“ Chuck Yeager was not only , as Tom Wolfe had it , ‘ the best pilot anybody ever saw ,’ but maybe the best West Virginian . He will be remembered by the rest of the world as the man who first broke the sound barrier , but we will remember him as one of us , a mountain boy who flew himself right into history and made us all doggone proud .”
– Homer Hickam , Author of “ Rocket Boys ”
“ Most people know Chuck Yeager as the pilot who broke the sound barrier . While his most famous feat certainly transformed the aviation world , Chuck Yeager ’ s life represents so much more . I remember meeting General Yeager for the first time in 1985 for the dedication of Yeager Airport . My son , Charles , celebrating his fifth birthday that day , was totally in awe , as we all were . He embodied the American dream . A boy from Lincoln County would achieve what pilots then had only dreamed about . He was built of the right stuff and lived his life in service to his country as a World War II patriot , flying ace and Medal of Freedom recipient . Simply put , America is better because of him . His legacy continues today . He is an inspiration for many , from young West Virginians to pilots across the globe .”
– Senator Shelley Moore Capito
“ I knew Chuck very well . He has been a dear friend to me and my wife , Gayle , since my days as governor of West Virginia . He told me so many incredible stories of his service , including all the intricate details of his legendary flight . I recall him telling me the only reason he got to fly the Bell X-1 that day was because the previous pilot they asked wanted too much money . They offered Chuck an extra $ 60 a month , and he jumped at the chance . Not only is the story true about Chuck pushing through with broken ribs , but he wasn ’ t even supposed to break the sound barrier that day . He thought if he didn ’ t go for it that first day , he wouldn ’ t get another chance . Chuck truly had nerves of steel . Long after his record-breaking flight , Chuck remained in our hearts as a symbol of patriotism and bravery . His life is full of tales of his bravery , his stoicism in the face of danger and his determination to perform his duty no matter the cost . It is an honor to remember Chuck as part of our military service heritage and our way of life that sinks deep into the roots of West Virginia ’ s rich culture . I encourage all Americans to learn what they can about this legendary West Virginian .”
– Senator Joe Manchin
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