WHO FORMED THE IDEA OF THE MARION COUNTY VIETNEM VETERANS MEMORIAL?


That was a dream of Alfred Knoll who served in Vietnam from 1968 - 1969. SP5 Knoll wanted the memorial to
 acknowledge and recognize the service and sacrifice of all Marion Countians who were killed in Vietnam.




WHAT IS THE OFFICIAL NAME OF THE MEMORIAL?

Alfred Knoll got a group of Vietnam Veterans together in November 11, 1988 and became known as the  Marion County Vietnam Memorial, Inc. The MCVVM was chartered by the State of West Virginia in February 1990.

WHEN DID CONSTRUCTION BEGIN?

From the time the MCVVM was formed until September 1994 several places had been looked at to build a Memorial. Delegate Cody Starcher approach the Veterans about contacting Ralph LaRue, Director of Marion County Park and Recreation, about the area at East Marion Park, known as Wave Tek Park. Director LaRue and the Veterans met with
 the Marion County Commission who approved the proposal and on November 19, 1994
ground breaking took place and on June 1995 construction began.


THE MONUMENT

The monument was purchased on August 1, 1995 at Northern Granite Co. in Clarksburg WV, the monument
was made of Ebony mist and grey the Cap: Was Polished slant face 6 feet x 10 inches x 4 feet and the
 Base: was 7 feet x 1 foot 4 inches x 10 inches and on October 1995 the monument was set in place.





THE HUEY

US Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-16109 was purchased by the US Army in March of 1967. In January of 1968, it went to Vietnam where it had logged 4908 hours in the air. In April of 1971, it left Vietnam for Ft. Worth, Texas until December of 1971. Then on to Fort Rucker, Alabama until August 1996 when it came to Fairmont WV.

On August 14, 1996, the Marion County Vietnam Veterans Memorial agreed to assume and pay all costs, charges and expenses incident to the donation, including the cost of any required demilitarization and preparation for
 transportation to Fairmont.

In August 1996, Ronnie Miller, owner-operator of Miller Trucking, left for Fort Rucker, Alabama to pick up the Huey. On August 22, 1996, with the help of City Crane & Equipment the Huey was unloaded. With the help of volunteers,
 the task of restoring the Huey started.
 
After seeing a television news clip when the Huey arrive in Fairmont, Bob Conshafter, an aircraft mechanic and aviation history bluff at Bombardier, drove to the Memorial to take a closer look. When he got there, he found the veterans , veteran’s wives and volunteers using sandpaper and wooden blocks to strip the paint. He knew then they need help. Mr. Conshafter contacted his boss, Robert Lyle, Bombardier’s vice president and general manager. Mr. Lyle who flew Hueys in Vietnam agree to take on the more difficult work, such as chemically stripping and repair the Huey, and with the help of his employees who volunteer their time and skills the Huey was restored. On January 15, 1998 at a cost of more than 12,000.00 and with the help of Vietnam Veteran Kenny Jo Vincent owner of Vincent Trucking went to Bridgeport WV to bring the Huey to its new home Marion County Vietnam Veterans Memorial.