Elkins to Welcome Gold Star Families Memorial Monument with June 10 Parade

ELKINS, W.Va. — June 3, 2025 — The City of Elkins will welcome the arrival of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument on Tuesday, June 10, with a parade beginning at 9:30 a.m. The monument honors the families of U.S. service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation.

The parade will begin at Tygart Valley Mall (1513 Harrison Avenue). Accompanied by a police escort, the memorial will proceed past Veterans Memorial Park on Railroad Avenue, continue along Randolph Avenue, turn onto Eleventh Street, and then head down South Davis Avenue. The procession will conclude at the intersection of Davis Avenue, Fifth Street, and Randolph Avenue, near the Veterans of Foreign Wars (WFW) Post 3647 at 536 Randolph Avenue. Maps outlining the route are at the end of this press release.

“The arrival of this monument holds profound meaning for our community, especially for Gold Star Families who have endured the unimaginable loss of a loved one in service to our country,” said Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco. “We are deeply grateful to the Woody Williams Foundation for selecting Elkins as the next home for this tribute. This monument will provide a lasting place of reflection, ensuring these families’ sacrifices are never forgotten.”

Rotary International District 7545 selected the site, raised the funds, designed the monument, and has been coordinating all of the ceremonies and events surrounding this monument, in partnership with the Woody Williams Foundation and the strong support of the Rotary Club of Elkins.

The Gold Star tradition dates back to World War I, when families displayed service flags featuring a blue star for each loved one serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. If a service member died in combat, the blue star was replaced with a gold star—symbolizing their sacrifice.

The monument is part of a nationwide initiative led by the Woody Williams Foundation, founded by the late Hershel “Woody” Williams—a West Virginia native, World War II Marine veteran, and Medal of Honor recipient for his heroism at the Battle of Iwo Jima. Since the first memorial was dedicated in Charleston, WV, in 2015, the Foundation has installed more than 100 monuments across the U.S. Each individual monument is customized to reflect the characteristics of the city in which it is installed.

The Louisville, KY-based foundation updates a list of such monuments here: https://woodywilliams.org/monument-projects.html

The official dedication ceremony for the Elkins Gold Star Families Memorial Monument is scheduled on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. local time. The new memorial will be adjacent to the Elkins Veterans Memorial and in the near future, the Rosie the Riveter monument. The City of Elkins is encouraging members of the public to attend.

Image credit: Woody Williams Foundation

Map of the parade route from Route 48 (click to enlarge)

Map of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument; the “X” marks the staging area (click to enlarge)