ELKINS — The final design for the Elkins Gold Star Families Memorial Monument has been approved, and the Elkins Rotary Club is leading the charge to complete the necessary funding for the project.
The monument will be located at the site of the All-Veterans Memorial Park, at the intersection of Randolph and Railroad Avenues in Elkins. The Park is currently the site of the All-Veterans Memorial and will soon be home to the Rosie the Riveter statue.
The Gold Star Families Memorial will be composed of a two-sided black granite monument and three granite benches. One side will bear the words “Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, a tribute to Gold Star Families and Relatives who sacrificed a Loved One for our Freedom.”
The other side tells a story through the four granite panels entitled “Homeland, Family, Patriot, and Sacrifice” with graphics that are representative of the area where the monument is located.
At the center of this tribute is a silhouette of a saluting service member, which represents the legacy of the loved ones who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Together, these features tell each community’s unique story based upon the “Pillars of the Foundation.”
It is estimated that the project will cost approximately $150,000, with $115,000 raised to date. The Elkins Rotary Club is taking the lead to complete the necessary funding, committing a minimum of $15,000 to help get the project across the finish line. The club is working to raise the remaining funds through grants and individual gifts.
The club is working in conjunction with the Woody Williams Foundation, a state-wide committee comprised of Rotarians from Rotary District 7545, which covers the majority of the State of West Virginia, and the West Virginia Department of the American Legion on this project.
Hershel “Woody” Williams, a native of Quiet Dell and the last World War II Medal of Honor Recipient to pass away, devoted his life to honoring and serving Gold Star Families. A Gold Star Family is one that has experienced the loss of a loved one – an immediate family member – who died as the result of active-duty military service.
In 2013, the Woody Williams Foundation was established to assist in the construction of permanent Gold Star Family Memorial Monuments throughout the United States, to conduct Gold Star Families Outreach across the country, and to provide Living Legacy scholarships to eligible Gold Star Family members.
To date, the Foundation has been responsible for establishing 140 Gold Star Family Memorial Monuments across the U.S. with 47 additional monuments in the works, including the Elkins monument, along with one in Martinsburg.
Gold Star Family Memorial Monuments provide a space that Gold Star Families can call their own in honor of their loved ones and their family, provide a dedicated space to host Gold Star Family Outreach event programs, and educate and raise awareness about Gold Star Families and the sacrifices that have been made for the freedoms enjoyed by all Americans.
Anyone wishing to make a gift to help make this monument a reality may do so by visiting The Woody Williams Foundation online at https://www.woodywilliams.org/monuments/elkins-wv.html or by mailing a check to The Woody Williams Foundation, 12123 Shelbyville Rd., Suite 100, Louisville, KY 40243, with the notation that your gift is for the EGSFMM.
For more information on making a gift to this project, contact Elkins Rotary Club President Tammie Rizzio at tammierizzio@gmail.com.
On Nov. 12, American Legion H.W. Daniels Post 29 will partner with Applebee’s to do a Force4Good Fundraiser. Mention the fundraiser to your waitress and 25% of the order will go to Post 29 to support the completion of the Elkins Gold Star Family Memorial.
Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in their communities, and in themselves. Visit www.Rotary.org to learn more about Rotary International, or visit the Elkins Club’s Facebook page.