit. I just don't trust ANY POLITICIAN there's always a personal reason for all their actions.
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DVOPS
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04-21-08 2:37 PM
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The Quilts of Valor Ceremony on Sunday, April 20th, 2008, was a wonderful display of support and honor. Support and honor to twelve Combat Veterans, not a political event. There was so little information about the twelve recipients, that I can say that there was no information reported about the twelve Combat Veterans. If I had known that the media was going to portray the event as a special occasion for Senator Rockefeller I would not have agreed to accept a quilt. Who was the ceremony really for? Also, CASEY JUNKINS, you need to learn how to write an article. This is said and pathetic stretch far from journalism.
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popeye
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04-21-08 12:26 PM
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Why does this paper continue to give this candy arse doughboy coverage? This sissie never got his hands dirty in his life.
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CTMountaineer
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04-21-08 11:22 AM
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He consistently votes against the ammendment to protect the flag. In fact, I think it was last year that his vote killed the ammendment.
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USMCDeathPimp
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04-21-08 10:41 AM
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SEN ROCKEFELLER has done more for WV and the rest of the country's vets than any other politician, with his service on the armed services committee and a great staff of investigators that continues to hold the fire to the Veterans Administration concerning disability claims. He has crossed all party lines for veterens, all of his career.
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acousticportal
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04-21-08 10:19 AM
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Any recognition for service to our country, I'm sure, is greatly appreciated. War is ugly and unpopular (except to the majority on this forum)...I don't see the point of trying to undermine this serviceman's special moment by bringing personal political differences into it. You people are so selfish it's unbelievable.
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Georgetwin
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04-21-08 10:09 AM
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If Jay STANDARD OIL Rockefeller supports Veterans, I WOULD HATE TO SEE THE ENEMIES OF VETS?!?!?!
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WVJeep
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04-21-08 9:54 AM
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Must be election year... It's the only time Rockerfeller shows his face..
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RedDish
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04-21-08 9:49 AM
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DVOPS--you've gotta be joking right? Sarcasm right? "attacking Sen.Rockefeller in this forum" is in NO way disrespectful of our veterans. Unless the veteran is an aviator, yes? This man disrespected our veterans in a most offensive way, and I've yet to hear him apologize to all thoase aviators who "lack humanity" in his eyes. Untill then, you respect the office, not the man.
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topsie
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04-21-08 9:46 AM
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I specify honorable bcz, requesting a puple heart for a scratch on your finger is disrespectful of all those that recieved a puple heart.
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topsie
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04-21-08 9:43 AM
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attaching rock- is not disrespecful to veterans. this is no different than sexizm or racizm. attaching someone bcz of their honorable military service is worse!!!!
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DVOPS
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04-21-08 9:19 AM
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The Quilts of Valor Ceremony honoring local Veterans was just that. Senator Rockefeeler was a guest speaker who showed the Veterans his respect to combat Veterans. Attacking Rockefeeler in the forum is disrespectful to all Veterans, and belittles their sacrifices. I will however say that I do not agree nor appreciate the local media’s portrayal of the events. They to have lost track of what and who the ceremony was about, and the honor of individual sacrifices Veterans make to keep us all free.
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tmoore
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04-21-08 8:33 AM
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He wouldnt know a veteran if he tripped over one.
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toughlove
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04-21-08 8:08 AM
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He also supports Barack Obama. The Democratic candidate who utilizes Gangsta Rap music at his rallies, uses obscene hand gesture when uttering the name of Hillary Clinton and classifies small town Americans as bitter people clinging to religion and guns.
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CTMountaineer
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04-21-08 7:44 AM
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Rockefeller, like most of our pampered politicians, is a member of the wealthy elite. I'm trying to remember what he did to serve our country that involved taking any significant risks?
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