Ted Kennedy was a friend to rural America, particularly the poor, and especially in Appalachia

This is a bit late, because of our academic and professional schedules, but The Rural Blog would be remiss if we did not note that Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who was buried over the weekend, was a friend of rural America, particularly the rural poor, and especially those in Appalachia.

Kennedy showed that many times. One example was a 1983 trip that focused on hunger and concluded in Eastern Kentucky, where he also threw a national spotlight on poverty and health problems in the region, with the help of the local congressman, Carl D. Perkins (at left in an Anne Lewis film from Appalshop), who was chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. Eight and a half months later, Kennedy was back in the same area, to speak at the funeral of Perkins , whom he called "one of the few true giants among the men and women who have shaped the destiny of America." It took one to know one.