West Virginia Veterans Memorial - Charleston, West Virginia
N 38° 20.323 W 081° 36.778
17S E 446431 N 4243575
The West Virginia Veterans Memorial stands on the grounds of the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston.
Waymark Code: WM8FEA
Location: West Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 03/25/2010
Views: 14
The West Virginia Veterans Memorial is a two-story oval shaped monument honoring more than 10,000 West Virginians who made the ultimate sacrifice in defending the nation in twentieth century conflicts. Composed of four limestone monoliths surrounded by a reflecting pool, the interior walls are faced in polished black granite etched with the names of these men and women. The Memorial was designed by P. Joseph Mullins, who also sculpted the four figures representing the four major twentieth century conflicts and the four major branches of military service.
Begun as a privately funded undertaking, the Veterans Memorial Commission spearheaded these efforts as it undertook compiling the names to be honored on the Memorial. After the official groundbreaking ceremony on June 22, 1990, the foundation was completed the year after and the monolith cores in 1992. Work was performed under direction of ZMM, Inc. architects and G & G Builders. The 1994 legislature provided for lottery revenues to supplement fund-raising efforts, moving the project to a more rapid completion. With installation of the final sculpture in 1999, the cost of the Memorial and data on the inscribed names approached four million dollars.
Dedication of the Memorial, with the World War II sailor sculpture, took place on Veterans Day 1995, ten years after the appointment of the original West Virginia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission. In Veterans Day ceremonies in 1997 - 99, the bronze sculptures of a World War I dough boy, a Korean aviator, and a Vietnam Marine, respectively, were dedicated. Each figure is in full gear, authentic to the period and rank represented, as meticulously researched by the sculptor.
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