BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — A monument dedicated to Vietnam Veterans is closer to reality in Berkeley Springs.
The Morgan County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund set out to raise $225,000 to build a monument to honor those who have called Morgan County Home and have served in that war.
Tari Hampe said on Friday’s Panhandle Live, heard on MetroNews affiliates WEPM and WCST, most of the money came in small increments and about half of the donations were from veterans themselves.
“We started having all these dances and sock hops and events and dinners and they all started coming. Part of our mission statement was to form a veterans’ community and that we have certainly done.”
The group has hosted more than 40 fundraisers throughout the community.
“There’s a young man that lives about 45 minutes from Berkeley Springs and he stops in at Roy’s Service Station and Betty Lou’s Deli every Wednesday,” Hampe said. “We have change cans at five or six locations in town. This young man drops his change every Wednesday.”
Recently, the effort reached the 200-thousand dollar mark, but on Thursday, Hampe said they’ll celebrate another milestone.
“Big news – next Thursday the 24th at 2 o’clock, we’re going to be hanging another $10,000 sticker on our thermometer right in the middle of downtown Berkeley Springs on the square where the monument’s going to go some day.”
So far, she indicated more than 520 veterans who have called Morgan County home at any time and who also served in the Vietnam War have expressed interest in being named on the monument.
Veterans can still sign up through December 31st at mcvvmf.org or check out their Facebook page.