Tribute to Linda West

TRIBUE TO LINDA WEST -- (Extensions of Remarks - February 06, 2004)

SPEECH OF HON. JOHN P. MURTHA OF PENNSYLVANIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2004

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to share with you and my colleagues a tribute to a lady from southwestern Pennsylvania who has made a difference in the lives of countless veterans.

When Linda West was in junior high school in Uniontown, in Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District, she began visiting the homes of housebound veterans as part of a community-service project. This effort marked the beginning of a mission that would lead a coalition of veterans and community organizations in Las Vegas, NV, to honor her with a Lifetime Achievement Award last December.

As a student at the University of Cincinnati, Linda worked with veterans in Uniontown during semester and summer breaks. After graduation, she relocated to Las Vegas and formed new relationships with veterans there to match those she had found so rewarding in Uniontown. She visited veterans in hospitals, delivered food to their homes, assisted with burials and arranged honor guards. In recognition of her efforts, the Chapel of Four Chaplains more than 20 years ago confirmed her as an assistant Nevada State chaplain, the first female lay clergy in the organization. She receives no pay or reimbursement for expenses.

She is a national service officer of Veterans of the Vietnam War, where she has helped veterans with their medical, spiritual and health-care benefits needs for more than 15 years. When necessary, she has practiced suicide intervention with these veterans, especially those suffering from the effects of Agent Orange.

She worked with a Vietnam veteran to ensure passage of the first increase in Nevada's veterans' property tax exemption in the 48 years since the bill was passed in 1953. The legislation, including added benefits for veterans who were more than 60 percent disabled as a result of their service, was intended as a thank-you to the State's veterans but had become nearly meaningless over the years.

She also worked with a veteran to derail legislation that would have ended the teaching of American Government and history in Nevada's public schools, instead adding a mandate for the teaching of the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence.

Here in the 12th Congressional District, we're grateful to Uniontown native Linda West Myers for the generous contributions she has made to our Nation's veterans.

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