Aug 19 2020
Jonathan Stinson | Redstone Rocket
Progress continues on the Gold Star Family Memorial Monument at Huntsville-Madison County Veterans Memorial park in downtown Huntsville.
The Alabama Gold Star Families Memorial Monument Committee is working on plans to hold a dedication ceremony Oct. 17 at 10 a.m. and Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams is expected to attend.
“The monument will demonstrate Alabama’s and the Huntsville community’s dedication to its military service members and their families,” Julie Kink, co-chair of the committee, said. “The message: We will never forget.”
In August, workers broke ground on the foundation of the monument. The monument will stand 7-feet, 5-inches tall, made of black granite, and it’ll weigh about 15,000 pounds.
It’s being built by Bailey Granite and Monuments, a Kentucky-based company.
On one side, it will read “Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, a tribute to Gold Star Families and Relatives.”
“The other side will tell a story through panels depicting scenes unique to Alabama, with the themes Homeland, Family, Patriot and Sacrifice,” Kink said. “The centerpiece of the monument is a silhouette representing a loved one who lost their life serving our country.”
It’s expected to be delivered in early September and then be “kept under wraps” until the dedication ceremony.
Work has steadily progressed despite the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Kink.
Building the monument has been a joint effort between the committee, the Hershel “Woody” Williams Medal of Honor Foundation, the Huntsville-Madison County Veterans Memorial Foundation, and the City of Huntsville, along with its presenting sponsor Mike and Christine Wicks, i3-Integration Innovation Inc.
Engraved brick pavers will surround the monument. The pavers cost $100.
Order forms are available on the Huntsville-Madison County Veterans Memorial website.
For information, to make a donation, or to purchase a brick paver for the walkway, visit http://hmcvm.org and click on Gold Star Families Memorial Monument. You can also email adminperson@hmcvm.org or call 604-3896.
