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Elkins celebrates assembly of Gold Star Families memorial monument with a parade
ELKINS, (WBOY) — Before his death, veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Hershel 'Woody' Williams believed that no one should have to drive more than an hour to reach a Gold Star monument, and one of his last wishes was to expand the network of Gold Star monuments across West Virginia.
With the help of a few patriots, Woody Williams' wish is being fulfilled in Elkins, as the city welcomed its Gold Star monument with a parade and warm embrace on Tuesday.
12 News spoke with Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco on why the city chose to honor military families in this way.
'We respect our veterans completely and we want to showcase that at any chance we can, and this is for those families out there who have lost family members that have paid the ultimate sacrifice, that have an empty place setting at the table, we want them to know that we haven't forgotten them and the sacrifices their families have made,' Marco said.
Marco said that he hopes to create a veteran's park at the intersection of Harrison and Railroad Avenues. A groundbreaking ceremony will also be held next Monday for a life-size Rosie the Riveter statue in the same location.
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But as for the Gold Star monument, its establishment was a joint effort between the Elkins Rotary Club, the city of Elkins, local veterans, patriots, and Dan McCarthy, who was the governor of the rotary district when Woody Williams passed away.
12 News also spoke to McCarthy on the importance of this monument.
'This is all about honoring those families that have lost someone in service to our country, and being a veteran, I'm probably as sensitive as anyone to the importance of recognizing those families. And we often talk about the veterans, but the families sacrifice as much as the veterans do in a different way. And sometimes, unless you've been a veteran, you don't realize how much the families sacrifice,' McCarthy said.
The city of Elkins will host an unveiling for the Gold Star monument at 11 a.m. on July 5, after hosting its first-ever 4th of July parade the day before, both of which are open to the public.
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