Mason County WV Veterans Memorial

09/02/2026

Kadan Bonecutter and WSAZ did a wonderful job on promoting our Memorial in their piece yesterday.

A native of Mason County she has a vested interest in seeing this come to completion as she has many Veterans that will be on the wall.

Watch:

The memorial consists of concrete walls dedicated to preserving the sacrifices made by local veterans.

09/01/2026

ALERT!!!! WSAZ Memorial spot this evening. Possible at 5 pm but it should be on at 6 pm.

Kadan Bonecutter (a native of Mason County-Gallipolis Ferry) of WSAZ noticed the Memorial Booth during the Mason County Fair and wanted to know more about it. She contacted Steve Halstead and he asked one of the members if he would provide and interview for her and WSAZ. He did.

Kadan has many in her family that served in the Military. She is very excited about the Memorial and wants to help get the monies needed to complete Phase II as she would like to see her relatives names on there as well. She loves what has been done for all Veterans in Mason County and how beautiful it is already.
https://www.wsaz.com/2026/09/01/mason-county-veterans-memorial-nears-completion-name-engravings/

Send a message to learn more

09/01/2026

"Fundraising continues for Phase II of the Mason County Vterans Memorial." Pictured is Hope Gas delivering $10,000 check to Memorial Committee members. Chad Vaughn, Staff Writer

08/31/2026

The excitement keeps growing: the 082826 previous list post has received 22,301 views, making it the most-viewed post ever on this page.

Please review this next list carefully, as it will be the final version sent to the engravers. Although, we will continue to accept names until we send it to them (date to be determined and we will let you know).

This list includes nearly 100 additional names and many corrections. We have reviewed all previous lists and your comments about names that were included or missing. Please confirm that each name is spelled correctly and appears exactly as you or your family would like it shown on the Memorial. If your Veteran is not listed, please submit the name request and any required paperwork to:
Steve Halstead
Mail: Steve Halstead, 200 Lehi Hills Dr, Letart, WV 25253
Phone: 304-895-3691
Email: [email protected]

Phase II began about two and a half years ago. Since then, costs for granite, etching 6,428 names, and installation have risen significantly. We now estimate Phase II will cost about $240,000 to $250,000.

We are currently about $100,000 short of the amount needed to complete the project, and costs will continue to increase the longer we wait. If each of the 22,301 people who viewed the post donated just $5, we would have more than enough to complete Phase II.

08/28/2026

ALERT! There is a problem with this list and it is being rectified at this time. Please be patient as we are experiencing technical difficulties and will get the correct list out next week. Thank you for your patience. If you have questions about eligibility or missing paperwork please contact Steve Halstead at the email or phone listed on this FB page.

We are truly touched by the support and enthusiasm you have shown for the Memorial so far. Seeing the excitement at the Mason County Fair as Phase II moves closer to becoming a reality meant a great deal to us. Thank you to everyone who stopped by the Memorial booth, visited with us, and took the time to review the Veterans Names list.

We are deeply grateful for the generosity and kindness shown by the people and businesses of Mason County. Your support has helped bring this Memorial to life, and we are honored to continue this important work together.

Phase II began about two and a half years ago, and since then the costs of granite, etching the names—now totaling 6,340—and installation have risen significantly. We estimate Phase II will cost approximately $240,000 to $250,000.

At this time, we are still about $100,000 short of the amount needed to complete the project, and costs continue to increase the longer we wait.

No donation is required to have a veteran’s name placed on the Memorial. However, if you are able to give, any amount would be sincerely appreciated and would help us move closer to completing this lasting tribute to those who served.

Attached is the latest Memorial Veterans list. We hope to add these names to the Memorial as soon as possible. Please take a moment to review the list and make sure your veteran’s name is included and spelled exactly as you or your family would want it to appear.

08/24/2026

We are grateful to Hope Gas for its generous support of the Memorial. On the afternoon of August 21, Hope Gas representatives Greg Hoyer, vice president of Government and External Affairs; Ryan Wannemacher, chief financial officer and treasurer; and Paul Sandy, senior director of Business Development, visited the Memorial to present a $10,000 check to members of the Memorial Committee in support of Phase II.

08/24/2026

On the afternoon of August 7th, the Wahama football team visited the Memorial just as a powerful storm was moving in, as shown in the photos. The players listened attentively to speakers Gary Fields, a Memorial Committee member and 36-year Wahama teacher; Brent Clark, Memorial Committee vice president, West Point graduate, and U.S. Army officer; and Nick Barton, U.S. Army Vietnam veteran, and Gold Star parent whose son, Robert Nicholas Barton II, was killed in action during the Iraq/Afghanistan conflict. Each speaker shared moving reflections on the Memorial, those who have served and continue to serve, and how military service and the Memorial have personally affected them.

Notably, Coach James Toth also served in the military, and his name will be added to the wall along with over 6320+ others from Mason County.

08/23/2026

Interesting story......As you know we are always on the lookout to ensure that we have everyone possible on the Memorial.

Well, Steve Halstead was recently speaking with Bruce Darst (a retired AEP River Boat Captain) and current AEP River Boat Captain John Byer, and Bud Estes' name came up. Bud worked with Bruce for several years, and Bruce shared some of Bud's history from WWII. According to his obituary ( https://virginianreview.com/27485/ ), Bud was part of a paratrooper group known as "The Forty Thieves." Steve said: “I remember Bud from when he lived on Haven Heights, and he certainly deserves to be included on our POW Memorial, as well as in our other tributes.”

Bud will be added to the POW Monument and to the ‘Walls’ with all Veterans.

‘Bud Estes’
MADISON, W.Va. – Arthur Reginald (Bud) Estes, 86, of Madison, W.Va., died April 19, 2010 in Thomas Memorial Hospital, South Charleston, W.Va.

He was born in Clifton Forge May 13, 1923, the son of the late Livonia Edwin Estes and Lula Williams Estes and attended Clifton Forge schools.

As a member of the Virginia National Guard, Bud was called into active service in 1939 and served in the Costal Artillery rising to the rank of Sergeant and volunteered to be transferred to the 101st Airborne Division H Company 3rd Battalion 506th PIR as a Platoon Sergeant.

He jumped with a group of men known as “The Forty Thieves.” Bud was a paratrooper at Normandy, France on D-Day, June 6, 1944, where he was dropped behind enemy lines and was captured after several hours of fighting and spent 11 months as a German POW.

He was a life member of the American Legion Post 140, New Haven, W.Va. and the American Ex-POW Association.

admin

08/22/2026

The past two weeks have been fantastic for the Memorial. We were glad to see many of you at the Memorial booth during the Mason County Fair, where we received many donations and pledges of more to come. We also recently welcomed visits from the Wahama Football Team and Hope Gas; photos and comments from those visits will be shared in upcoming posts.

It was encouraging to see how many people have visited the Memorial and, like those of us on the committee, are eager to see the large concrete walls clad in black granite and engraved with more than 6,000 names.

We appreciated hearing so many kind compliments about the Memorial and how much people across Mason County and beyond value what has been done to honor those who gave everything, as well as all who served in one way or another.

Thank you again for everyone’s participation. It is deeply appreciated not only by the committee, but also by the families and loved ones of those who sacrificed for us all.

08/10/2026

Visit the Memorial booth at the Mason County Fair this week to review the latest “Names” list and see whether your veteran is included. You can also pick up posters, literature, and business cards with QR codes linking to this page and the website, and speak with volunteers who can share more about the Memorial.

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 10 a.m.–noon: Meet “Bent” Neal, who has helped raise more than $7,000 for the Memorial.

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 2:30–5:30 p.m.: Meet Abigail Hatfield, 2026 Gallia County Junior Fair Queen, who has graciously volunteered her time in support of Mason County veterans. Her father is a military veteran and the Town of Henderson postmaster.

Send a message to learn more