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The Korean War Veterans Association Foothills Chapter of SC #301 launched a
fund raising campaign in November 2010 to erect a Korean War Memorial in Greenville, SC.
Donations were first sought from chapter members' families and friends by mail, e-mail, and
local newspapers. Public fund raisers were held at different events in the TD Convention
Center and outside the local Sam's Club. Since the memorial includes an Honors Walkway of
engraved brick pavers the sale of bricks by chapter members also became an important part of
the fund raising. By January 2013 the major funds were available to go forward and seek bids
for the construction of the Memorial.
Finding the right location became the first priority. Finding a public location with high
visibility to families and young children was important. On June 25, 2012, the Greenville
Recreation Department announced that the newly developed Conestee Park, 840 Mauldin Road,
Greenville, SC would be the home of the Korean War Veterans Memorial.
A groundbreaking program was held March 16, 2013 with an enthusiastic crowd of members and
friends on hand. Publicity from local newspapers and television helped both with future
plans and an increase in membership.
The beautiful memorial consists of 10 pieces of polished and engraved Granite from Elberton
Georgia, considered by many as the granite capital of country. The engraving on the face of
the monument states KOREAN WAR VETERANS MEMORIAL honoring the veterans not the War. With no
list of names compiled, in Greenville County nor the State of South Carolina of Korean War
Veterans, the inscriptions on the monument reads on one side of the engraved map of Korea:
IN HONOR OF All the men and women who served honorably and courageously to protect our
freedoms and liberties while serving in the defense of the Republic of South Korea. On the
other side of the map the inscription reads: IN MEMORY OF The more than 36,000 American GI's
who made the ultimate sacrifice (KIA) and to the more than 6,000 held as POWs and to those
(MIA) still unaccounted for today, and highlighted below those inscriptions the reminder
FREEDOM IS NOT FREE. Most notably on the face of the kneeling pad are the words NO LONGER
FORGOTTEN. The panels flanking each side of the monument are engraved with the service
emblems of the Army, Navy, Marine Corp, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines. Three
aluminum flag poles behind the memorial fly the American Flag, the POW/MIA flag and the
Korean War Veterans Flag.
The Honors Walkway consists of traditional red brick pavers engraved in honor and in memory
of chapter members and friends. The walkway will hold more than 400 bricks and half of those
are sold. Bricks have been purchased locally and by friends from several different states.
The cost of the bricks are $50.00 for a single brick and $75.00 for a double brick and may
still be purchased by mail or by pay-pal, by contacting the Foothills Chapter of SC #301, PO
Box 6903, Greenville, SC 29603, or the chapter's website,
www.koreanvets301.com.
The Memorial project was spearheaded by US Navy, Korean War Veteran, Lewis I. "Lew" Perry
who serves as Chairman of the Memorial Committee. He credits success of the project to the
dedication of the Chapter members and is a tribute to the generosity of the people of
Greenville, SC, and neighboring communities.
Dedication of the Memorial was held on June 1, 2013 with more than 400 people attending. Mr.
Geoff Hart news anchor for Greenville's WYFF television served as Master of Ceremonies.
Speakers included Mr. Lewis Langley, Past President of Foothills Chapter #301, Mr. George
Blevins, Greenville County Veterans Affairs Officer, and Mr. Don Shuman, Greenville
Recreation Department. The JROTC Patriot Brigade from J.L. Mann High School, Greenville,
served as Honor Guard and performed a drill team presentation. The motorcycle Patriot Guard
Riders stood for a flag line around the memorial throughout the program. Music was provided
by the Upstate Senior Concert Band who provided the National Anthem, several patriotic and
military numbers as well as echo taps. Refreshments were enjoyed in the Conestee Park's
large pavilion.
Images and information courtesy of Lew Perry,
CID 301.
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