INSTITUTE, W.Va. — A West Virginia organization is helping communities across the country build memorials to the families of Gold Star recipients.
The Herbert J. Thomas Memorial Detachment 947 of the Marine Corps League donated $4,000 to the Hershel “Woody’ Williams Medal of Honor Foundation on Monday at Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston. The money was raised during the 2014 Marine Corp League National Convention that was held in Charleston last month.
Williams is West Virginia’s only surviving Medal of Honor recipient and is leading the charge to build Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments in honor of loved ones of members of “the Armed Forces of the United States that sacrificed their life for our way of life and the American flag under which they served.”
The first monument was dedicated last year at the Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery in Institute. The second Gold Star Families Memorial was dedicated last week in Valley Forge, PA.
“If they need seed money, to get their finances started, to start collecting money to build the monument, we will donate to them,” Williams told MetroNews Monday.
Fund raising is already underway for monuments in nine states.
A second Gold Star Memorial is planned for Hartford, WV in Mason County. The foundation will help with financing for that project.
“They have raised about three-quarters to 80 percent of their funds. But they still need funds for their flag pole, for example. They need some funds for shrubbery around the monument,” explained Williams.
The monuments don’t come cheap. That’s why Williams said they’re helping out.
“They’re running somewhere between $40,000 to $60,000 if they use granite or marble.”
Williams stressed families of those who gave all deserve to be honored for their sacrifice as well. His goal is to establish at least one Gold Star Families Memorial in every state.