Wednesday was a big day for veterans in Billings as Senator Barack Obama made an appearance at Riverfront Park.
He promised a crowd of about 150 veterans and military families that if he's elected, he'll make their needs a priority.
The Illinois Senator was in Billings for the second time, bringing his message of change and commitment to Montana's veterans and active service men and women.
"I am going to fight as hard as I can over the next 70 days to make clear to the American people that they deserve a president and a white house that is fighting for them" said the Democrat.
Obama delivered his speech to about 150 people, touching on many issues ranging from the Iraq War to the struggling economy and a lack of funding for the Veterans Administration.
"We have veterans who are having to drive for hours to access a VA facility because we haven't put up enough clinics" commented Obama.
Senator Obama also commented on one specific veteran, Republican Senator John McCain, "I honor John McCain's service to our country, he served in uniform with honor and distinction, and we owe him gratitude, but we do not owe him our vote."
Some 1,300 Montanans have served in Iraq.
(from August 27, 2008)
One family visited with Obama on Wednesday to talk about an urgent need for mental health counseling.
Rallying his audience of Montana veterans, Senator Barack Obama talked big issues Wednesday at Riverfront Park in Billings, answering questions concerning veteran health care, education costs and the war.
But before his speech began, the senator took some time to talk one-on-one with a Montana military families who are working hard to change the way vets are treated upon re-entry.
"We really wanted to fight to make sure that no other families had to go through the same thing that we did," said Matt Kuntz who's traveled around the state with other family members raising awareness about the situations veterans face when they return from serving overseas.
Kuntz knows first-hand what war can do to a family. His step-brother, Chris, suffered from post-traumatic stress injuries after he returned from Iraq.
"We tried to get him into counseling, but we just couldn't quite get him there," said Kuntz. "We lost him to PTSD suicide."
Kuntz is a military man himself, but was medically discharged from the Army just before 911. Now, along with his wife Sandy and their baby daughter, Fiona, Kuntz is making it his mission to better the aid veterans receive after serving their country.
After meeting with Obama, Kuntz feels the senator's support saying, "He understood. He got it. And I just couldn't be more touched right now."
"To think that the impact that Chris had could be taken nationwide because Senator Obama might get in as president and do that," he added.
Obama met with Montana veterans Wednesday to discuss several issues but two stood out- VA funding and education.
Being a new dad, education is something Kuntz is especially concerned about.
"What I want is just that her options be open and that nothing be cut off from her because her dad quit being an attorney and tried to help the mentally ill," he said.
The Kuntz's were just one of many families at the event who were looking for a brighter future.
The Illinois senator was in Billings for the second time Wednesday to bring his message of change and commitment to Montana's veterans and active service men and women.
Sen. Barack Obama spoke for about 20 minutes. His remarks were followed by a question and answer session with members of the invited audience.
"I am going to fight as hard as I can over the next 70 days to make clear to the American people that they deserve a president and a white house that is fighting for them." Obama told a crowd of vets and military families at Riverfront Park.
Obama delivered his speech to about 150 people. He touched on many issues ranging from the Iraq War to the struggling economy and a lack of funding for the Veterans Administration.
"We have veterans who are having to drive for hours to access a VA facility because we haven't put up enough clinics," he said.
"I honor John McCain's service to our country," Obama said. "We owe him our gratitude. But we do not owe him our vote."
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Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama is in Billings and took the stage at Riverfront Park on Wednesday morning.
This marks his final campaign stop before heading to the Democratic national convention in Denver.
Obama hosted a discussion on Securing America's Future at Riverfront Park in an invitation-only event, in which about 150 Montana veterans and their families are expected to attend.
Obama will accept the Democratic presidential nomination in Denver on Thursday, and we're told he spent some time here in Billings working on his acceptance speech.
The Democrat's 757 touched down in the Magic City at about 3:15 on Tuesday afternoon to start his second trip to Billings, and his fifth visit to Montana.
The senator stayed the night downtown at the Crowne Plaza on Tuesday night.
The Wednesday event will be full of veterans and their families, and one of those invited is Steve Fugate, who is currently in the Individual Ready Reserve for the US Navy.
Fugate says he's excited to hear Obama speak on issues important to veterans, and is especially concerned about health care.
"There's a lot of people that I run into at the Billings Clinic here who have to travel several hours to get from their home to the VA services here in Billings" said Fugate. "So, I think that's a real issue is what can we do either about the transportation or having maybe more clinics throughout the state to meet those needs closer to where the veterans live."
Fugate adds that although he respects John McCain for what he has gone through, he won't be voting for the Republican in the election.
(from August 26, 2008)
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama made a surprise appearance at a convention watching party in Billings on Tuesday night.
He joined Eran Thompson, a field organizer for the Montana campaign, and his wife Carlee for the watch party at their home in the Billings Heights. Around 15 other Obama supporters were also on hand.
Obama will host a discussion on Securing America's future at Riverfront Park on Wednesday morning in Billings.
The event is by invitation-only, and about 150 Montana veterans and their families are expected to attend.
Montana's News Station will air the Obama event live, and you can also tune into live streaming coverage on KTVQ.COM.
Senator Barack Obama has arrived in Billings, his plane touched down in the Magic City at 3:10 Tuesday afternoon.
He has no public events planned for Tuesday, but reports indicate he will spend much of his day
working on the acceptance speech he'll deliver at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday evening in Denver.
Obama is scheduled to speak about securing America's future at a private gathering of about 150 veterans and military families in Billings on Wednesday morning
The Obama campaign is not publicizing the location of the speech due to security reasons.
This marks Obama's fifth trip to Montana and his second trip to Billings. He last traveled to the Magic City on May 19th, when he hosted a town hall meeting at Billings West High School.
He has also visited Bozeman, Butte, Missoula, Great Falls and Crow Agency.
The Obama campaign is focusing heavily on several western states where Democrats have made recent gains in elections, including Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada.
Republican Senator John McCain has yet to visit Montana, but state Republican Party leaders said they expect him to visit before the November general election.
Montana's News Station will air the Obama event live, and you can also tune into live streaming coverage on our web site.
