West Virginia Veterans for Obama gathered in front of the Veterans Memorial on the state Capitol grounds Thursday morning as part of their statewide tour supporting Barack Obama's efforts to care for military veterans.

Speakers at the rally said the Obama-Biden ticket is dedicated to improving Veterans Administration medical care, combating homelessness among veterans and fighting employment discrimination against reservists after they return from active duty.

Jack Tincher, co-chairman of Veterans for Obama, said, "What Sen. McCain has done is vote against us. Sen. Obama has done a lot more for us in the Senate, in his short time there, than Sen. McCain ever has."

Brig. Gen. Jack Yeager believes military veterans are facing a growing crisis, especially since "improvement in battlefield medical care is saving more lives. The number of veterans who need care is greater than it has ever been.

"The Bush administration has let veterans down. And John McCain is not a friend of veterans," said Yeager, who has retired from the military.

Rear Adm. David Stone, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate who retired in 2002 after more than 30 years in the Navy, said, "This is the most important election of my lifetime.

"Throughout his career, Barack Obama has taken care of people. He has been a leader backing the new G.I. Bill, which will help veterans with traumatic brain injuries. He has been at the forefront of helping them.

"Obama also had the judgment to be against that [Iraq] war, because it is against the interests of the United States. The focus should be Afghanistan ... al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden," Stone said.

"Obama has proved throughout his career that he can bring people together from both sides of the aisle."

Stone said he and the other veterans are "eager to talk to the men and women of West Virginia about why we believe Barack Obama will be a great president and commander in chief. Our country needs his strong and dynamic leadership."

West Virginia Veterans for Obama left Charleston after the early morning rally and headed north to Elkins and Clarksburg. The group will visit Fairmont and Morgantown today, Keyser and Charles Town on Saturday and Martinsburg on Sunday.

Reach Paul J. Nyden at pjny...@wvgazette.com or 348-5164.

West Virginia Veterans for Obama gathered in front of the Veterans Memorial on the state Capitol grounds Thursday morning as part of their statewide tour supporting Barack Obama's efforts to care for military veterans.

Speakers at the rally said the Obama-Biden ticket is dedicated to improving Veterans Administration medical care, combating homelessness among veterans and fighting employment discrimination against reservists after they return from active duty.

Jack Tincher, co-chairman of Veterans for Obama, said, "What Sen. McCain has done is vote against us. Sen. Obama has done a lot more for us in the Senate, in his short time there, than Sen. McCain ever has."

Brig. Gen. Jack Yeager believes military veterans are facing a growing crisis, especially since "improvement in battlefield medical care is saving more lives. The number of veterans who need care is greater than it has ever been.

"The Bush administration has let veterans down. And John McCain is not a friend of veterans," said Yeager, who has retired from the military.

Rear Adm. David Stone, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate who retired in 2002 after more than 30 years in the Navy, said, "This is the most important election of my lifetime.

"Throughout his career, Barack Obama has taken care of people. He has been a leader backing the new G.I. Bill, which will help veterans with traumatic brain injuries. He has been at the forefront of helping them.

"Obama also had the judgment to be against that [Iraq] war, because it is against the interests of the United States. The focus should be Afghanistan ... al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden," Stone said.

"Obama has proved throughout his career that he can bring people together from both sides of the aisle."

Stone said he and the other veterans are "eager to talk to the men and women of West Virginia about why we believe Barack Obama will be a great president and commander in chief. Our country needs his strong and dynamic leadership."

West Virginia Veterans for Obama left Charleston after the early morning rally and headed north to Elkins and Clarksburg. The group will visit Fairmont and Morgantown today, Keyser and Charles Town on Saturday and Martinsburg on Sunday.

Reach Paul J. Nyden at pjny...@wvgazette.com or 348-5164.