Sep 14 2020
Star Connor | WVVA
PRINCETON, W. Va. (WVVA)- Work is underway to make room for a new memorial in Princeton dedicated to families where the ultimate sacrifice was made to our nation.
A tank was moved Monday 15 ft east of it's orginial spot to make room for the new Gold Star Families Memorial.
"The process of us deciding where the Gold Star Families Monument was going to be took several months, and we worked with several Veterans groups and with others in the commission in order to obtain a real good spot for it," Mercer County Commissioner, Bill Archer said.
The majority of the people who got back to us said they wanted it on the same grounds as the war memorial. We needed to make some adjustments because the footprint of the gold stars families monument is larger than what we had space for here," Archer said.
Archer says citizens concerned with the work shouldn't stress over the movement of the tank.
"There was no intention to disrespect the tank, or the purpose for it being here. It's just so that we can highlight another monument that has a great meaning to families who have lost somebody in combat, men and women," Archer explained.
The Gold Star Families Memorial identifies and honors families whose loved ones died defending this country over the years. Archer says it's a natural addition to the War Memorial in Princeton.
The ceremony dedicating the Gold Star Families Memorial will take place on October 24th at 11 a.m.