Among those attending the Barack Obama event in Fargo last Thursday were Valley City residents Jim and Becky Verwey. Jim (center, wearing white shirt and patriotic tie) is the Veterans Services Officer in Barnes County. (Sheila Anderson/VCTR) 

By Sheila Anderson
Valley City Times-Record

The people in the audience at the Children’s Museum at Yunker Farm were probably a lot closer to the next possible United States president than they ever thought they would be.
Among the people in the intimately sized audience were two Valley City residents.
Jim and Becky Verwey had the opportunity to hear presidential hopeful Barack Obama speak last Thursday in Fargo.
Jim was invited to the event as a representative of veteran’s service officers. He is the Barnes County veteran’s service officer.
“I came to find out his views on veterans’ issues,” Jim said. “He answered all the questions I had.”
Jim said Obama addressed his questions, with the most important being the elimination of the means test for accessing veterans health services.
“The means test prevents some veterans from qualifying,” Jim said. “They put in there time. They deserve VA services.”
Obama focused much of the discussion on the military and veteran’s issues, and used the event to thank American troops and veterans for their service to the United States.
During the hour-long speech, Obama addressed veterans’ health care issues, noting that he believes Veterans’

For full story, see Monday's edition of the Valley City Times-Record.