“Our cause was just. Too bad people didn’t realize it.”

— Bill Foley, a Vietnam War veteran who was among the nearly 1,000 veterans and their spouses to attend the ‘Welcome Home’ celebration Wednesday in Salisbury

“This has been a great chapter of my life, and I’d much rather end when it’s my choice than when it’s the public’s choice.”

— Maggie Blackwell, Salisbury’s mayor pro tem, who said this week that she will not be a candidate for re-election to the City Council after serving four terms

“It is a political stunt gone wrong.”

— State Sen. Andrew Brock, R-Mocksville, referring the the Charlotte ordinance that prompted North Carolina’s “bathroom bill,” which was repealed Thursday

“I’ll do something I’ve never done. I’ll admit I voted for him (Trump). … But I’ve got a job in the U.S. Senate and … it overrides any personal beliefs that I have or loyalties that I might have.”

— U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, committing to an impartial investigation into Russia’s role in the 2016 presidential election

“It is time for Congress to work together to strengthen the ACA and to make American health care the very best that it can be.”

— U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, after Congress’ efforts to pass a new health care law failed

“Gesundheit.”

— Gabrielle Brown, 14, regional spelling bee winner, when asked if there were any words she would dread getting in a bee