By ROSE QUINN
rquinn@delcotimes.com

UPLAND — Courting some local veterans’ votes Monday night, Patrick L. Meehan turned back the clock to his days as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Meehan, an Upper Darby resident and Republican candidate for the 7th Congressional District seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, cited one federal case against a group of insurance agents that mislead young men and women going off to war to about policy coverage. In the end, Meehan said his office won $10 million in refunds for 57,000 service members.

The former Delaware County District Attorney reminded the dozen veterans gathered at the Marine Corps League, Delaware County Detachment No. 288, that he took the oath for the federal office just six days after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists attacks. And it was not only criminal prosecutions of the cases that made the headlines that he found most satisfying.

“Whenever there was work that we could do that reflected on veterans,” Meehan said, “I took a special sense of responsibility.”

Another case involved a Lancaster County business that underbid on jobs involving engine components for military aircraft — to the tune of a 300 percent profit. Meehan also mentioned the V-22 sabotage case at Boeing, an act of vandalism that he said called the credibility of a proud, successful project into play.

But he said he’s particularly proud of cases brought under Operation Stolen Valor, people claiming medals they never earned.

“We did make a difference in the lives of veterans,” Meehan said.

Meehan for Congress paid the $100 fee to rent the facility, and his audience seemed genuinely interested in what he has to offer.

Charles Chafee, 66, a Radnor resident, U.S. Army Vietnam-era veteran and registered Republican who said he’ll probably vote for Meehan, still wants to see a real race, in which candidates on both sides talk about their own issues, not what the opponent is doing, or saying.

“I don’t like it when all they do is say what the other person is doing,” Chafee said, as he finished off a piece of Primo hoagie and some chips — courtesy of Meehan.

As Paymaster of the league, Art Burn, who served in the U.S. Marines from 1966-1970, noted the organization does not endorse candidates. Personally, he said while he knows and likes state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, the Democratic frontrunner for the seat, he’s deeply opposed to his party’s stands on trying terrorists in civilian court and restrictions on military’s rule s of engagement.

Before taking the floor, Meehan spent about 45 minutes chatting with individual guests. Hearing their concerns is why he was there, he said later.

“One thing I want to be doing … is to get to Congress to fight for some of the things that concern you most,” he said.

In addition to his prosecutorial resumé, Meehan touched on government spending and unemployment. He also led a moment of silence for State Rep. John Murtha, who died Monday.

“I don’t think there is any one of us who doesn’t know someone who wants to work right now,” Meehan said. He’s personally touched by people in their 40s and 50s being laid off by companies after 20 years of dedicated work.

“I believe the key is to focus on the creation of jobs through small business … We spend far too much time bailing out the big banks.”

In closing, Meehan also said vehemently opposed to any trial outside the scope of a military tribunal that would give terrorists the same Constitutional rights as American citizens. He was referring to Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, the alleged member of Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida organization in custody since 2003 and confessed mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks.

If such tribunals are “good enough for American citizens accused of crimes,” Meehan said they should be good enough for him.