Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp visits Columbus home where veterans get ‘extreme makeover’

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and his wife, Marty, visited Columbus on Thursday for the dedication of the Korean War Memorial at the National Infantry Museum.

Before the dedication, the Kemps stopped at a local charity helping veterans affected by homelessness. They arrived around 10:40 a.m. at the Plummer Home, 1214 18th St.

The governor was greeted by members of the Plummer Home as he went around shaking each person’s hand before being brought up to the front porch of the house. There he met Jeff Deaton, an Army veteran staying at the Plummer Home who just underwent what the group calls an “Extreme Veteran Makeover.”

The makeover works in partnership with local businesses that provide clothing, shoes haircuts and shaves for veterans.

Kemp was taken on a tour of the house, which has been renovated and will receive more upgrades. As he entered, a white board on his right read, “604 Veterans Restored” — a nod to the number of veterans the Plummer Home has helped.

At the end of his visit, Kemp comforted a veteran, John Kennelly, who recently lost his service dog named Bruce. Kemp embraced Kennelly and empathized with Kennelly, telling him about dogs he had lost.

In an interview with the Ledger-Enquirer, Kemp said he’s “ very thankful that there’s folks in the community that are helping support homeless veterans.” Kemp said, “It’s a big issue not only here but around the country. So, to see leaders here in the Columbus area doing this, it’s very gratifying.”

Kemp said his favorite thing about his visit to the Plummer Home was learning. “That’s the thing about being in this job, both for Marty and I, we learn so much about our state for the special people we have that are doing so many good things every day.”

In regards to the dedication of the Korean War Memorial, Kemp said, “We’re very excited to be here, honored to be back to the Infantry Museum and really dedicate a memorial to a forgotten war in some ways and to a lot of great veterans who fought in that war.”

“I think it’s proper that we honor and remember them,” Kemp said.

Korean War Memorial Dedication

A crowd full of U.S. and Republic of Korea dignitaries, active service members, veterans and others watched as retired Brig. Gen. Peter Jones, Republic of Korea Consul General Sangpyo Suh, retired Gen. Larry Ellis and Kemp spoke about the new memorial.

Also in attendance were family members of the late Col. Ralph Puckett Jr. and the late Gen. Paik Sun Yup. Both are depicted in statues at the memorial.

In Kemp’s remarks at the dedication ceremony, he said, “As you know, Col. Puckett and Gen. Paik represent the commitment of putting service above self, and I could not think of two more deserving individuals to memorialize that spirit in honor of all those who served in the Korean War.”

Jones said, “Having this memorial, rife with such meaning and symbolism to honor the service of the armed forces and their families at that time, is here to teach our future generations of the rich and deeply important history so this war is not forgotten.”

Suh spoke about the memorial and also touched on the ongoing alliance between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea and shared global values. “The statues in front of us is the symbol of a Korea-U.S. everlasting alliance, “ Suh said.

Korean War Veteran reacts to Memorial

In attendance was Norman Board. The 92-year-old veteran of the Korean War served in the Marine Corps as a corporal. He went into the Marine Reserves at the age of 17, needing his parents to sign for him.

When asked what it felt like to have the Korean War memorial dedicated, he said, “This is wonderful. This is just absolutely great.”

Board said he believes this memorial is better than the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C., which he said he’s visited many times. Board said he fought at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.

“I was lucky to get out,” Board said about the battle. “I got out of that by (the) skin of my chin.”

When asked what he remembers about the Korean War and what he took away from it, he said, “It was damn cold.”

Board said he never had been in a location where the temperature was 25-40 degrees below zero. He said two of his toes turned black.

Boardsaid he still has those toes because a doctor at a MASH unit saved them.

“The first doctor looked at them and said they gotta come off, and the second doctor said, ‘Well, let me try something,’ and he put it in hot water and saved them,” Board said.

When asked how it felt to have the war remembered, he said, “What they’ve done here will keep it alive. I know everybody says it’s a forgotten war, but it’s never forgotten by the ones that were there.”

This story was originally published October 25, 2024 at 5:00 AM.