PARKERSBURG - The flags have been ordered lowered to half staff in West Virginia where the congressional delegation Wednesday praised the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, calling the iconic senator a major influence in American politics for 50 years.
Kennedy, 77, died Tuesday night at his home in Cape Cod from brain cancer. He was diagnosed with a tumor last year.
He was the patriarch of an American political family. His father, Joe Kennedy Sr., was an ambassador to England from 1938-1940. Both of his brothers, President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Robert Kennedy, were assassinated.
West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, who ordered state and U.S. flags lowered, and his wife, Gayle, said they were deeply sorrowed.
"Sen. Kennedy was a fighter and true statesman," Manchin said. "I met Sen. Kennedy when I was just 13 years old. I was working on my go cart inside our three-room garage apartment when my mother told me to come to the kitchen. She wanted me to meet someone. There I saw Ted Kennedy eating spaghetti and just having a great time. He was in West Virginia campaigning for his brother for president."
U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., the longest serving senator in the history of the upper chamber, said he lost "my beloved friend."
"Neither years of age nor years of political combat, nor his illness, diminished the idealism and energy of this talented, imaginative and intelligent man," Byrd said. "And that is the kind of senator Ted Kennedy was. Throughout his career, Sen. Kennedy believed in a simple premise: That our society's greatness lies in its ability and willingness to provide for its less fortunate members."
U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said Kennedy was committed to his constituents.
"He was an inspiration to many; a man who made his mark on the U.S. Senate for nearly half a century. Not only has he carried on his family's legacy, but his sense of public service was second to none," Capito said. "Over seven terms in the Senate, his commitment to his constituents was unquestionable and he will be dearly missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and family."
America is a better place because of Kennedy, U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said.
"Nearly every piece of legislation passed in the United States Senate bore his imprint and reflected his commitment to making life better for every American," Rockefeller said. "It has been my honor to lock arms with him in many of these efforts including the Children's Health Insurance Program and the Serve America Act, which inspires young people to serve their country through public service."
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and his wife, Frances, extended their condolences to the Kennedy family.
"America has lost an extraordinary public servant who was the leading voice for the least fortunate. A towering figure in the United States Senate and the American political imagination, his life exemplified the deepest commitment to a simple idea: service to others," Strickland said. "His advocacy for the poor and disenfranchised will survive long beyond his living years."
U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, said the "nation has lost a true statesman." Kennedy was a man of his convictions, Voinovich said.
"His willingness to reach across the aisle and find common ground serves as an inspiration to all of us during this pivotal moment in our nation's history," he said. "Sen. Kennedy and I shared a passion for early childhood development and together with Senator Gregg we worked on legislation to improve the quality and availability of early education for all children."
Kennedy was an inspiration for the Voinovich family during a late nephew's treatment for bone cancer, Voinovich said.
"His uplifting spirit and thoughtfulness helped steer my family through a very difficult time, and I will never forget the words he shared with us: 'Even when it's sometimes stormy one day, the sun always seems to shine the next,'" Voinovich said.
Kennedy was a friend and mentor to Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Brown's spokesman, Meghan Dubyak said.
