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Vienna preps new monument to veterans

Those to be honored on the monument are, from left, Amos Glenn Henson, Junior Ray Linch, Shirley Lionel “Mac” McMurray, Jack A. Nohe and Carl F. “Rick” Raab IV. Nohe is represented by his son-in-law Chuck Foster. (Photo by Jeffrey Saulton)

A cardboard mock-up of the reverse side of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument to be built in Spencer's Landing. (Photo by Jeffrey Saulton) Vienna Mayor Randy Rapp shows what the front of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument to be built in Spencer's Landing will look like. (Photo by Jeffrey Saulton)

VIENNA — After months of preparations, the public got a preview of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument that will be the centerpiece of the new Spencer’s Landing.

Mayor Randy Rapp said the monument is one of several across the country by the Hershel “Woody” Williams Medal of Honor Foundation. In 2013 the first memorial was built at the Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery in Dunbar, W.Va.

On Sept. 21, 2014 a second Gold Star Families Memorial Monument was dedicated in Valley Forge, Pa. Rapp said Williams has a goal of building at least one of the monuments in each state.

At Thursday’s city council meeting Rapp said 10 have been completed and 42 others, including Vienna, are in various stages of construction. In Vienna, the project did not cost the city anything thanks to the efforts of one individual, Rapp said.

“The monument itself is pretty expensive but through Bernie Lyons’ fundraising efforts and working with the Minnite family and PMC Co. that monument has been funded totally without any expense to the City of Vienna,” he said. “It was all raised by private donations and so it’s quite an accomplishment to get that done.”

Rapp said a committee was formed to decide what names would be honored. Rapp said the committee members were himself; Paul Thornton, city development director; Craig Metz, public works director; Cathy Smith, city recorder; Norm Harris, parks director; Lyons; Ron Salter of Salter and Associates; Jamie Witkosky; Vinnie Conley and Brian Casey.

“We have now put together a project I believe you will be proud of and proud to have in our town,” Rapp said.

Council was addressed by Williams’ grandson Brian Casey. He said the monument grew out of his grandfather’s wish to honor Gold Star Mothers, those who lost a son in a war. He felt they made a sacrifice that was ignored.

He said after a speaking engagement in Parkersburg, his grandfather met a man who told him that fathers sacrificed, too, and felt grief.

“You made mention of Gold Star mothers and I think you should know dads cry too,” he said to Williams.

After the first monument was built, other requests came in for additional monuments.

“It is a life-long dream for him,” Casey said. “More important than that it is a place where Gold Star families will know we as a community recognize the sacrifice they made on behalf of our country.”

Rapp said many were nominated to the committee and their names will be, for a fee, placed on stones on the base of the monument. He added there will also be one for “Rosie the Riveters.”

In selecting the top five, whose portraits will be on the monument, Rapp said the selection was made by secret ballot.

Those selected were Amos Glenn Henson, Junior Ray Linch, Shirey Lionel “Mac” McMurray, Jack A. Nohe and Carl F. “Rick” Raab IV.

Rapp also presented a mock-up of the back of the memorial. He said the panel for homeland will be based on a drawing of downtown Vienna, the next will feature the portraits, next to the patriot panel featuring the flag raising on Iwo Jima and then sacrifice showing a flag-draped casket being carried by members of the five armed forces and the emblems of the service at the bottom.

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