The news of the passing of my friend, Charlie Rangel, caused me to reflect on several things. I regarded him as a personal friend. We were the same age, 94, and we both served in the Korean War. That shared experience always gave us a certain bond.
Charlie was more than a friend; he was a towering figure in public service. He was the second-longest-serving incumbent member of the U.S. House of Representatives at the time of his retirement. He served the state of New York in this role from 1971 to 2017. Charlie was also the first African American to chair the House Ways and Means Committee.
Along with several other Congressional colleagues, he helped form the Congressional Black Caucus. I used that initiative to help establish the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus of the State Legislature — bringing the same spirit of advocacy and unity to the Commonwealth.
His passing reminds me of the enduring importance of leadership — leadership grounded in courage, service, and the conviction to create lasting change. Charlie embodied that kind of leadership, and his legacy will continue to inspire those of us who had the privilege to walk beside him and know him.