STURGIS, S.D. – The Sturgis community will soon be home to a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument. The Monument will be placed near the Harley-Davidson Rally Point Plaza at the corner of Main and Harley-Davidson Way, where visitors and community members can visit the monument and reflect on the sacrifices made for our nation.
The project was led by the Hershel “Woody” Williams Medal of Honor Foundation, and while individual names will not be on the Memorial, it will honor “Family members who have sacrificed a loved one while in an active status.”
South Dakota is the 49th state in the union to have such a memorial. A fundraising effort will take place with construction scheduled to begin in mid-2021.
Additional information from the official website:
Goals of Establishing Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments
The Monuments provide a place of permanence for Gold Star Families to gather and utilize as they see fit. These Monuments belong to them and their fallen Loved Ones. They are intended to achieve the following goals:
- Demonstrate to Gold Star Families that their community cares for them and appreciates their sacrifice while also honoring the ultimate sacrifice paid by their Loved Ones
- Establish local Gold Star Family communities and strengthen the community within itself through Gold Star Family outreach events associated with each monument location
- Educate the general public about Gold Star Families’ enduring sacrifices and the ultimate sacrifice made by their Loved Ones
Initially, the Foundation’s goal was to establish a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument in Woody’s home state of West Virginia. Once that monument was complete, a new mission became clear to Woody and those at the Hershel “Woody” Williams Medal of Honor to establish these monuments in as many communities as possible in all 50 states as well as expanding the mission to additional means of service to Gold Star Families.
This stunning black granite monument features two sides. 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. The scenes on each panel are a reflection of each community’s Gold Star Families and their fallen Heroes. At the center of this tribute is a silhouette of the Loved One who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the name of Freedom.
