Late in the day, Byrd’s Senate colleagues passed a
resolution honoring Byrd’s service. As senators stood to give him a standing
ovation, Byrd pumped his fists in the air like a runner finishing a race.
Then, Byrd took the floor. He passed the accolades on to
his constituents in West Virginia.
“Today is much more than a commemoration of the length of
service of one U.S.
senator,” he said. “Today also celebrates the great people of the great and
mighty state of West Virginia.”
Byrd then began remembering the significant moments during
his time in Congress. He recalled his humble beginnings in southern West
Virginia.
“This foster son of an impoverished coal miner from the
great hills of southern West Virginia
has had the opportunity to walk with kings, to meet with prime ministers and to
debate with presidents,” Byrd said.
Earlier in the afternoon, West Virginians
gathered at the state capitol to honor Byrd. Although Byrd couldn’t make it to
the celebration, the celebration featured a real bird. Next to the speakers, a
handler tried his best to control a bald eagle that pumped its wings and
occasionally tried to pounce on audience members.
All the speakers paid tribute to Byrd for his long tenure
representing the state of West Virginia.
“Today we gather to honor a man who is a strong moral
compass, an outstanding character,” Gov. Joe Manchin said. “What a remarkable
national milestone we are celebrating today: our senior senator becomes the
longest-serving member of Congress in the history of the United
States government.”
Judge Blane Michael of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals
remembered Byrd’s sense of humor and tenacity.
“It was 1982 when I first served as his campaign manager,”
Michael said. “NCPAC, the National Conservative Political Action Campaign,
announced that it was targeting Sen. Byrd for defeat.
"The senator reacted
swiftly, vowing that he was one target that was going to shoot back. In the
end, Sen. Byrd won the 1982 election by an overwhelming 2-1 margin. He lost
only Grant County—my
home county.”
In later elections, Byrd went on to win all of West
Virginia’s 55 counties, culling support from
Democrats, Republicans and Independents.
He turns 92 years old on Friday.