CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Public comment is open for the West Virginia Military Hall of Fame’s rules as Governor Patrick Morrisey seeks West Virginians’ help in setting guidelines.
The state legislature created the hall of fame in 2022, and the new rules will establish standards for nomination, selection, and induction.
“This is a hall of fame. We want to do this right, so we want to get as many people at the table as possible so we can make sure that it’s being done right,” state Secretary for Veterans Assistance Ryan Kennedy said last week on MetroNews Midday.
The public comment period continues through September 11, when officials will begin reviewing the responses. The Department of Veterans Assistance welcomes comments from all West Virginians and particularly hopes that veterans and those supporting them will get involved.
“We’re hoping that, first of all, we hear from veterans themselves to hear what they think of the proposed rules and whether they think there’s something that should be adjusted or changed before they go final. Also, we’re hoping to hear from our veterans’ service organizations,” Kennedy said.
Medal of Honor winners Hershel “Woody” Williams and Phill Gene McDonald are currently the only two inductees into the hall of fame. Then-Gov. Jim Justice nominated Williams as the hall’s first inductee in 2022, and the West Virginia Veterans Council voted to induct him unanimously.
“When we can take nominations, I expect there will be a significant number of nominations that will come in. The board will have quite a task in front of them,” Kennedy said.
For the time being, the West Virginia Military Hall of Fame will still be housed online, as it has since 2022. Kennedy leaves the door open to that changing, though.
“It will be, initially, a website that we will post information about the people that have been inducted, and it could evolve into something else from there,” he said.
Comments can be sent via email to jill.e.connolly@wv.gov or by letter to the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance.