Our Warmest Wishes For The Holidays - Korean War Veterans ...

The monument in Pinellas Park, FL
shade and comfort, but its
roots could damage the foundation
of the Memorial. And,
if we cut the roots, severe
damage could destroy the tree.
Al DeStefano knew of a
VFW program that would
help preserve the elm.
Environmentalists were called
to assist in the Chapter’s decision
to save the tree. If this
tree were to be saved (liberated
from the woodsman’s axe)
extreme caution (and extra
expense) would be needed to avoid damaging the roots. The
Chapter decided the tree must be saved at all costs. Alas, the palm
tree had to be removed. The tree was then designated as a Liberty
Tree by the VFW.
We approached American Forest Co., a nonprofit National
Historic tree registry in Jacksonville, Florida, for further validation.
The group presented Chapter 14 with a circular plaque identifying
our beautiful elm as a Liberty Tree.
On May 30, 2005, at the Memorial Day celebration, the tree
was officially dedicated with a plaque on a bronze plate and
black marble plinth which matches the marble in the KWVA
Memorial. Chapter members involved were Charles “Chuck”
Dawson, Founder and Past National Director, Al DeStefano,
Joseph Sheehan, George Carter and Clarence Dadswell, Past
President.
So, once again, Patriots, aka Korean War veterans, can meet at
their Liberty Tree, not to plot or make plans to revolt, but to
honor those who dedicated their lives for the Home of the Brave
and the Land of the Morning Calm.
Joan M. Arcand, 5674 Bay Pines Lake Blvd.,
St. Petersburg, FL 33708, (727) 392-5648
CID156 dedicates Korean War Memorial
in Sophia, WV
On June 24, 2007, at 2 p.m., 10 years of planning, hard work,
design, prayers, and dogged determination came to fruition as
Chapter 156 dedicated the Southern West Virginia Korean War
Memorial in the Main Street Park, in Sophia, WV. (Sophia is
approximately three miles south of Beckley, WV, on Route 16.)
The keynote speaker was U.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall,
an avid advocate of veterans of all wars and a voice for the
advancement of veterans’ rights. Mr. George Weidensall, a member
of Task Force Smith, gave a brief history of the Korean War;
Mr. Franklin Goff, President of the West Virginia KWVA, spoke
on the formation of Chapter 156. All surviving charter members
of Chapter 156 were present at the ceremony.
ABOVE: The Southern West
Virginia Korean War
Memorial.
LEFT: A map of Korea at the
Southern West Virginia
memorial
Members of the U.S.
Army Recruiting
Battalion of Beckley,
WV presented the
Colors. Mr. Gratton
Underwood, Master of
Ceremonies, and Chapter
156 member, led the
Pledge of Allegiance. In
closing, Mr. Underwood
read the names of those
deceased members of Chapter 156. As “Taps” was sounded in
their honor, the ceremony was brought to a close, after which a
reception was held at the Sophia Fire Department.
Chapter 156 thanks everyone who helped make our dream of
CID 156 members at the Southern West Virginia Korean War Memorial (L-
R) Marguerite Bowers, Joseph Kartman, Jack Guy, Walter Mankins,
Charles Shumaker, David Frame, Prince Clyburn, George Weidensall,
William Wiseman, Samuel Birchfield, James Sibray
33
The Graybeards November-December 2007