The Graybeards - Korean War Veterans Association

sign. The principal speaker was Col. Robert H. Kies (Ret.) , (not
in picture) member of Chapter 143, and POW during the Korean
War.
After receiving approval, in September 1999, from the
Greater Richmond, VA chapter of KWVA, that they work
towards having Interstate 295, a 53-mile-long bypass of I-95,
named the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, Jim Jones,
chapter president, contacted Virginia Governor, James Gilmore,
regarding the name designation.
The Virginia Secretary
of Transportation replied
that there are two ways of
naming or renaming a road
in Virginia. By contacting
all of the counties or
municipalities through
which the road runs and
getting their recommendation
to the VA.
Transportation Board that
the highway be named as
designated or by an Act of
the Virginia General
Assembly. Chapter 143
chose to follow both
methods. They obtained
the unanimous approval at
each locality’s meetings
and their written recommendation
that the road be
so named. They found a sponsor in the House of Delegates and
a sponsor in the Virginia Senate to introduce the bill in each
body.
After 9 months of appearances by Chapter 143 members
before legislative committees and subcommittees, the bill passed
both houses unanimously as ACT 45 of the 2000 Virginia
General Assembly and was signed by Governor Gilmore. The
signs were erected after July 1, the effective date of the Act
James F. Jones, Sr.
(Thanks Jim for photos and letter.)
Michigan Remembers
Sign at mile 42, near the exit to I-64,
leading to Williamsburg, Norfolk, and
Virginia Beach. Other signs are located
near the northbound and southbound
exits to I-95 and near the I-64 exit to
Charlottesville.
Arizona Remembers
Photo shows the memorial and the memorial committee responsible for
the successful completion of this task to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of
start of the Korean War. The committee members are (from left to right):
Dick Wainwright, Bob English, Joe Alvarez, Al Porfirio, Camilo Castrillo,
Henry Pino, and Ray Durbin.
The Edward W. Rhoads Chapter, KWVA dedicated a Korean
War Memorial in Tucson, Arizona on June 24, 2000. It is a threesided
obelisk made from polished black granite. One side has
information on the Korean War and the other two sides list all
the men from Pima County who lost their lives during the war.
The unveiling ceremony was well-covered by local newspapers,
TV and radio stations.
The memorial occupies the focal point at the Kino Veterans
Memorial Park. Joe R. Alvarez, Commander, Edward W.
Rhoads Chapter, KWVA, P.O. Box 26083, Tucson, AZ 85726-
6083
(Thank you Joe for photo and letter. A great memorial and proud
veterans are obvious.)
Florida Remembers
Highway Dedication sign on
a 22 Mile stretch of High
Density roadway in the
Northern Suburbs of Detroit.
There are 16, 3’x4’ signs along
the right of way, 8 in each
direction. Mike Adragna, at e-
mail mikeadragna@juno.com.
(Thanks Mike for photo and e-
mail)
Korean War Monument erected at Royal Palm Cemetery, West Palm Beach,
Florida. Herb Dareff, Lt. Richard E. Cronan Chapter #17 at e-mail hdareff@hotmail.com.
(Thank you Herb for photo and e-mail. A beautiful memorial with a special
inscription remembering everyone.)
September/October, 2000 Page 15