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Korean War Memorial in South Charleston, WV

Chet Fleming, Memorial Committee Chairman
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Richie Robb, Mayor of South Charleston
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Rev. Franklin Goff, State President KWVA
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Virgle Eagle reading names of casualties
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Norma Bennett, KWVA Auxiliary laying wreath
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KWVA Chap 190 Honor Guard
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Bugler Elizabeth Knight

Memorial Committee
Rev Frank Goff, Chairman
160 Riverview Drive 
St Albans, WV 25177
Tel. No. (304) 722-1204
NOTE:  This committee has been reorganized.  Chet Fleming  resigned as chairman and Frank Goff  assumed that position.  Fred Gainer and Virgil Eagle are on the new smaller committee.  
Members:
Frank Goff, Chairman 
Fred Gainer
Virgil Eagle 
Chet Fleming

NOTICE:  A  10" x 12" bronze plaque was installed  to  honor Ruby Grace Bradley, 1907 - 2002.  Col Bradley was the most highly decorated female in U.S. military history.  It was installed July 27, 2005.
 
The Memorial was dedicated 11/11/2003  
 
DEDICATION  PROGRAM
 
Colors Posted by KWVA Members
 
National Anthem by South Charleston HS Band
 
Pledge to Flag led by Betty Gainer
 
Invocation by Rev.  Bill Deel
 
Welcome and Introduction of dignitaries
By Mayor Richie Robb
 
History of the Korean War Memorial
by Chairman Chet Fleming
 
Recognition of casualities
by Rev. Franklin Goff, President WV KWVA
 
Reading of names of casualities by members of KWVA
and bell tolled by the South Charleston Fire Department.
 
Wreath laid by Norma Bennett, Chap. 146 Auxiliary
 
Rifle volleys by KWVA members.
 
Taps by  Elizabeth Knight
 
 
July 27, 2004
 
A 10" x 12"  bronze plaque was added to the memorial.  This plaque was to honor the service and sacrifice of
2nd Lt Darwin Kyle
CMOH 
 
September 30, 2004
 
A 30" x 60" polished black granite marker was erected at the north end of the memorial.  The marker contains a laser engraved map of Korea that includes many geograpical details and other information. 
 
The Mountaineer Chapter 146 of Charleston and Elk River Chapter 190  raised funds to construct a Korean War Memorial.  The City of St Albans provided a site for the memorial. This site was dedicated on July 27, 2000.  Because of costs associated in adapting the site to the memorial,  It has been decided to move the site to one offered by the City of South Charleston, WV.  This move resulted in about a 30% reduction in construction costs.   Chapman Technical Group (Engineers & Architects)of St Albans is prepared construction plans and drawings for the memorial.

The memorial is one of several projects the WV KWVA did to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War.
 
A special fund was established, that contain funds to be used only for the purpose of constructing  this memorial.  Known as the KWVA Memorial Fund, it has been registered as a West Virginia Charity with the WV Secretary of States' Office.  These funds are maintained in a separate checking account.

The form of the Memorial is a masonry gate 21' long X 15' high X 4' deep topped by an over-hanging metal tile roof. It is surrounded by a 16' X 33' platform. The front of the Memorial is faced with 4"x8" engraved bricks (pavers)honoring the 248 local West Virginia veterans who lost their lives during the Korean War. The back of the Memorial is faced with engraved bricks honoring  veterans who served during and survived the Korean War. Friends and family of other veterans sponsored engraved bricks for them on the back of the memorial.   

Individual bricks for any veteran may still be sponsored for $100.  Veterans organizations and other not-for-profit organizations may have an engraved brick for a donation of $150.  There are a limited number of both the veteran and organizational bricks available.
 
The Nitro, WV Moose Lodge made a very generous gift of $5,000 to the memorial fund. Mr Lewis of the St Albans Parkway Super Market donated $1,000 to the fund. The Hyundia Motor Corp. of Seoul, Korea, donated $5,000 for the memorial. Several bricks and blocks were sponsored by individuals and organizations. Several in-kind donations have also been provided.

At  11:00 am on July 27, 2002, we conducted a ground breaking ceremony at the new memorial site in South Charleston.  The site is a small park located at the intersection of Montrose Drive and MacCorkle Ave in South Charleston.  The memorial is located directly behind the City of South Charleston's welcome sign.

The Ladies of the KWVA Chapter 146 Auxiliary have distributed most of their cookbooks to raise funds for the Memorial. 296 recipes are included in the  "Better Than C Rations." cookbook.   For a donation of $10 or more will entitle the donor to a copy of the cookbook. If the cookbook is to be mailed an additional $2 will be required.  This cookbook would make a great gift.  Kill two birds with one stone, donate toward the memorial and get cookbooks for your family and friends.  Nancy Fleming obtained and mailed 25 cookbooks to family and friends.   Only a few copies of the cookbook are still available.
 
Loraine Tamplin donated a handmade quilt that was raffled to raise funds for the memorial. Over $1,100 was realized from this quilt. This was the third time her a quilts were used to raise funds for the KWVA. THANK YOU!!! Loraine. 
 
Betty and Vernon Johnson have raised and contributed more than $1,300 for the memorial!!!
 
The City of South Charleston donated much labor and equipment toward construction of the memorial.  We have been exceptionally pleased with the attitude of eager support for the memorial demonstrated by all South Charleston personnel and employees from Mayor Robb to their construction crews.


BUDGET DIGEST FUNDS 

The legislature voted to provide us with $15,000 to assist with the funding of the memorial.  The Govenors gave his final approval 1/20/2003.  We urge all members to thank their elected representatives for this support. Digest Funds.  When combined with the $35,000 we have raised over the past three years, we were able to complete the memorial. 

Rev Frank Goff, Chairman of the Memorial Committee at Tel No (304) 722-1204  snailmail @  160 Riverview Drive,  St Albans WV 25177

DONORS:

Organizations:

Charleston Moose Lodge #1444 $250
Nitro Moose Lodge #565 $5,000
KWVA Mountaineer Chapter #146 $250
KWVA Mountaineer Chapter Auxiliary $250
KWVA Elk River Chapter #190 $1,750
VFW Post 8516 $250
Charleston Building Trades Council $250
Charleston Local of American Postal Workers $100
United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local #1207 $250
IU of Operating Engineers, Local No. 132 $250
West Virginia AFL-CIO $250
VFW Post 6669 $250
Clendenin Church of the Nazarene $250

Business:

Hyundia Motor America $5000
Parkway Super Market $1000
Gould's Electric Motor Repair $300
Turnpike Ford Inc. $100
O. V. Smith & Sons $100
JCO Lumber Company $50
Edward Transportation Company $50


In-Kind Contributions:

Jones Printing
City of St Albans
WV National Guard
Day Sign Company
Chapman Technical Group
Will Rowsey
Lorraine Tamplin
KMart, Elkview Store
Bricklayers & Allied Crafts Local Union No. 9 
City of South Charleston