History of the Foothills Chapter of SC # 301
Korean War Veterans Association, Inc.
In the Spring of 2004 Lew Perry, a member of the National KWVA, contacted Pat Sullivan, President of the Low Country Chapter #185, South Carolina’s first chapter, about the possibility of forming a local KWVA chapter in the Greenville area of SC.
On July 17, 2004 Pat Sullivan sent a packet of information outlining the requirements necessary for establishing a new chapter, and a list of National KWVA members in the Greenville area.
All of the National members in the area were contacted to see how many would be interested and would support a local chapter. Most all contacted were in agreement and willing to sign on.
After considerable time was spent, trying to locate a suitable place to meet, the branch Library was selected, because there was no cost to library members for the use of the meeting room. With letters to all prospective members, and notice in the local newspapers, the first meeting was scheduled for November 21, 2004.
Nine (9) persons attended the first meeting, called an informational meeting, with our sponsor Pat Sullivan outlining the requirements for starting a new chapter.
The procedure for establishing a local chapter required obtaining the signatures of 12 regular members and four (4) or five (5) officers, on a petition for a new charter, to be sent to National KWVA headquarters.
At the first meeting only five (5) signatures were obtained. From there Lew contacted the members again, by phone, and took the petition to each one to obtain the balance of the signatures before scheduling another meeting.
When the twelve (12) signatures were on the petition Lew called an organizational meeting to elect officers and complete the petition.
The second meeting was attended by sixteen (16) including wives and associate members.
Officers elected were, Lew Perry; President – Francis Thompson; First Vice President - Larry Johnson; Second Vice President – Marcielle Peterson Day; Secretary-Treasurer. Officers appointed were; Lee Ayers, Historian – (Ex-POW) Frank Tooley, MIA/POW officer.
The completed petition for a Charter was mailed to sponsor Pat Sullivan who in turn forwarded the petition to the National Membership Chairman on January 18, 2005 for assignment of a Chapter number.
Since establishing a new chapter also requires having a set of Bylaws, a draft of Bylaws was prepared and distributed to the other elected officers (executive committee) for approval. A copy was forwarded to Pat Sullivan January 28, 2005.
The February meeting was a luncheon with the wives, held at the Ryan's Steakhouse on Woodruff Rd. To thank the ladies for their support, a single red rose was presented to each one. Twenty six (26) persons were in attendance.
Our sponsor, Pat Sullivan, brought Clyde Hooks (chapter secretary from Aiken) with him to install our officers. Present were: President Lew Perry, 1st Vice President Francis Thompson, Sec-Treasurer Marcielle Peterson Day, and MIA-POW officer Frank Tooley.
The Charter was received by Mail from Pat Sullivan on February 28, 2005.
The certificate of Incorporation as a Nonprofit Corporation was received from the South Carolina Secretary of State, Mark Hammond.
The Foothills Chapter of SC #301 continues to meet monthly. the annual meeting is held in June each year with new officers elected.
Each year the Chapter donates to other needy organizations such as,
Red Cross disaster relief, Fisher house, Blue Star mothers, and Wounded Warriors.
In November 2010 it was suggested by member Dean Howell that the Chapter should consider building a Korean War Memorial in Greenville. President Jerry Kunz accepted the idea on a motion. He appointed Lew Perry committee chairman and volunteers Dean Howell, Billy Rogers and Bob Bostwick to the committee. Billy Rogers resigned due to health problems and Lew Perry appointed Jerry Lundsford to fill the vacancy.
The committee's objectives were: 1 select a memorial design. Chosen from several found in the Graybeard magazine was the one by chapter 137 Mahoning Valley, Youngstown,OH. Permission was requested and granted to use a picture of their's for a facsimilie of our plans.
2 The next objective was to secure a proper location, preferably a public park with public maintenance.
3. Fund raising.
Donations began coming immediately from families and friends and by selling engraved bricks. In October 2011 the first fundraiser was held at Sam's Club with others to follow. A succesful fundraiser was held Dec1-2, 2011 at Holiday Fair. In 2012 fundraisers were also held at the SCACA gun shows. In June 2012 a gift of $2500 was received from Lockheed Martin Corp.
4. Memorial, bricks etc.
On June 25, 2012 the Greenville Rec Dept. announced that the newly redeveloped Conestee Park would be the home of the Korean War Veterans Memorial.
Fund Raising continued through 2012 and by January 2013 funds for the Monument, the Honors Walkway and the flag poles,had been raised. Thanks to Dave Clyborn NCE Electric for offering to provide installation of lights needed for our flags. Wayne Davis offered to furnish the lights.
Gillespie Marble and Granite of Greenville was chosen to provide the all granite Memorial, Dan Shook, Century Co. to do the Honors Walkway, Bill Siedel, American flag poles.
The ground breaking was held March 23rd with a good crowd of members and friends from the community were on hand. Publicity was exceptional from chanel 4 Greenville and Chanel 7 Spartanburg as well as articles in several daily and weekly newspapers.
Response was great with numerous calls for brick applications.
The date for the dedication is set for June 1, 2013 at 11:am.
