CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Wearing yellow and ringing bells, hundreds of senior citizens from across West Virginia rallied at the statecapitol in Charleston on Tuesday in an effort to build legislative support for senior programs and in-home care funding.
More than 700 people showed up for the event on the rear steps of the Capitol. The crowd was successful in pulling legislators, in Charleston for the September interim meeting, out of the Capitol to meet discuss senior issues.
Jennifer Gibson, the president of the West Virginia directors of Senior and CommunityServices, said the goal of the rally was simple: Making senior services apriority for 2015.
Gibson joined Eric Hicks, president of the West Virginia Home Care Association, and Marc Harman, lobbyist for the West Virginia Directors of Seniors Services, in welcoming the crowd and legislators.
Jennifer Gibson, president of the West Virginia directors of Senior and Community Services; Marc Harman, lobbyist for the West Virginia Directors of Seniors Services; and Eric Hicks, president of the West Virginia Home Care Association, welcome the crowd and legislators to the Rally of Senior Citizens Tuesday at the state Capitol.
Taking a break from the September interim meetings, legislators came down the Capitol steps to talk with concerned seniors. Among the legislators at the rally were, from left, Sen. Herb Snyder, D-Jefferson; Del. Mike Ferro, D-Marshall; Del. Dave Walker, D-Clay; Del. Randy Swartzmiller, D-Hancock; and Del. Brent Boggs, D-Braxton; and Del. Peggy Donaldson Smith, D-Lewis.
Talking with senior citizens during Tuesday’s Rally for Seniors were, from left, Delegates Jeff Eldridge, D-Lincoln; Richard Iaquinta, D-Harrison; and Speaker of the House Tim Miley, D-Harrison.
Sen. Daniel Hall, D-Wyoming, left, gives directions to one senior at the rally, while Del. Linda Summers, R-Raleigh, at right, talks with other seniors.
Del. Bill Hartman, D-Randolph, speaks with a visitor in the sea of yellow shirted seniors.
Del. Mike Ferro, D-Marshall, and Del. Rocky Fitzsimmons, D-Ohio, look over the hundreds of senior citizens in Charleston for the rally Tuesday.
Sen. Larry Edgell joins the hundreds of senior citizens in Charleston for the rally Tuesday.
Del. Daryl Cowles, R-Morgan, talks with one of the people attending Tuesday’s Rally for Seniors in Charleston.
Del. Brett Boggs, D-Braxton, talks with senior citizens during Tuesday’s Rally for Seniors in Charleston.
