Wednesday, March 2, 2011

** West Virginia politician campaigns to have deceased WWI army medic lie in state at nation’s capital

** Family of 2008 Maryland air ambulance crash victim files suit against FAA

UNITED STATES NEWS

** The Sunday death of World War I medic Frank Buckles has prompted calls for the last surviving doughboy to lie in state at the nation’s capital. The Washington Times (Sean Langell/February 28) quoted Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia) as saying Buckles should be posthumously awarded the honor so that he can continue to inspire young Americans. Capito said Buckles was a determined and patriotic public servant who was also humble and compassionate. Capito’s bill to allow the event was introduced in the House Monday. US presidents are among the only individuals who are given the honour at the Capital Rotunda. Buckles, who enlisted at age 16, served with the Army Ambulance Service in France.

** The mother of a teenaged victim of a Maryland State Police air ambulance crash has filed a lawsuit alleging negligence against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Southern Maryland Online (February 28) said attorneys for Stephanie Younger, mother of Ashley, 17, are contending air traffic controllers relied on outdated and wrong weather information to guide the ill fated aircraft. In addition, counsel said controllers were both inattentive and unresponsive. The suit comes after a finding by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) that largely concurred, adding also that pilot inexperience also contributed. Younger died alongside paramedic Mickey Lippy, pilot Stephen J. Bunker, and flight nurse Tanya Mallard. Teen patient Jordan Wells was the sole survivor.