MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Saturday is the 250th birthday of the United States Army and commemoration of the the 25-day, 600-mile march to Massachusetts to battle the siege of Boston in Shepherdstown.
U.S. Army Secretary Frank Vitale said that a militia of 98 riflemen was the start of what is now a world-class fighting force. A big leap from one of their first missions of mapping the United States during the Lewis & Clark expedition.
“Now, 450,000 soldiers are on active duty, making it the largest force, and with the reserves, we have over one million wearing the U.S. Army uniform,” Vitale said.
The Mountain State has a long history of service in the military, in fact one of the highest participation rates in the country. Additionally, soldiers in the West Virginia National Guard are deployed for floods and disasters at a higher rate than most states in the country.
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“West Virginia has a legacy, a true history of military service,” Vitale said. “In fact, per capita, we’ve had more people serve this nation than any other state.”
Jim Hoyer
Major General (Ret.) James Hoyer grew up in a family with a deep history of military service and even civilian employees in support roles of the military. His interest in the military was sparked by a story from his grandmother about the sacrifices made back home to support the troops during World War II. WVNG soldiers and Vietnam veterans Major Doug Richmond and LTC Charles Ledbetter got him interested in special operations, and a family friend told him how to make it happen.
“A gentleman by the name of Jack Yeager, who served in the West Virginia National Guard and was a family friend, told me I could serve in those roles in the National Guard, and that’s how I ended up where I am,” Hoyer said.
The 250th birthday of the U.S. Army should really be a celebration of the individual soldier. Hoyer pointed to the 81st anniversary of the D-Day invasion and the critical decisions that were made that set the chain of events in motion for the liberation of Europe.
“Individuals had to make decisions down at the soldier level that impacted our success as a nation, and being able to be a part of that is what being a part of the U.S. Army is all about,” Hoyer said. “What we ought to be commemorating and remembering on the U.S. Army’s birthday is the individual soldier and all of the families behind them.”
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The freedoms we enjoy are only possible because of the blood and sacrifices of generations of soldiers and their families. The start of that long tradition will be remembered Saturday in Shepherdstown at Morgan’s Run Park with a commemoration of the Bee Line March from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“It goes back to the formation of the Continental Army, where those 98 militiamen left what is now Shepherdstown and marched 600 miles in 24 days to become part of the original formation of the Continental Army,” Hoyer said.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. –Governor Patrick Morrisey has appointed a new member of the state House of Delegates.
Shane Thomas Stack, of Triadelphia, was appointed Tuesday to represent District 4. Stack replaces former Delegate Bill Flanigan who resigned to join the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia following his election to the Division 2 seat.
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“Shane Stack is an outstanding choice to represent the families and communities of the fourth district,” Morrisey said in a release. “With his deep roots in the local community, his background as a business owner, and his proven experience managing municipal finances, Shane understands what it takes to support economic growth and advocate for working West Virginians. He will serve his constituents well in Charleston.”
In Morrisey’s release, it said that Stack has a diverse background in small business ownership, municipal finance, and higher education administration. Stack currently is the owner, licensed auctioneer, and certified appraiser for Frio Stack & Associates, as well as the owner of Island Pawn & Gun.
Stack previously worked as the Town Treasurer for West Liberty.
He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a specialization in General Business from West Liberty University.
MINGO COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Sentencing is underway for Timothy Kennedy, the man convicted of murdering West Virginia State Police Trooper Cory Maynard.
Trooper Maynard was shot to death in June 2023.
The jury found Kennedy guilty on all counts: first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, first-degree disarming a law enforcement officer, and two counts of first-degree attempted murder.
Shannon Litton has has that, plus your other top stories for Tuesday, July 7th.
