2013-03-25
The Marion County Patriot Memorial Flag Committee continues to
seek donations to erect and maintain a 30-by-50-foot American flag overlooking
I-79 in Fairmont.
"We need to reach out and acquire more funds for the
everlasting flag endowment and pole construction," said C. Rick Hardman,
designer of the project sponsored by Marion County Chapter 163 of the Korean
War Veterans Association. "We need more donors to complete our goal for the
continuous replacement of the flag, which will fly atop a 125-foot flagpole at
East Marion County Park."
The project began in 2011 with the construction of a concrete
foundation for the massive flagpole with funds provided by the Korean War
Veterans Memorial Fund. Additional money is needed to pay for fabrication and
installation of the flagpole and floodlights to illuminate it, at an estimated
cost of $35,000; and over a $100,000 endowment fund to provide for the
perpetual purchase and replacement of flags whenever necessary.
The endowment fund is managed by Your Community Foundation
(YCF), a non-profit regional philanthropic organization that is collecting
contributions and investing the funds to increase their value. Net income from
those investments will be used to purchase the flags, which will need to be
replaced about twice a year.
The Marion County Parks and Recreation Commission will provide
care and maintenance of the flags and pole.
"Gifts to this fund reflect community pride and patriotism and
offer a means to honor a loved one," Hardman said. Donations should be made to
Your Community Foundation, P.O. Box 409, Morgantown, WV 26507 or online by
clicking the "donate" button at www.ycfwv.org.
Hardman also thanked the many donors who have already
contributed to the project, including:
Gold donors ($1,000 or more) – Woodmen of the World, West
Virginia Fraternal Alliance; and Chesapeake Energy.
Silver donors ($500 or more) – Fairmont State University,
Rotary Club of Fairmont, Rotary Club of South Fairmont, Mary Krevosky, Woodmen
of the World Adult Lodge-B and Woodmen of the World Unit 66.
Bronze donors (100 or more) – Janice Cosco, One Cent Inc.,
Middletown Home Sales, Royal Watts, Paula and Nelson Ciumedean, Michael and
Elizabeth Wolfe, Robert Hunt Sr. and Brenda Brock, Diane Parker, Robert Kozul,
Linda Rutherford, Lyle Dallison, Gail M. Dragoo, David Graham, Valley Chapel
United Methodist, Russell and Judith Harding, Paul Hunt, Edith Shaver, Anna
Lough, Michael and Linda Christy, Janet D. Smith, Frederick and Carolyn Young,
Beth and Roger Fuller, Alan Henderson, Charles and Mary Bunner, Mayers
Insurance Agency, James and Elaine Rogers, Iverna Bouch, Anne Hando, Barbara
and David McCoy, Della Huffman, Woodman of the World Lodge 254, Marcella
Yaremchuk, Brian and Valerie Westfall, Woodman of the World Camp 226 and
Richard Earle.
Many other supporters have contributed smaller amounts to the
project, Hardman said.