WWII Medal of Honor recipient to break ground on monument

FARMINGTON — A World War II Medal of Honor recipient will help break ground this week on the first monument in New Mexico honoring Gold Star families.

Hershel “Woody” Williams is scheduled to arrive in San Juan County on Wednesday via a motorcade from Albuquerque. He founded the Hershel “Woody” Williams Medal of Honor Foundation with the goal of building monuments for Gold Star families across the U.S.

“He wants to see a monument in every state before he passes,” said Gary Smouse, co-chairman of a committee developing plans for the San Juan County Gold Star Families Memorial Monument.

Martin Caddell, another committee co-chairman, said New Mexico will be the 43rd state in which the foundation has installed a monument. He credited co-chairman Smouse with being the “brainchild” of the project.

The monument, with a projected cost of $100,000, will be built at the All Veterans Memorial Plaza in Berg Park in Farmington following approval from the City Council. The committee reached out to Williams’ foundation about three months ago to learn how it could partner with the organization. A private fundraising event will be held this week to help cover construction costs.

A public groundbreaking ceremony is set for 2 p.m. Thursday at the construction site.

Williams and World War II Navajo Code Talker Thomas Begay will appear at a celebration later that evening at the Farmington Civic Center.

Begay will perform the Marine Corps Hymn in the Navajo language.