While he is a veteran, US ARMY, who served during the Vietnam conflict (stateside) he is truly the shining example of a patriot. He has always been so very proud of our great country, and more importantly, of those that serve to protect our freedoms, our US Military.  As my oldest brother, he has always set an example of PROVING WHAT is truly good about our country, and the value of those that have served to protect our freedoms.  His unending respect for those that have made this sacrifice he continues to show on a daily basis for ALL to see.   This respect he offers so freely, continues to return to him tenfold from so many military personnel, both past and present.

He is the owner of Kens Auto in South Charleston, and while the primary business for the past 40 years has been to serve the community to keep his customers on the roads through respectful and honest business practices, his patriotism is evident even as he conducts business.   Taking a step into his place of business you quickly understand his devotion to our country.  Actually, this is apparent before you even enter the shop, the building is painted in the colors of RED, WHITE, and BLUE – the letters USA prominently displayed, along with the stars to represent those that have devoted to a part of their lives to serve our country proudly. 

A sign “SUPPORT our TROOPS” hangs in the shop window, and these are not just words for my brother.  When you enter the place the shop, you quickly see so many photographs, letters, flags of honor all on display of soldiers past and present, that have been given to him.  Why? …because people know that he cares.  While so many could have mailed their photos to the newspapers to you themselves, it has become an honor in the community for them to pass their pictures on to my brother, and ALLOW him the privilege to do so.  While they may have felt it somewhat self promoting to mail these pictures themselves, to allow my brother to do so was a respectful way for them to do so.  Many of those he sent, he did in fact know, others simply heard of his patriotism and made there way to this simple auto repair shop on a street corner in South Charleston to meet MY BROTHER and feel his true respect for each of them in their experiences in serving our county.

Each picture, story, newspaper clipping makes the wall of his shop, and each soldier (and their families) feel THIS privilege to be a part of his simple tribute.  If it were not so, why would so many make the effort to meet my brother to share their stories.  He takes the time from his business… his livelihood, to give them HIS time out of the respect of the TIME they have given to our country.  He helps families that have lost loved ones, and those who have soldiers currently serving, simply by listening to their stories, and though his simple words and the time he gives to them, they KNOW someone truly cares.

On a personal note, he is my oldest brother – a family of ten children, and I am the youngest.  I do not remember him being away during his time in the service, but HE still has the letters I wrote to him while he was away (actually I scribbled and my mother took the time to transcribe my words to him as I was too young to write.)  At the time of his service his five youngest brothers (me being the baby) were all in elementary school, or in my case not having stared school.  While I think of him in boot camp today, I picture this young West Virginia mountain boy away from home, and thinking of us.   I am not sure what so many others may have been doing during free time while not in training, he took his time at boot camp to not only purchase military shirts for each of us, had patches with our family name made up for EACH shirt.  My sister shared with me recently that EACH of the patches that were so lovingly made for each of his little brothers, HE himself took the time to sew EACH one on to each shirt, along with our stripes to show our military rank (I guess I was PRIVATE FIRST CLASS as I was the youngest!) something to send home to those he loved.  His family for His country. I did not know of this until so many years later when my older sister told me this story, he is not one to SELF PROMOTE either, but such LOVE for family and country should always earn our respect.  HE has mine, and he has the same from an endless number of those who have served our county with honor and respect. 

I wanted to share his story, in hopes that you would see another side of patriotism, – that of respect – that of honor – that of my brother Kenneth H. Samples.  

Web Page Created By:  Copyrights© Linda Cooke-Bragg

Letter Written By: Roger Samples