Remembering Senator Harry Byrd

CSPAN1 - It's never easy to say goodbye to a loved one when their time on this earth has run out, but it has to be done. On this past Friday, just two days before our nation's celebration of its independence, we said farewell to one of the most historic figures of our time; Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) who has died at the age of 92.

A memorial service was given in the deceased senator's home state of West Virginia, at the State Capitol in Charleston. Bishop William Boyd Grove (Ret.) of the West Virginia Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church first presided with an opening prayer, prior to Governor Joe Manchin's (D), of West Virginia, started Senator Byrd's eulogy after welcoming President Barrack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, former President Bill Clinton, senator majority leader Harry Reid, senator minority leader Mitch McConnell, along with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

In the words of Governor Manchin, Senator Byrd loved his neighbors of all different races and languages. He loved God with "all his mind, heart , soul, and strength." He was described as an open-minded person willing to learn and experience change. It was a celebration of his life with sad, heavy hearts of the life of an incredible man. Manchin quoted from one of the five books that Byrd wrote, "We must study the great figures of our history and carry them forward in our imaginations as living, breathing presences." Manchin mentioned his first meeting Senator Byrd while he was a kid working in his grandfather's grocery store; both his grandfather and the senator were butchers at the time, who discussed preachings from the Bible and business.

Manchin said that Senator Byrd will be remembered for his contributions to West Virginia and the rest of the United States "as the longest serving member [of] Congress having cast more votes and held more leadership positions than any other senator in a historic 57 years of service in Congress." The list that this person has done for during his time in office is endless; highways, hospitals, schools, etc. "There are more than fifty projects in West Virginia that bear his name or that of his beloved wife." Senator Byrd was also a strong husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather of a supportive family and will also be remembered for his public services that created "thousands of jobs, his efforts in protecting our veterans, and providing health care to rural areas." There are over fifty projects in the state of West Virginia that "bear his name or that of his beloved wife."

Senator Byrd's wisdom, leadership, and enthusiasm promoted economic transformation to work and succeed. Some of his other qualities were his honesty, integrity, loyalty and his respect for democracy and loving his hard-working neighbors as if they were his extended family, in addition he had an utter respect for our founding fathers. He was pretty much the "spirit of West Virginia," said Manchin, and a "true champion" who was "man of his word and a true patriot and guardian of the United States Constitution."

Manchin continues with a quote from Senator Bob Dole that Senator Byrd "has set a standard as a senator, as a legislative leader, and as a statesman that will stand among the best as long as there is a Senate." Another quote from the recently deceased Senator Ted Kennedy said, "He personifies what our founding fathers were thinking of when they were thinking about the United States Senate." The governor finishes with "no one can fill his shoes" and that we must remember this kind of dedication.

Shortly before the end of the ceremony, President Barrack Obama took the stand to speak of the great things of Senator Byrd. Despite his dark spots in his youth, moments in his life that he was not proud of, President Obama stated, "he was my friend, that is how I will remember him." (subtitle to the cspan.org video) So, may Senator Byrd rest in peace.