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March 28, 2009 CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A group that supports veterans is taking on a new project: building a memorial in West Virginia for our nation's mothers. West Virginians support veterans, said Zoe Morris Beavers, a returning veteran and a member of Thanks! Plain and Simple. At a news conference at the state's Culture and History building, Beavers said she and other members of Thanks! Plain and Simple want to return that support to veterans and the state that produced them. | |
In a special program launched Saturday, Beavers explained that she was all set to move into an apartment in another state when she was lured back home by a project that will allow her to use her skills to help other veterans and state residents. "Veterans inspire people," Beavers said. In the new project, she said, she wants to turn that inspiration back to West Virginians. Beavers and John Haulotte were selected to be model veterans for the new project. "If we can inspire people, we can inspire them to support themselves and West Virginia," Beavers said. A nonprofit organization, Thanks! Plain and Simple has plans for several projects that will help veterans. |
Most immediately, they are exploring the idea of establishing a national monument to honor mothers, said Anne Montague, the founder of Thanks! Plain and Simple. Montague said the demonstration project, creating a national monument, will show the nation what can be done when veterans and "the public cooperate around a project that benefits home." She said advocates are starting to call this project "The West Virginia Project" because it has started in West Virginia, and she believes the methods they are developing will be used across the country. Beavers grew up in Hurricane, and her mother, who works for the Division of Culture and History, was on hand to watch her daughter begin her new job with a news conference. |
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In the Army, Beavers studied sustainable design for buildings and grounds. She also worked as a reporter. Beavers will work with Haulotte, the lead veteran, to research information for the national monument. This is a three-year project. Montague said they wanted to celebrate Beavers' return to West Virginia as a way of getting the word out about the work of Thanks! Plain and Simple. Vocalist Doris Fields was on hand Saturday to sing "Come Home with Your Wild, Sweet Smile," a song that explains the group's mission. | |
Montague said the projects also will "express our culture." Because West Virginia is the home of the founders of Mother's Day and Grandparents' Day, Montague said they thought a national monument dedicated to mothers seemed appropriate. Before a national monument can be erected, though, they would have to obtain permission from Congress and work under the U.S. Park Service, Montague said. Medal of Honor recipient Woody Williams is spearheading the national monument project. The group also wants to explore the needs of veterans. Montague said, "Veterans want to feel needed and to be purposefully engaged," she said. |
She added that it would be a terrible loss of "human capital," if veterans did not find a useful way to use their training. They have already launched their "Veterans are ready to help West Virginia" project, and Haulotte has been working with it. Montague, Beavers and Haulotte each said they want to hear from veterans to find out what is important to them. People interested in their projects can go to www.thanksplainandsimple.org to find out more information. As she debated whether or not to return to West Virginia, Beavers said, she looked at other places to live. "Why can't this state be all the state we know it can be?" she asked. |
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