If the legislature approves the resolution, a statue of Williams will replace that of John Kenna, a Confederate veteran who was later elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.
Kenna’s statue would then be moved to the Culture Center in Charleston.
On this West Virginia Week, we have a decidedly literary slant as we hear from Shepherd University’s 2023 Appalachian Writer-in-Residence, and we also learn about Banned Book Week.
On this West Virginia Week, we have a decidedly literary slant as we hear from Shepherd University’s 2023 Appalachian Writer-in-Residence, and we also learn about Banned Book Week.
We’ll also hear feature stories about an elementary school turned community center, and Inside Appalachia brings us the story of a Pittsburgh artist making locally-inspired tarot cards.
Chris Schulz is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week’s biggest news in the Mountain State. It’s produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Caroline MacGregor, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.
Woody Williams, the late World War II Congressional Medal Of Honor recipient, created the Woody Williams Foundation to honor the families of those who died serving their country. His final wish was that the foundation erect a memorial for Gold Star Families in Huntington. On Monday, what would have been his 100th birthday, he got his wish.
Woody Williams, the late World War II Congressional Medal Of Honor recipient, created the Woody Williams Foundation to honor the families of those who died serving their country. His final wish was that the foundation erect a memorial for Gold Star Families memorial in Huntington. On Monday, what would have been his 100th birthday, he got his wish.
Near the close of the dedication, Lee Greenwood sang his iconic song “God Bless The USA” before more than a thousand people gathered at the Huntington Memorial Arch. The site is now also the home of the nation’s 131st Gold Star Families Monument. Greenwood said as William’s long time friend, and a Medal of Honor Society award winner, he wouldn’t have missed this event for the world.
“To give honor to Woody Williams is giving honor to all of them,” Greenwood said. “I’m proud to be here in West Virginia.”
At Williams’ state Capitol funeral service a year ago, friend and former Huntington mayor Kim Wolfe was reminded that he was tasked with getting this monument erected. Wolfe said it was one of many projects he worried on, for and with Woody, over 40 years.
“About three weeks prior to his passing, Woody said, ‘I’d like to have a monument.’ I don’t know anything about monuments. ‘Yeah, but you know people, just make that happen,’” Wolfe said.
Grandson Brent Casey reminded the crowd that Monday’s unveiling was not about his beloved “papaw,” but the two dozen or so Gold Star Family members in attendance, each given a yellow rose to place at the base of the monument.
“I share his exact words at nearly every dedication and groundbreaking that he came to,” Casey said. “People try to make it about him when he would say ‘It’s not about me. We are not here for me. It’s about them.’ We are here for them – to honor and recognize the Gold Star Families.”
Huntington’s Southside Preservation and Enhancement Alliance spearheaded the monument construction. The neighborhood group adjacent to the Memorial Park did all the logistics and raised all the money to make this monument and event possible. Alliance President Dan Gooding said all the work was true to a great man’s final wish.
“Woody picked the spot that this is on,” Gooding said. “It was the last request he had. This is the county seat of Cabell County, where he lived the majority of his life. And so it’s very, very meaningful.”
Some heard the clip clop of a not really riderless horse leave the event area. Wolfe said Williams, a fellow horseman, made him promise he’d get him on a horse on his 100th birthday. Wolfe did just that.
The riderless horse has Woody Williams’ ashes in his saddlebag.
Randy Yohe/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
“Woody turned one hundred today,” Wolfe said. “He had told me many times, I want you to put me on a horse when I’m one hundred. So this is going to be his horse, and his ashes are in that saddlebag. There’s a little urn under that gold strap. He’s not looking down from heaven today, he’s here.”
Initially, the Woody Williams Foundation’s goal was to establish a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument in Woody’s home state of West Virginia. Once that monument was complete, a new mission was to establish monuments in as many communities as possible in all 50 states and U.S. territories. That has been done over the past ten years.
These monuments are a two-sided tribute made of black granite. One side bears 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: Homeland, Family, Patriot, and Sacrifice. 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.
Woody Williams, who died on June 29 in Huntington, wanted to build a place in honor of veterans and their families. A place where they can gather and celebrate, protected from the elements.
Michael Mills can’t forget the day he met Woody Williams.
The 97-year-old Medal of Honor recipient drove himself to the Kinnard National Cemetery in Dunbar. He gave Mills a firm handshake. They walked the grounds together and talked about what Williams wanted to do.
Williams, who died on June 29 in Huntington, wanted to build a place in honor of veterans and their families. A place where they can gather and celebrate, protected from the elements.
Mills, the principal manager of the Mills Group, said Williams had a clear idea of what the project should look like. Williams produced a sketch Mills used as the basis of the architectural drawings.
“And he had such energy and vigor in his vision,” Mills said. “He knew exactly what this architecture could serve and had a basic concept of the shape and formality of the spatial arrangements. He had it in his own mind.”
Williams, the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, became known for building more than 100 memorials for Gold Star Families – those who lost a loved one in service to the country.
In his final days, Williams wanted to make sure the shelter was built. U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin’s state director, a veteran herself, originally asked Mills and Lance Muscara, Senior Project Manager, to work with Williams on the project.
“Mara Boggs in Senator Manchin’s office kind of connected the dots with us,” Mills said. “She’s a personal friend of Lance and mine, and said she has this amazing friend that has a vision, and said would we help conceptualize the vision? And once we knew who the friend was, well, no doubt, we would be honored to help.”
Mills added that Williams didn’t want the project to be about his legacy. Instead, he wanted it for the veterans and their families.
The late Woody Williams leaves more than a legacy. Like planning for his own memorial service and funeral, the World War Two Medal of Honor recipient left “marching orders” for his foundation on continuing to serve Gold Star families.
The late Woody Williams leaves more than a legacy. Like planning for his own memorial service and funeral, the World War Two Medal of Honor recipient left “marching orders” for his foundation on continuing to serve Gold Star families.
Williams’ grandson, Chad Graham, serves as president of the Woody Williams Foundation. He said establishing hundreds of Gold Star Monuments (103 in all 50 states, 72 more monuments in planning stages) recognizing families of fallen service members just lays the base of honor and respect.
“It’s more than building that monument, we’re trying to strengthen and build a community around it, and something that will last in perpetuity,” Graham said. “I think it’s evident to everyone that is exactly the way that Woody envisioned it, it’s the way that he set everything in motion.”
Graham said his grandfather left plans to increase Gold Star family outreach events. He said the Gold Star Monuments are spread around the country, but Williams wanted to “connect the dots” and recognize families from the spaces “in between.” He pointed out one upcoming outreach event as an example.
Woody Williams Foundation
A Gold Star outreach event is “a day at the ballpark.”
“In Louisville, Kentucky we will join with the AAA affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, the Louisville Bats,” Graham said. “We’re going to bring 300 Gold Star family members out for a day of baseball, fun and fellowship. They are the VIPs and we’re going to honor their loved ones throughout the day.”
Graham said his grandfather also forged plans to bolster the scholarship program for Gold Star families’ children. There are $2,000 scholarships from the foundation and, in a partnership with Western Governors University, ten $10,000 scholarships at the school.
“These are to provide support for Gold Star families throughout their educational journey, rather than just a four year college degree,” Graham said. “It can include things like trade school, or certifications, or upper level graduate degrees. We want to make sure that we’re helping fill the gaps that exist within their military benefits.”
The proud grandson said as a teenage taxi driver in Fairmont, West Virginia, long before he became a Marine, Willams was affected by delivering the worst news a family could ever receive.
“He saw the grief that is that of the Gold Star family,” Graham said. “It’s been a consistent part of his life, up until we created the foundation. And obviously, that lives on.”
All the work done by The Woody Williams Foundation is fully funded through donations.
