There are memorials all across this grateful nation honoring the sacrifices of the men and women of our armed forces who have defended our freedoms. Yet, perhaps the greatest sacrifices that have been made have been painfully forgotten. For the Gold Star Families of these loved ones, there will forever be an empty chair at the dinner table, and an empty place at every holiday and family gathering. In the words of Beth Garner, a local Gold Star Mother, “We feel we have been forgotten.”
That is about to change for those families in Northwestern North Carolina and Southwestern Virginia. The Captain Mark Garner Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7794 of Elkin in cooperation with the Hershel “Woody” Williams Medal of Honor Foundation have plans to erect a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument to acknowledge and thank all the Gold Star Families in the area who have lost a loved one in the service of our nation and insuring that the fallen Heroes will never be forgotten.
The Town of Elkin has graciously approved the placement of this memorial in Elkin Municipal Park near the existing VFW Flagpole. The monument will be a two-sided tribute made of 15,000 pounds 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 the Loved One who paid ultimate sacrifice in the name of Freedom.
The Post itself has raised and donated funds toward the project but needs help from individuals, businesses, civic clubs, churches and veterans groups to make this project happen as quickly as possible. There will be a groundbreaking ceremony for the Memorial on Sunday, March 29th, at 2:30PM at Elkin Municipal Park. Please come out and show your support for the very worthy project.
If you or your organization would like contribute with a check or money order please make it payable to: VFW Post 7794/Gold Star Memorial and mail to: VFW Post 7794, P.O Box 246, Elkin, NC 28621 or go online at: elkin [email protected] (Please note that there is a space between elkin and nc to symbolize the missing member). If you have any questions about this project please contact Jon Garing at 336-366-9700.