Seth Lovell News Conference:

This article originally appeared in the Harrisonburg Daily News Record on August 6, 2008. Obama Gets One Vet's Vote By Jeff Mellott HARRISONBURG - Caroline Morrow of Broadway, who served two years in the Army and is from a military family tradition, believes more must be done for soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. More psychological counseling is needed, she said, along with more time between deployments to war zones. On Tuesday, she endorsed presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama during an event at his campaign headquarters on South Main Street in Harrisonburg. Family Tradition Morrow, 32, touted Obama's support of veterans' programs in her endorsement. Originally from Alabama, Morrow has a husband and a brother in the military. "Without sure funding year after year, our veterans would be forced to make do with the [Department of Veterans Affairs] that they have, rather than the VA they deserve," she said. Joining Morrow in endorsing Obama, was Staunton resident Seth Lovell, 23. Veterans are inspired by the Democratic candidate's early stance against invading Iraq, Lovell said. Lovell, a 2003 graduate of Wilson High School, joined the Army to help pay for attending James Madison University, where he is seeking a teaching degree. Obama, Lovell said, was right on Iraq. "He knew what our leaders know now," said Lovell, who expects to get out of the Army early next year, "that the war in Iraq is a distraction from our fight with terrorists in Afghanistan." A veteran of military tours in both countries, Lovell said Obama has the qualities necessary to become commander in chief. He said Obama is honest with a strong vision, and is willing to tell people what they need to know.