Sep 21 2019
Gage Goulding | WTOV
Wheeling now has a new way to honor both those that have made the ultimate sacrifice in the armed forces and their families.
Dozens of community members gathered in Wheeling's Heritage Port for the dedication ceremony of a memorial honoring those who died serving our country.
The Gold Star Family Memorial Monument is the 52nd in the country to be unveiled and honors both the soldiers killed in action, but also their loved ones.
"This is the 52nd one of that I've done and the feeling is basically always the same," said Hershel "Woody" Williams. "Very emotional, very appreciative and very historic actually. Because these things will be here, these monuments will be here from now on."
Wheeling City officials were in attendance and say there is not a better way to honor Gold Star Families.
"This monument is a reminder that Americans not only fight in what we believe in but Americans fight to the very end and it's important that we recognize the sacrifices that our veterans made and also recognize the sacrifices that their families have made," said Wheeling Vice Mayor Chad Thalman.
The Vice Mayor says that city staff lent a helping hand in any way possible, but the true credit goes to those that worked endlessly to make the monument possible.
"The city was happy to do whatever we can do to make this a possibility," said Thalman. "This was a team effort. A lot of individuals and groups came together to donate money and fundraise and make this a reality. We were happy to play a small part in it."
Although the monument in Wheeling was recently unveiled, plans are already in motion for a Gold Star Family memorial in Moundsville.
