Press Releases

Nov 09 2012

ROCKEFELLER THANKS VETERANS DURING PANEL DISCUSSION; SPEAKS WITH STUDENTS ABOUT IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING FROM VETERANS

As a Leader in Standing Up for Veterans, Rockefeller Participates in 5th Annual Take a Veteran to School Program in WV

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Jay Rockefeller, the longest serving member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, today participated in a panel discussion at Morgantown High School where veterans from four different wars told stories about their experiences and local high school students had the opportunity to listen and ask questions.

“So many men and women bravely serve our country – often far away from their families for long periods of time -- and don’t have enough opportunities to bring those stories home to share. Those proud and private legacies sometimes remain locked inside,” said Rockefeller. “But today through the Take a Veteran to School program, these veterans are sharing their stories. It means so much to have so many students here today, and at programs being held throughout West Virginia, to listen and ask questions. It speaks volumes about these students’ commitment to our veterans, their great service, and their legacies, and that is to be commended.

“Particularly as we approach Veterans Day, I hope we can all leave today with a renewed sense of awe and gratitude for our veterans’ courage and sacrifices, and a continuing dedication to our country.”

The fifth annual Take a Veteran to School Day brings together West Virginia veterans and students in schools throughout the state so the students can learn firsthand about the courage and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans, and also record and preserve these stories. This year, 15 West Virginia high schools are participating in the program between November 7 - 15. Morgantown High School has participated each year.

Rockefeller invited Dr. Al Batres, the Chief Officer for the VA’s Readjustment Counseling Services, to participate the panel. In this position, Dr. Batres operates the entire Vet Center network nationwide. In his role on the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, Rockefeller has worked closely with Dr. Batres for about 20 years. Dr. Batres is also a Vietnam war veteran.

In addition to Rockefeller and Dr. Batres, other panelists included:

• Dr. Angela Grabuloff - Persian Gulf Era veteran

• Leatrice “Libby” Stout - World War II veteran

• Jamie Summerlin - Persian Gulf War veteran

• L.G. Corder – Iraq war veteran

Rockefeller has a long and distinguished record of standing up for veterans and working on their behalf. Click here to view some of Rockefeller’s recent accomplishments and efforts.

In addition to Morgantown High School, other schools participating in this year’s Take a Veteran to School Day program include: Brooke, Buckhannon-Upshur, East Fairmont, Lincoln County, Martinsburg, Musselman, Nicholas County, Robert C. Byrd, South Charleston, Weir, Wheeling Park, Williamstown, and Wyoming East. In addition, a similar event will be held at the Boys & Girls Club in Huntington for the second year to expand the program beyond the high schools.

Inspired by the Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, high school students and students from West Virginia University’s School of Journalism, Concord University, and Glenville State College will interview West Virginia veterans and record their oral histories. Those histories will then be submitted and archived in the Library’s collections.

Out of more than 200,000 West Virginia veterans, about 605 have had their stories archived in the Library of Congress through West Virginia’s Take a Veteran to School Day program. In 2010 alone, there were about 500 West Virginia veterans who had their stories archived in the Library of Congress.

To learn more about West Virginia’s Take a Veteran to School Day program and to view photos from events, visit http://www.veteransinwv.com.

###