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Students turn imagination into book, tribute
by Beth Sergent
bsergent@heartlandpublications.com

LEON — Students at Leon Elementary recently used the power of their imaginations to preserve and honor a special place, and person, at their school.

For 15 years, “Ms. Gail’s Closet” has existed at Leon Elementary. Much like the wardrobe in a notable C.S. Lewis book, one never knows what “Ms. Gail’s Closet” contains but one can be sure, it’s something worthwhile - much like a child’s imagination.

In reality, “Ms. Gail’s Closet” was originally started by Leon’s Parent Coordinator Gail Stewart and her friend Debbie Sayre. Ms. Gail (as she’s known to students) said the women recognized a need for the closet in a rural area that doesn’t always have the advantages of schools in larger towns.

Ms. Gail, along with school volunteers and church groups, help keep the closet stocked with clothes, jackets, hats, scarves, gloves, undergarments, food, backpacks, etc.

“Anytime students need something, they come over to the closet,” Ms. Gail said.

The closest, and its purpose, was not lost on teacher Blair Bumgarner who used it as the subject of a book of stories and illustrations created by the school’s fifth grade class. The assignment required the students to each write a fantasy story about what lived inside the closet no matter how outrageous. Each of these stories was included in the hardback book, “What’s In Ms. Gail’s Closet?”

These fantasy stories about what’s in “Ms. Gail’s Closet” were based on one very real reality - Ms. Gail herself. Bumgarner said the book was a tribute to Ms. Gail because of her dedication to the students and school.

Recently, Bumgarner and her students presented Ms. Gail, who has been feeling under the weather, with her own copy of the book as a surprise. Ms. Gail said she was caught off guard by the unique gift and couldn’t help but cry, though she said it was definitely a “happy cry.”

“I’ve never experienced anything like this,” Ms. Gail said, praising the students and their imaginations which put tigers and a circus living in her closet, at least in the book.

“When the students presented the book to me I tried not to cry, but I did,” Ms. Gail said. “You see because of my disease I didn’t feel like going to school that day. But I felt like I had to. I hadnt seen my babies in over a week and I knew they would be looking for me. So I went to see them. It was the best day of my life in a very long time. I cannot express how much the book means to me and how much I love it. I love each and everyone of my babies at Leon Elementary School.”

Ms. Gail said one of her favorite parts of the book is a story which has the student asking “Ms. Gail, do you know what’s in your closet?” In the book, the fantasy Ms. Gail, just looks at the student and smiles without giving away her secrets.

The real Ms. Gail knows exactly what is in her closet but what her students know most is the fact it’s there and consistency is everything to a child, and at Leon, that consistency is represented in a small closet in the Title 1 room run by a lady who makes sure they have what they need.

In addition to Ms. Gail getting her own personal copy from the professional publisher, so did each student author featured in “What’s In Ms. Gail’s Closet?”

Donations are always welcome at “Ms. Gail’s Closet” which could use coats, gloves and scarves for the children. In addition, nonperishable food items are welcome because each Friday, students who are in need, are sent home a bag of groceries for their families.

“Everyone has been in Ms. Gail’s closet at one time needing something,” Ms. Gail said, “and the answer is always ‘yes.’”

Call Leon Elementary at 304-458-1710 if you would like to contribute to “Ms. Gail’s Closet.”

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Henry Jackson Cain
Jun 17, 2013 | 366 views | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Henry Jackson Cain, 76, of Leon, W.Va., passed away June 14, 2013, in Cabell Huntington Hospital, of injuries received in an automobile accident, on June 11, near his home.

He was born January 25, 1937, in Leon, W.Va., a son of the late Roy J. and Lona Bell (Casto) Cain. His sons, Floyd Allen Cain, and Douglas Cain, a brother, Bert Hess, and sisters, Mae Lewis and Margaret Twohig, also preceded him in death.

He was formerly employed by Union Carbide, and Asphalt, Inc., and was a retired grader operator from the West Virginia Department of Highways. He was a farmer and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his sons, Rick Cain, and John Cain, both of Leon, Jim Cain and Lloyd Cain both of Columbus, Ohio, Tim Cain and Brian Cain, both of London, Ohio, and Henry Cain, Jr., of Tenn.; daughters, Linda Cain, and Elizabeth Cain both of London, Ohio, Hanna Leary of Jackson, Mi., Kim VanDine and Marshie Krietz, and Bonnie Cain, all of Columbus, Ohio, and Sharon Richesson of Athens, Ohio; brothers, Charles Cain of Leon, Sam Cain of Howell, Mi., and Lee Casto of London, Ohio; sisters, Mary Kimbler and Ernestine DeVault both of Sidney, Ohio, Barbara Gray of Maplewood, Ohio, and Alice Bennett of Washington Courthouse, Ohio; 40 grandchildren, and 38 great-grandchildren.

Service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at Casto Funeral Home Chapel, Evans, W.Va., with the Rev. Verlin Hart officiating. Burial will follow in the Creston Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m,. Monday, at the funeral home.

Email condolences may be sent to: castofh@gmail.com.

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Bobby O. Parker
Jun 17, 2013 | 147 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Bobby O. Parker, 81, of Boynton Beach, Florida, passed away on June 13, 2013.

A memorial service will be held on Monday June 17, 2013 at 7 p.m. in the chapel of Palm Beach Memorial Park Funeral Home, 3691 Seacrest Blvd. Lantana, FL 33436, (561) 586-1237.

In lieu of flowers, Bobby requested donations be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (in memory of his beloved wife Ramona Parker), 801 Roeder Rd., Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

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Healing the Invisible Wounds of War
by Senator Jay Rockefeller
Jun 16, 2013 | 6638 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Imagine you’re the mom of three young boys with special needs. You are deeply proud of your husband, a combat veteran who served five tours of duty and earned two combat action badges. But you and your family struggle every single day with the invisible wounds of war.

Tracy White stands firmly by her husband’s side. She is with him when his unimaginable combat experiences — like taking his friend’s photograph at the moment he was killed by an IED — manifest in frightening ways. She is working with every fiber of her being to support their family, including holding down a part-time job so she can also be there for their sons.

She is also her husband’s biggest champion while he navigates an unfairly complex system to get the care and benefits he earned.

The Whites have no health coverage. When Jerry sought therapy through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a counselor told Tracy she should sleep in another room and call the police for protection. He was told he didn’t fit into a certain stereotype of someone with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

So as he awaits a decision from the VA about his disability benefits, he remains isolated in his home. He says he feels like a prisoner.

This is someone who served his country. Who selflessly answered the call, and in doing so faced the ruthless realities of war that are forever cemented in his mind.

The system is failing him. We are failing him. But I believe we can do more. We can find a way for Jerry, and thousands of veterans like him, to get beyond this struggle.

I’m working closely with the Whites to make sure Jerry gets the care he needs, and his family gets the support they deserve, in return for his service. And I was so grateful that they joined me for a conversation I recently held in West Virginia about veterans’ mental health needs.

I’ve met with veterans on countless occasions, but this was an especially powerful and important discussion – because the Whites and other veterans and their families bravely chose to share their experiences publicly. They felt they needed to for the many others who suffer silently.

With the end of the Iraq War, and with tens of thousands of veterans coming home from Afghanistan, the VA and the Department of Defense (DOD) — both of whom were there for our conversation — know the complexities of caring for returning service members with conditions like PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

As the demand for mental health care increases, we must be prepared to answer the call for our newest veterans and those from every generation.

In recent days, the VA announced that it has filled 1,600 mental health positions and the vacancies of more than 2,000 mental health clinical providers. This is an important step, and something I pushed for.

But I believe we must do more to deliver the strong, timely, consistent, individualized care our veterans need, including providing highly-skilled doctors and therapists — and making sure that care is always available.

We must end the months-long delay that places veterans in limbo when transitioning their paperwork from active duty status at the DOD to the VA. And we can no longer expect veterans tormented by mental health issues to twist and turn through multiple levels of bureaucracy to get the care we owe them.

The reality for our veterans is that, far too often, they face a host of issues when they come home – backlogs, claim delays, stigma and lack of understanding around their private struggles. Without the right care, things can start to spiral out of control – financial hardship, marital stress, feelings of hopelessness.

This is a difficult issue. But we can’t let the complexity be an excuse for not delivering the kind of support our veterans have earned. No one is more deserving.

We know the system can work for our veterans when the VA, DOD, vet centers, counselors and support networks get it right. And we know the right kind of care when it is most needed can keep families together. It can also transform and save lives.

We should be relentless in our pursuit of that outcome for the Whites, and for each and every veteran and their loved ones.

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Henry Jackson Cain
Jun 17, 2013 | 366 views | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Henry Jackson Cain, 76, of Leon, W.Va., passed away June 14, 2013, in Cabell Huntington Hospital, of injuries received in an automobile accident, on June 11, near his home.

He was born January 25, 1937, in Leon, W.Va., a son of the late Roy J. and Lona Bell (Casto) Cain. His sons, Floyd Allen Cain, and Douglas Cain, a brother, Bert Hess, and sisters, Mae Lewis and Margaret Twohig, also preceded him in death.

He was formerly employed by Union Carbide, and Asphalt, Inc., and was a retired grader operator from the West Virginia Department of Highways. He was a farmer and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his sons, Rick Cain, and John Cain, both of Leon, Jim Cain and Lloyd Cain both of Columbus, Ohio, Tim Cain and Brian Cain, both of London, Ohio, and Henry Cain, Jr., of Tenn.; daughters, Linda Cain, and Elizabeth Cain both of London, Ohio, Hanna Leary of Jackson, Mi., Kim VanDine and Marshie Krietz, and Bonnie Cain, all of Columbus, Ohio, and Sharon Richesson of Athens, Ohio; brothers, Charles Cain of Leon, Sam Cain of Howell, Mi., and Lee Casto of London, Ohio; sisters, Mary Kimbler and Ernestine DeVault both of Sidney, Ohio, Barbara Gray of Maplewood, Ohio, and Alice Bennett of Washington Courthouse, Ohio; 40 grandchildren, and 38 great-grandchildren.

Service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at Casto Funeral Home Chapel, Evans, W.Va., with the Rev. Verlin Hart officiating. Burial will follow in the Creston Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m,. Monday, at the funeral home.

Email condolences may be sent to: castofh@gmail.com.

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Bobby O. Parker
Jun 17, 2013 | 147 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Bobby O. Parker, 81, of Boynton Beach, Florida, passed away on June 13, 2013.

A memorial service will be held on Monday June 17, 2013 at 7 p.m. in the chapel of Palm Beach Memorial Park Funeral Home, 3691 Seacrest Blvd. Lantana, FL 33436, (561) 586-1237.

In lieu of flowers, Bobby requested donations be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (in memory of his beloved wife Ramona Parker), 801 Roeder Rd., Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

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Healing the Invisible Wounds of War
by Senator Jay Rockefeller
Jun 16, 2013 | 6638 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Imagine you’re the mom of three young boys with special needs. You are deeply proud of your husband, a combat veteran who served five tours of duty and earned two combat action badges. But you and your family struggle every single day with the invisible wounds of war.

Tracy White stands firmly by her husband’s side. She is with him when his unimaginable combat experiences — like taking his friend’s photograph at the moment he was killed by an IED — manifest in frightening ways. She is working with every fiber of her being to support their family, including holding down a part-time job so she can also be there for their sons.

She is also her husband’s biggest champion while he navigates an unfairly complex system to get the care and benefits he earned.

The Whites have no health coverage. When Jerry sought therapy through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a counselor told Tracy she should sleep in another room and call the police for protection. He was told he didn’t fit into a certain stereotype of someone with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

So as he awaits a decision from the VA about his disability benefits, he remains isolated in his home. He says he feels like a prisoner.

This is someone who served his country. Who selflessly answered the call, and in doing so faced the ruthless realities of war that are forever cemented in his mind.

The system is failing him. We are failing him. But I believe we can do more. We can find a way for Jerry, and thousands of veterans like him, to get beyond this struggle.

I’m working closely with the Whites to make sure Jerry gets the care he needs, and his family gets the support they deserve, in return for his service. And I was so grateful that they joined me for a conversation I recently held in West Virginia about veterans’ mental health needs.

I’ve met with veterans on countless occasions, but this was an especially powerful and important discussion – because the Whites and other veterans and their families bravely chose to share their experiences publicly. They felt they needed to for the many others who suffer silently.

With the end of the Iraq War, and with tens of thousands of veterans coming home from Afghanistan, the VA and the Department of Defense (DOD) — both of whom were there for our conversation — know the complexities of caring for returning service members with conditions like PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

As the demand for mental health care increases, we must be prepared to answer the call for our newest veterans and those from every generation.

In recent days, the VA announced that it has filled 1,600 mental health positions and the vacancies of more than 2,000 mental health clinical providers. This is an important step, and something I pushed for.

But I believe we must do more to deliver the strong, timely, consistent, individualized care our veterans need, including providing highly-skilled doctors and therapists — and making sure that care is always available.

We must end the months-long delay that places veterans in limbo when transitioning their paperwork from active duty status at the DOD to the VA. And we can no longer expect veterans tormented by mental health issues to twist and turn through multiple levels of bureaucracy to get the care we owe them.

The reality for our veterans is that, far too often, they face a host of issues when they come home – backlogs, claim delays, stigma and lack of understanding around their private struggles. Without the right care, things can start to spiral out of control – financial hardship, marital stress, feelings of hopelessness.

This is a difficult issue. But we can’t let the complexity be an excuse for not delivering the kind of support our veterans have earned. No one is more deserving.

We know the system can work for our veterans when the VA, DOD, vet centers, counselors and support networks get it right. And we know the right kind of care when it is most needed can keep families together. It can also transform and save lives.

We should be relentless in our pursuit of that outcome for the Whites, and for each and every veteran and their loved ones.

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<p>Jamie N. Roberts</p>

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Henry Jackson Cain
Jun 17, 2013 | 366 views | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Henry Jackson Cain, 76, of Leon, W.Va., passed away June 14, 2013, in Cabell Huntington Hospital, of injuries received in an automobile accident, on June 11, near his home.

He was born January 25, 1937, in Leon, W.Va., a son of the late Roy J. and Lona Bell (Casto) Cain. His sons, Floyd Allen Cain, and Douglas Cain, a brother, Bert Hess, and sisters, Mae Lewis and Margaret Twohig, also preceded him in death.

He was formerly employed by Union Carbide, and Asphalt, Inc., and was a retired grader operator from the West Virginia Department of Highways. He was a farmer and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his sons, Rick Cain, and John Cain, both of Leon, Jim Cain and Lloyd Cain both of Columbus, Ohio, Tim Cain and Brian Cain, both of London, Ohio, and Henry Cain, Jr., of Tenn.; daughters, Linda Cain, and Elizabeth Cain both of London, Ohio, Hanna Leary of Jackson, Mi., Kim VanDine and Marshie Krietz, and Bonnie Cain, all of Columbus, Ohio, and Sharon Richesson of Athens, Ohio; brothers, Charles Cain of Leon, Sam Cain of Howell, Mi., and Lee Casto of London, Ohio; sisters, Mary Kimbler and Ernestine DeVault both of Sidney, Ohio, Barbara Gray of Maplewood, Ohio, and Alice Bennett of Washington Courthouse, Ohio; 40 grandchildren, and 38 great-grandchildren.

Service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at Casto Funeral Home Chapel, Evans, W.Va., with the Rev. Verlin Hart officiating. Burial will follow in the Creston Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m,. Monday, at the funeral home.

Email condolences may be sent to: castofh@gmail.com.

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Bobby O. Parker
Jun 17, 2013 | 147 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Bobby O. Parker, 81, of Boynton Beach, Florida, passed away on June 13, 2013.

A memorial service will be held on Monday June 17, 2013 at 7 p.m. in the chapel of Palm Beach Memorial Park Funeral Home, 3691 Seacrest Blvd. Lantana, FL 33436, (561) 586-1237.

In lieu of flowers, Bobby requested donations be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (in memory of his beloved wife Ramona Parker), 801 Roeder Rd., Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

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Healing the Invisible Wounds of War
by Senator Jay Rockefeller
Jun 16, 2013 | 6638 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Imagine you’re the mom of three young boys with special needs. You are deeply proud of your husband, a combat veteran who served five tours of duty and earned two combat action badges. But you and your family struggle every single day with the invisible wounds of war.

Tracy White stands firmly by her husband’s side. She is with him when his unimaginable combat experiences — like taking his friend’s photograph at the moment he was killed by an IED — manifest in frightening ways. She is working with every fiber of her being to support their family, including holding down a part-time job so she can also be there for their sons.

She is also her husband’s biggest champion while he navigates an unfairly complex system to get the care and benefits he earned.

The Whites have no health coverage. When Jerry sought therapy through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a counselor told Tracy she should sleep in another room and call the police for protection. He was told he didn’t fit into a certain stereotype of someone with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

So as he awaits a decision from the VA about his disability benefits, he remains isolated in his home. He says he feels like a prisoner.

This is someone who served his country. Who selflessly answered the call, and in doing so faced the ruthless realities of war that are forever cemented in his mind.

The system is failing him. We are failing him. But I believe we can do more. We can find a way for Jerry, and thousands of veterans like him, to get beyond this struggle.

I’m working closely with the Whites to make sure Jerry gets the care he needs, and his family gets the support they deserve, in return for his service. And I was so grateful that they joined me for a conversation I recently held in West Virginia about veterans’ mental health needs.

I’ve met with veterans on countless occasions, but this was an especially powerful and important discussion – because the Whites and other veterans and their families bravely chose to share their experiences publicly. They felt they needed to for the many others who suffer silently.

With the end of the Iraq War, and with tens of thousands of veterans coming home from Afghanistan, the VA and the Department of Defense (DOD) — both of whom were there for our conversation — know the complexities of caring for returning service members with conditions like PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

As the demand for mental health care increases, we must be prepared to answer the call for our newest veterans and those from every generation.

In recent days, the VA announced that it has filled 1,600 mental health positions and the vacancies of more than 2,000 mental health clinical providers. This is an important step, and something I pushed for.

But I believe we must do more to deliver the strong, timely, consistent, individualized care our veterans need, including providing highly-skilled doctors and therapists — and making sure that care is always available.

We must end the months-long delay that places veterans in limbo when transitioning their paperwork from active duty status at the DOD to the VA. And we can no longer expect veterans tormented by mental health issues to twist and turn through multiple levels of bureaucracy to get the care we owe them.

The reality for our veterans is that, far too often, they face a host of issues when they come home – backlogs, claim delays, stigma and lack of understanding around their private struggles. Without the right care, things can start to spiral out of control – financial hardship, marital stress, feelings of hopelessness.

This is a difficult issue. But we can’t let the complexity be an excuse for not delivering the kind of support our veterans have earned. No one is more deserving.

We know the system can work for our veterans when the VA, DOD, vet centers, counselors and support networks get it right. And we know the right kind of care when it is most needed can keep families together. It can also transform and save lives.

We should be relentless in our pursuit of that outcome for the Whites, and for each and every veteran and their loved ones.

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Henry Jackson Cain
Jun 17, 2013 | 366 views | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Henry Jackson Cain, 76, of Leon, W.Va., passed away June 14, 2013, in Cabell Huntington Hospital, of injuries received in an automobile accident, on June 11, near his home.

He was born January 25, 1937, in Leon, W.Va., a son of the late Roy J. and Lona Bell (Casto) Cain. His sons, Floyd Allen Cain, and Douglas Cain, a brother, Bert Hess, and sisters, Mae Lewis and Margaret Twohig, also preceded him in death.

He was formerly employed by Union Carbide, and Asphalt, Inc., and was a retired grader operator from the West Virginia Department of Highways. He was a farmer and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his sons, Rick Cain, and John Cain, both of Leon, Jim Cain and Lloyd Cain both of Columbus, Ohio, Tim Cain and Brian Cain, both of London, Ohio, and Henry Cain, Jr., of Tenn.; daughters, Linda Cain, and Elizabeth Cain both of London, Ohio, Hanna Leary of Jackson, Mi., Kim VanDine and Marshie Krietz, and Bonnie Cain, all of Columbus, Ohio, and Sharon Richesson of Athens, Ohio; brothers, Charles Cain of Leon, Sam Cain of Howell, Mi., and Lee Casto of London, Ohio; sisters, Mary Kimbler and Ernestine DeVault both of Sidney, Ohio, Barbara Gray of Maplewood, Ohio, and Alice Bennett of Washington Courthouse, Ohio; 40 grandchildren, and 38 great-grandchildren.

Service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at Casto Funeral Home Chapel, Evans, W.Va., with the Rev. Verlin Hart officiating. Burial will follow in the Creston Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m,. Monday, at the funeral home.

Email condolences may be sent to: castofh@gmail.com.

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Bobby O. Parker
Jun 17, 2013 | 147 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Bobby O. Parker, 81, of Boynton Beach, Florida, passed away on June 13, 2013.

A memorial service will be held on Monday June 17, 2013 at 7 p.m. in the chapel of Palm Beach Memorial Park Funeral Home, 3691 Seacrest Blvd. Lantana, FL 33436, (561) 586-1237.

In lieu of flowers, Bobby requested donations be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (in memory of his beloved wife Ramona Parker), 801 Roeder Rd., Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

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Healing the Invisible Wounds of War
by Senator Jay Rockefeller
Jun 16, 2013 | 6638 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Imagine you’re the mom of three young boys with special needs. You are deeply proud of your husband, a combat veteran who served five tours of duty and earned two combat action badges. But you and your family struggle every single day with the invisible wounds of war.

Tracy White stands firmly by her husband’s side. She is with him when his unimaginable combat experiences — like taking his friend’s photograph at the moment he was killed by an IED — manifest in frightening ways. She is working with every fiber of her being to support their family, including holding down a part-time job so she can also be there for their sons.

She is also her husband’s biggest champion while he navigates an unfairly complex system to get the care and benefits he earned.

The Whites have no health coverage. When Jerry sought therapy through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a counselor told Tracy she should sleep in another room and call the police for protection. He was told he didn’t fit into a certain stereotype of someone with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

So as he awaits a decision from the VA about his disability benefits, he remains isolated in his home. He says he feels like a prisoner.

This is someone who served his country. Who selflessly answered the call, and in doing so faced the ruthless realities of war that are forever cemented in his mind.

The system is failing him. We are failing him. But I believe we can do more. We can find a way for Jerry, and thousands of veterans like him, to get beyond this struggle.

I’m working closely with the Whites to make sure Jerry gets the care he needs, and his family gets the support they deserve, in return for his service. And I was so grateful that they joined me for a conversation I recently held in West Virginia about veterans’ mental health needs.

I’ve met with veterans on countless occasions, but this was an especially powerful and important discussion – because the Whites and other veterans and their families bravely chose to share their experiences publicly. They felt they needed to for the many others who suffer silently.

With the end of the Iraq War, and with tens of thousands of veterans coming home from Afghanistan, the VA and the Department of Defense (DOD) — both of whom were there for our conversation — know the complexities of caring for returning service members with conditions like PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

As the demand for mental health care increases, we must be prepared to answer the call for our newest veterans and those from every generation.

In recent days, the VA announced that it has filled 1,600 mental health positions and the vacancies of more than 2,000 mental health clinical providers. This is an important step, and something I pushed for.

But I believe we must do more to deliver the strong, timely, consistent, individualized care our veterans need, including providing highly-skilled doctors and therapists — and making sure that care is always available.

We must end the months-long delay that places veterans in limbo when transitioning their paperwork from active duty status at the DOD to the VA. And we can no longer expect veterans tormented by mental health issues to twist and turn through multiple levels of bureaucracy to get the care we owe them.

The reality for our veterans is that, far too often, they face a host of issues when they come home – backlogs, claim delays, stigma and lack of understanding around their private struggles. Without the right care, things can start to spiral out of control – financial hardship, marital stress, feelings of hopelessness.

This is a difficult issue. But we can’t let the complexity be an excuse for not delivering the kind of support our veterans have earned. No one is more deserving.

We know the system can work for our veterans when the VA, DOD, vet centers, counselors and support networks get it right. And we know the right kind of care when it is most needed can keep families together. It can also transform and save lives.

We should be relentless in our pursuit of that outcome for the Whites, and for each and every veteran and their loved ones.

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<p>Jamie N. Roberts</p>

Jamie N. Roberts

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Henry Jackson Cain
Jun 17, 2013 | 366 views | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Henry Jackson Cain, 76, of Leon, W.Va., passed away June 14, 2013, in Cabell Huntington Hospital, of injuries received in an automobile accident, on June 11, near his home.

He was born January 25, 1937, in Leon, W.Va., a son of the late Roy J. and Lona Bell (Casto) Cain. His sons, Floyd Allen Cain, and Douglas Cain, a brother, Bert Hess, and sisters, Mae Lewis and Margaret Twohig, also preceded him in death.

He was formerly employed by Union Carbide, and Asphalt, Inc., and was a retired grader operator from the West Virginia Department of Highways. He was a farmer and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his sons, Rick Cain, and John Cain, both of Leon, Jim Cain and Lloyd Cain both of Columbus, Ohio, Tim Cain and Brian Cain, both of London, Ohio, and Henry Cain, Jr., of Tenn.; daughters, Linda Cain, and Elizabeth Cain both of London, Ohio, Hanna Leary of Jackson, Mi., Kim VanDine and Marshie Krietz, and Bonnie Cain, all of Columbus, Ohio, and Sharon Richesson of Athens, Ohio; brothers, Charles Cain of Leon, Sam Cain of Howell, Mi., and Lee Casto of London, Ohio; sisters, Mary Kimbler and Ernestine DeVault both of Sidney, Ohio, Barbara Gray of Maplewood, Ohio, and Alice Bennett of Washington Courthouse, Ohio; 40 grandchildren, and 38 great-grandchildren.

Service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at Casto Funeral Home Chapel, Evans, W.Va., with the Rev. Verlin Hart officiating. Burial will follow in the Creston Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m,. Monday, at the funeral home.

Email condolences may be sent to: castofh@gmail.com.

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Bobby O. Parker
Jun 17, 2013 | 147 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Bobby O. Parker, 81, of Boynton Beach, Florida, passed away on June 13, 2013.

A memorial service will be held on Monday June 17, 2013 at 7 p.m. in the chapel of Palm Beach Memorial Park Funeral Home, 3691 Seacrest Blvd. Lantana, FL 33436, (561) 586-1237.

In lieu of flowers, Bobby requested donations be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (in memory of his beloved wife Ramona Parker), 801 Roeder Rd., Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

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Healing the Invisible Wounds of War
by Senator Jay Rockefeller
Jun 16, 2013 | 6638 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Imagine you’re the mom of three young boys with special needs. You are deeply proud of your husband, a combat veteran who served five tours of duty and earned two combat action badges. But you and your family struggle every single day with the invisible wounds of war.

Tracy White stands firmly by her husband’s side. She is with him when his unimaginable combat experiences — like taking his friend’s photograph at the moment he was killed by an IED — manifest in frightening ways. She is working with every fiber of her being to support their family, including holding down a part-time job so she can also be there for their sons.

She is also her husband’s biggest champion while he navigates an unfairly complex system to get the care and benefits he earned.

The Whites have no health coverage. When Jerry sought therapy through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a counselor told Tracy she should sleep in another room and call the police for protection. He was told he didn’t fit into a certain stereotype of someone with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

So as he awaits a decision from the VA about his disability benefits, he remains isolated in his home. He says he feels like a prisoner.

This is someone who served his country. Who selflessly answered the call, and in doing so faced the ruthless realities of war that are forever cemented in his mind.

The system is failing him. We are failing him. But I believe we can do more. We can find a way for Jerry, and thousands of veterans like him, to get beyond this struggle.

I’m working closely with the Whites to make sure Jerry gets the care he needs, and his family gets the support they deserve, in return for his service. And I was so grateful that they joined me for a conversation I recently held in West Virginia about veterans’ mental health needs.

I’ve met with veterans on countless occasions, but this was an especially powerful and important discussion – because the Whites and other veterans and their families bravely chose to share their experiences publicly. They felt they needed to for the many others who suffer silently.

With the end of the Iraq War, and with tens of thousands of veterans coming home from Afghanistan, the VA and the Department of Defense (DOD) — both of whom were there for our conversation — know the complexities of caring for returning service members with conditions like PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

As the demand for mental health care increases, we must be prepared to answer the call for our newest veterans and those from every generation.

In recent days, the VA announced that it has filled 1,600 mental health positions and the vacancies of more than 2,000 mental health clinical providers. This is an important step, and something I pushed for.

But I believe we must do more to deliver the strong, timely, consistent, individualized care our veterans need, including providing highly-skilled doctors and therapists — and making sure that care is always available.

We must end the months-long delay that places veterans in limbo when transitioning their paperwork from active duty status at the DOD to the VA. And we can no longer expect veterans tormented by mental health issues to twist and turn through multiple levels of bureaucracy to get the care we owe them.

The reality for our veterans is that, far too often, they face a host of issues when they come home – backlogs, claim delays, stigma and lack of understanding around their private struggles. Without the right care, things can start to spiral out of control – financial hardship, marital stress, feelings of hopelessness.

This is a difficult issue. But we can’t let the complexity be an excuse for not delivering the kind of support our veterans have earned. No one is more deserving.

We know the system can work for our veterans when the VA, DOD, vet centers, counselors and support networks get it right. And we know the right kind of care when it is most needed can keep families together. It can also transform and save lives.

We should be relentless in our pursuit of that outcome for the Whites, and for each and every veteran and their loved ones.

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<p>Jamie N. Roberts</p>

Jamie N. Roberts

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Henry Jackson Cain
Jun 17, 2013 | 366 views | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Henry Jackson Cain, 76, of Leon, W.Va., passed away June 14, 2013, in Cabell Huntington Hospital, of injuries received in an automobile accident, on June 11, near his home.

He was born January 25, 1937, in Leon, W.Va., a son of the late Roy J. and Lona Bell (Casto) Cain. His sons, Floyd Allen Cain, and Douglas Cain, a brother, Bert Hess, and sisters, Mae Lewis and Margaret Twohig, also preceded him in death.

He was formerly employed by Union Carbide, and Asphalt, Inc., and was a retired grader operator from the West Virginia Department of Highways. He was a farmer and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his sons, Rick Cain, and John Cain, both of Leon, Jim Cain and Lloyd Cain both of Columbus, Ohio, Tim Cain and Brian Cain, both of London, Ohio, and Henry Cain, Jr., of Tenn.; daughters, Linda Cain, and Elizabeth Cain both of London, Ohio, Hanna Leary of Jackson, Mi., Kim VanDine and Marshie Krietz, and Bonnie Cain, all of Columbus, Ohio, and Sharon Richesson of Athens, Ohio; brothers, Charles Cain of Leon, Sam Cain of Howell, Mi., and Lee Casto of London, Ohio; sisters, Mary Kimbler and Ernestine DeVault both of Sidney, Ohio, Barbara Gray of Maplewood, Ohio, and Alice Bennett of Washington Courthouse, Ohio; 40 grandchildren, and 38 great-grandchildren.

Service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at Casto Funeral Home Chapel, Evans, W.Va., with the Rev. Verlin Hart officiating. Burial will follow in the Creston Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m,. Monday, at the funeral home.

Email condolences may be sent to: castofh@gmail.com.

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Bobby O. Parker
Jun 17, 2013 | 147 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Bobby O. Parker, 81, of Boynton Beach, Florida, passed away on June 13, 2013.

A memorial service will be held on Monday June 17, 2013 at 7 p.m. in the chapel of Palm Beach Memorial Park Funeral Home, 3691 Seacrest Blvd. Lantana, FL 33436, (561) 586-1237.

In lieu of flowers, Bobby requested donations be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (in memory of his beloved wife Ramona Parker), 801 Roeder Rd., Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

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Healing the Invisible Wounds of War
by Senator Jay Rockefeller
Jun 16, 2013 | 6638 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Imagine you’re the mom of three young boys with special needs. You are deeply proud of your husband, a combat veteran who served five tours of duty and earned two combat action badges. But you and your family struggle every single day with the invisible wounds of war.

Tracy White stands firmly by her husband’s side. She is with him when his unimaginable combat experiences — like taking his friend’s photograph at the moment he was killed by an IED — manifest in frightening ways. She is working with every fiber of her being to support their family, including holding down a part-time job so she can also be there for their sons.

She is also her husband’s biggest champion while he navigates an unfairly complex system to get the care and benefits he earned.

The Whites have no health coverage. When Jerry sought therapy through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a counselor told Tracy she should sleep in another room and call the police for protection. He was told he didn’t fit into a certain stereotype of someone with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

So as he awaits a decision from the VA about his disability benefits, he remains isolated in his home. He says he feels like a prisoner.

This is someone who served his country. Who selflessly answered the call, and in doing so faced the ruthless realities of war that are forever cemented in his mind.

The system is failing him. We are failing him. But I believe we can do more. We can find a way for Jerry, and thousands of veterans like him, to get beyond this struggle.

I’m working closely with the Whites to make sure Jerry gets the care he needs, and his family gets the support they deserve, in return for his service. And I was so grateful that they joined me for a conversation I recently held in West Virginia about veterans’ mental health needs.

I’ve met with veterans on countless occasions, but this was an especially powerful and important discussion – because the Whites and other veterans and their families bravely chose to share their experiences publicly. They felt they needed to for the many others who suffer silently.

With the end of the Iraq War, and with tens of thousands of veterans coming home from Afghanistan, the VA and the Department of Defense (DOD) — both of whom were there for our conversation — know the complexities of caring for returning service members with conditions like PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

As the demand for mental health care increases, we must be prepared to answer the call for our newest veterans and those from every generation.

In recent days, the VA announced that it has filled 1,600 mental health positions and the vacancies of more than 2,000 mental health clinical providers. This is an important step, and something I pushed for.

But I believe we must do more to deliver the strong, timely, consistent, individualized care our veterans need, including providing highly-skilled doctors and therapists — and making sure that care is always available.

We must end the months-long delay that places veterans in limbo when transitioning their paperwork from active duty status at the DOD to the VA. And we can no longer expect veterans tormented by mental health issues to twist and turn through multiple levels of bureaucracy to get the care we owe them.

The reality for our veterans is that, far too often, they face a host of issues when they come home – backlogs, claim delays, stigma and lack of understanding around their private struggles. Without the right care, things can start to spiral out of control – financial hardship, marital stress, feelings of hopelessness.

This is a difficult issue. But we can’t let the complexity be an excuse for not delivering the kind of support our veterans have earned. No one is more deserving.

We know the system can work for our veterans when the VA, DOD, vet centers, counselors and support networks get it right. And we know the right kind of care when it is most needed can keep families together. It can also transform and save lives.

We should be relentless in our pursuit of that outcome for the Whites, and for each and every veteran and their loved ones.

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<p>Jamie N. Roberts</p>

Jamie N. Roberts

slideshow
download June 17, 2013
Henry Jackson Cain
Jun 17, 2013 | 366 views | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Henry Jackson Cain, 76, of Leon, W.Va., passed away June 14, 2013, in Cabell Huntington Hospital, of injuries received in an automobile accident, on June 11, near his home.

He was born January 25, 1937, in Leon, W.Va., a son of the late Roy J. and Lona Bell (Casto) Cain. His sons, Floyd Allen Cain, and Douglas Cain, a brother, Bert Hess, and sisters, Mae Lewis and Margaret Twohig, also preceded him in death.

He was formerly employed by Union Carbide, and Asphalt, Inc., and was a retired grader operator from the West Virginia Department of Highways. He was a farmer and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his sons, Rick Cain, and John Cain, both of Leon, Jim Cain and Lloyd Cain both of Columbus, Ohio, Tim Cain and Brian Cain, both of London, Ohio, and Henry Cain, Jr., of Tenn.; daughters, Linda Cain, and Elizabeth Cain both of London, Ohio, Hanna Leary of Jackson, Mi., Kim VanDine and Marshie Krietz, and Bonnie Cain, all of Columbus, Ohio, and Sharon Richesson of Athens, Ohio; brothers, Charles Cain of Leon, Sam Cain of Howell, Mi., and Lee Casto of London, Ohio; sisters, Mary Kimbler and Ernestine DeVault both of Sidney, Ohio, Barbara Gray of Maplewood, Ohio, and Alice Bennett of Washington Courthouse, Ohio; 40 grandchildren, and 38 great-grandchildren.

Service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at Casto Funeral Home Chapel, Evans, W.Va., with the Rev. Verlin Hart officiating. Burial will follow in the Creston Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m,. Monday, at the funeral home.

Email condolences may be sent to: castofh@gmail.com.

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Bobby O. Parker
Jun 17, 2013 | 147 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Bobby O. Parker, 81, of Boynton Beach, Florida, passed away on June 13, 2013.

A memorial service will be held on Monday June 17, 2013 at 7 p.m. in the chapel of Palm Beach Memorial Park Funeral Home, 3691 Seacrest Blvd. Lantana, FL 33436, (561) 586-1237.

In lieu of flowers, Bobby requested donations be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (in memory of his beloved wife Ramona Parker), 801 Roeder Rd., Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

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(0)
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Healing the Invisible Wounds of War
by Senator Jay Rockefeller
Jun 16, 2013 | 6638 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Imagine you’re the mom of three young boys with special needs. You are deeply proud of your husband, a combat veteran who served five tours of duty and earned two combat action badges. But you and your family struggle every single day with the invisible wounds of war.

Tracy White stands firmly by her husband’s side. She is with him when his unimaginable combat experiences — like taking his friend’s photograph at the moment he was killed by an IED — manifest in frightening ways. She is working with every fiber of her being to support their family, including holding down a part-time job so she can also be there for their sons.

She is also her husband’s biggest champion while he navigates an unfairly complex system to get the care and benefits he earned.

The Whites have no health coverage. When Jerry sought therapy through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a counselor told Tracy she should sleep in another room and call the police for protection. He was told he didn’t fit into a certain stereotype of someone with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

So as he awaits a decision from the VA about his disability benefits, he remains isolated in his home. He says he feels like a prisoner.

This is someone who served his country. Who selflessly answered the call, and in doing so faced the ruthless realities of war that are forever cemented in his mind.

The system is failing him. We are failing him. But I believe we can do more. We can find a way for Jerry, and thousands of veterans like him, to get beyond this struggle.

I’m working closely with the Whites to make sure Jerry gets the care he needs, and his family gets the support they deserve, in return for his service. And I was so grateful that they joined me for a conversation I recently held in West Virginia about veterans’ mental health needs.

I’ve met with veterans on countless occasions, but this was an especially powerful and important discussion – because the Whites and other veterans and their families bravely chose to share their experiences publicly. They felt they needed to for the many others who suffer silently.

With the end of the Iraq War, and with tens of thousands of veterans coming home from Afghanistan, the VA and the Department of Defense (DOD) — both of whom were there for our conversation — know the complexities of caring for returning service members with conditions like PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

As the demand for mental health care increases, we must be prepared to answer the call for our newest veterans and those from every generation.

In recent days, the VA announced that it has filled 1,600 mental health positions and the vacancies of more than 2,000 mental health clinical providers. This is an important step, and something I pushed for.

But I believe we must do more to deliver the strong, timely, consistent, individualized care our veterans need, including providing highly-skilled doctors and therapists — and making sure that care is always available.

We must end the months-long delay that places veterans in limbo when transitioning their paperwork from active duty status at the DOD to the VA. And we can no longer expect veterans tormented by mental health issues to twist and turn through multiple levels of bureaucracy to get the care we owe them.

The reality for our veterans is that, far too often, they face a host of issues when they come home – backlogs, claim delays, stigma and lack of understanding around their private struggles. Without the right care, things can start to spiral out of control – financial hardship, marital stress, feelings of hopelessness.

This is a difficult issue. But we can’t let the complexity be an excuse for not delivering the kind of support our veterans have earned. No one is more deserving.

We know the system can work for our veterans when the VA, DOD, vet centers, counselors and support networks get it right. And we know the right kind of care when it is most needed can keep families together. It can also transform and save lives.

We should be relentless in our pursuit of that outcome for the Whites, and for each and every veteran and their loved ones.

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<p>Jamie N. Roberts</p>

Jamie N. Roberts

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