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
