By Brad Hicks / Staff Writer

As one of his three stops in the Laurel County area on Thursday, Sen. Mitch McConnell was on hand at the London-Corbin Airport to present the Kentucky National Guard Marijuana Eradication program with a check for $3.2 million.

The check was received by Major General Donald C. Storm and Lt. Col. Karlas Owens of the Kentucky National Guard. Sen. McConnell was in turn awarded as an honorary guardsman.

“We don’t give many of these away,” said Storm, the adjutant general and counter-drug coordinator of the Kentucky National Guard, who is nearing a Dec. 10 retirement date. “You have to work and have to execute to be part of this right here.

“Sen. McConnell has been involved in additions to our money,” Storm said. “He realized back in 1998 that this program was absolutely critical and realized how the cash gained from the growing of marijuana can affect political, social and economic institutions in smaller communities. He is a godsend to this great commonwealth. This far surpasses politics. I’m telling you I’ll never quit serving and let me tell you something else; I’ll never stop supporting this man.”

Storm also said that the marijuana eradication program, which has been in existence since 1986, is not only important to southeast Kentucky, but to the commonwealth as a whole.

“I think it’s extremely important to destroy this crop,” McConnell said.

“This is a great day, not just in drug enforcement, but the commonwealth of Kentucky,” added Rich Badaracco of the Louisville office of the DEA.

Those involved in the program got a chance to speak at the ceremony.

“We provide military support in areas that law enforcement doesn’t have any depth,” Owens said.

While Kentucky is one of the largest producers of domestic marijuana, more than 475,000 plants have been destroyed this year.

“We have made a significant impact on the amount of domestic marijuana in Kentucky,” said Lt. Ed Shemelya of the Kentucky State Police.

The ceremony closed with the Legion of Merit award being presented to pilot Ricky Brascum.

“If you could gather up all the pilots and got the best, the top of the pyramid, I guarantee Ricky would be at the top of the pyramid,” Storm said.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to have been allowed to fly as long as I have flown,” Brascum said.

Prior to his visit to the airport, McConnell was present for a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the grand opening of a U.S. Army Recruiting Station, located at 118 Childers Drive.

McConnell next spoke to the London-Laurel County Chamber of Commerce, during a luncheon at the London Country Club. The senator spoke about the senate, the upcoming presidential election, and the war in Iraq.

“In the senate, everybody has a lot of clout,” McConnell said. “As you might imagine, I spend a lot of time listening to what everyone has to say, but these are people worth listening to.

“Candidly, there’s not a great chance of getting the majority back (in Congress),” he said. “Having said that, I think we have a great chance to win the White House.”

McConnell spoke optimistically about the war in the Middle East, and feels that Americans are beginning to garner the same positive feelings.

“We all remember 9/11,” he said. “We knew somehow nothing would ever be the same. We needed to get on offense and get the bad guys where they are.

“The reason for going on the offensive has been 100 percent successful,” he said. “The reason was to protect us here at home.”

Citing examples such as an attack on the World Trade Center prior to 9/11 and the 1998 bombing of the U.S. embassy in Africa, McConnell said terrorists were already at war with America prior to involvement in the Middle East.

“Don’t tell me the decision to go on the offensive was the wrong decision,” he said.

“We value life in this country and when we lose a soldier, it hurts,” McConnell added. “Losses compared to any other war of this magnitude have been quite small. Not small if it’s your family.”

Two area soldiers were called to the stage by McConnell to recognize their service. Buddy Butler and Dewayne Simpson were called up to the stage to a standing ovation by those in attendance.

“It’s through the efforts of Sen. McConnell that we are able to continue our mission,” Butler said. Butler then presented the senator with a gift: a wanted poster of Saddam Hussein that he had obtained while serving in the Middle East.

“One down, Osama, you’re next,” Butler said upon presenting the poster to McConnell.

Simpson spoke on the worthwhileness of the war in Iraq.

“People (in Iraq) are moving back into their homes,” he said.

“I thought it’d put a face on what I’m talking about,” McConnell said of recognizing the two men. “Hopefully people are coming to understand how important this mission is.

“The optimism that we’re going to be able to turn the corner has increased,” he said.