CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Beverly Chapman talks to her son Chris every single day. She just hasn't seen him in more than 20 years.
"He was the only one from Mecklenburg County to be killed," said Chapman.
Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Chapman was crew chief aboard a Blackhawk helicopter. It was the final week of Persian Gulf War. His men were flying into Iraq to get injured men out.
"They just crashed into the sand. They had just picked up a guy who had an injured back," said Chapman. "So, all seven of them died."
Chris Chapman was buried in a northeast Charlotte cemetery. His headstone reads, "He loved God, his family and his country."
"In the back of your head you think that would be great if he would just walk in one day and say he's been on a mission," said Michael Chapman.
It turns out Chris's big brother, Michael, is the one now on a mission.
"You should always have a place to remember them and honor them," said Michael Chapman. "We've been trying hard for 20 years."
Just a few months after Chris's death, the push began to build a memorial to all 17 soldiers from North Carolina who died in the Gulf War.
"One of the first groups I called were the Kuwaitis," said Michael Chapman.
The Kuwaitis came through in a big way with a big check. State leaders gathered in Raleigh in front of all the cameras and gladly accepted their $100,000 gift. It was 1996. The money was put in state fund.
"It still sits there today," said Michael Chapman. "No interest on it, it's been sitting there doing nothing for years."
State officials tell us the money wasn't put in an interest bearing account because the expectation was the money would be spent relatively quickly. It's been 15 years.
Jim Martin was governor back when the effort to build the memorial started, but he was gone less than a year later. Jim Hunt came next and there was some real progress. He appointed a commission and the Halifax Mall in Raleigh was chosen for the location.
"Unanimous decision to proceed," said Eric Schneider.
Schneider was the artist chosen as the designer of the memorial. The plans are ready, but construction has never happened.
Click here to see memorial design.
"What happened? Well, I've asked myself the question," said Schneider.
It seems no one can pinpoint a single reason, but clearly it just hasn't been a big enough priority to get it done.
"The Kuwaitis have already given more money than the United States has for this project," said Schneider.
There was a brief glimmer of hope again in 2007. A bill called on the state to appropriate $400,000 to the cause. The bill never got out of committee and the Gulf War Memorial Commission hasn't met since.
"It's been waiting for someone to champion it's cause," said Schneider. "It's waiting for a leader."
"It needs to be done," said Michael Chapman. "Something needs to happen."
It's hard to argue. The 17 men from North Carolina deserve it. Their families have already paid for it.
"It would just really make it complete to know that my son was honored in such a wonderful way," said Beverly Chapman.
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