A most deserved honor
for WVU great, No. 44
It was a wonderful honor for Jerry West to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom and great to hear what West Virginians like myself are very familiar with — Jerome Alan West’s story of building great triumph from the tragedy of incredible poverty in his early years in Chelyan.
The story of his relationships, professional as well as personal, with a diversity of Americans, the melting pot of migrants of every race, ethnicity and religion, and the descendants of former slaves that have helped make our nation great, probably didn’t resonate with “45,” but that is to be expected.
It was telling that although some supporters of the incredible man that is Jerry West recommended he not accept this award from the current occupant of the White House, myself included, nevertheless we can all come together and agree that it is a most deserved honor for No. 44.
And perchance it is extremely possible that West’s speech purposely, but also in a very subtle way, appealed to the president’s most vociferous supporters that this Medal of Freedom reflects “the better angels of our nature” as President Lincoln once expressed.
The award is color blind as well as nonpartisan but West went out of his way to mention some notable heroes in American history that have received this award, great men whose vision of America as a land of equal opportunity and justice, men that Donald Trump’s mentor Roy Cohn, Sen. Joe McCarthy’s right-hand man, and no doubt the “45th” himself has and continues to denigrate.
West specifically mentioned civil rights icon Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez, who worked decades to give fruit and vegetable harvesters a decent wage and other benefits, but in Trump’s eyes he represents yet another migrant criminal and illegal drain on our economy.
If the union organizer who worked West Virginia coal fields in the early 1900s, Mary Harris “Mother” Jones, was here today she would applaud West’s remarks to Trump, “Give ‘em hell, Jerry!”
Jeffrey W. Mason
Washington, D.C.
To all who help our
seniors, thank you
As we enter our golden years, sometimes we feel neglected and not important. Especially those of us that are alone, who can’t walk or our minds seem to be fading.
Each year, the ladies of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church put together a senior lunch once a month beginning in late spring to early fall.
The tables are decorated, along with a fruit bar, salad bar, dessert bar and of course a coffee, tea and soda bar along with their menu for the afternoon. And who could forget the great programs and drawings.
We also have Ruth of Ruth’s Angel Tours (Adventures) who puts together trips from February to December to places ranging from the White House, to Lancaster, Pa., and Ohio’s Amish country, the Pittsburgh Strip as well as Christmas outings with us seniors in mind.
To each one of you who gave a nod, a smile, a handshake or just held the door for one of us, or for the great fellowship and love you gave to us, thank you. To all who helped in any way, thank you.
Dan Carnegie
Morgantown
Unacceptable to use tax
dollars on roads this way
The state Division of Highways somehow believes that if they pave over a problem we, the motorist, will forget about the damaged and poorly maintained road under the new asphalt.
Does the DOH have enough engineers and contract writers to make sure a paving project meets West Virginia specifications? Many of this year’s projects whether they are W.Va. 7, Lower River Road and Jakes Run Road all have paved existing slips, potholes, and subsidence.
These areas are already showing their ugly faces through the fresh pavement, laid down earlier this year. In a very short time taxpayers will be told once again we need to repair roads that should have lasted for years if done properly.
We the taxpayers and residents of this county and state should let our elected representatives from the Monongalia County Commission to the governor’s office know that it is unacceptable to use our tax dollars this way.
Andrew Price
Core
