Political Quotes

“I rise today to honor an American hero and one of West Virginia's native sons who was larger than life and an inspiration for generations of Americans--General Charles Elwood ``Chuck'' Yeager. Chuck bravely served our Nation as a pilot for more than 30 years in the U.S. Air Force during World War II and Vietnam. When he became the first pilot to break the sound barrier he challenged each of us to test the limits of what is possible. I am grateful to have known this legendary West Virginian and to call him my dear friend. Chuck truly embodied what it means to be from the Mountain State. Born in 1923 in rural Lincoln County, Chuck grew up the way many of us do in West Virginia--hunting and fishing and learning early to be respectful of nature and our fellow man. Like his father, A. Hal Yeager, who was a gaswell driller, Chuck showed an aptitude for mechanics, and by the time he was a teenager, he was able to assemble a car engine on his own. His work ethic and natural talent would serve him well throughout the rest of his remarkable life. In 1941, Chuck enlisted in the Army Air Forces right out of high school and trained as a mechanic before heading to flight school. In 1944, he experienced a harrowing encounter when his plane was shot down over German-occupied France. He and another American travelled on foot through mountainous terrain and snow toward neutral Spain. As they stopped to rest, the Nazis opened fire, wounding the man traveling with Chuck.…”