‘I just had this idea’

EASLEY — There’s a powerful video on YouTube called “Soaring, Forever Golden” that hits home to local residents in Easley.

Especially, the words in the video that say: “The Hamptons heard a helicopter had been shot down and waited all day for their daughter to call to assure them she was safe, just like last time. That call never came.”

The heartfelt video — with uplifting music of the quality person that Kimberly Hampton was — then added the details about the 1994 Easley High School graduate: “Kimberly Hampton, 27, was killed when her Kiowa Warrior helicopter was shot down by enemy fire over Fallujah, Iraq on Jan. 2, 2004. She had been providing cover for the withdrawal of U.S. infantry soldiers.”

Betty and Jim Garrison, who recently earned the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian award, felt an inner desire to step up somehow. Betty taught at Easley High School for several years and knew the type of person that Kimberly was.

“When you are elected the Student Body President of a school (like Easley) that size, you are well-liked and well respected,” Betty said. “She (Hampton) just carried herself that way. She was very special to all of us.”

Added Jim, “I just had this idea … what could I do to honor Captain Kimberly Hampton. Dale and Ann (her parents) were friends of ours. Losing their only daughter just struck my heart. I had this idea if we could ever bring a helicopter to Easley to make it symbolic of the one that she actually flew in. So, I started on a rendering.”

Little did they know that it would turn into a six-year project (2014-2020) and in the neighborhood of $500,000. The end result: A beautiful replica at the library in Easley of an OH-58D, the type of helicopter flown by Captain Kimberly Hampton.

“There were some days when we actually got started that I had second thoughts,” said Jim. “What in the world have I gotten myself into? Where are we going to go to get a helic0pter? But I’m going to tell you from the very beginning that this was God thing. God was all over this project. We would never got this done without him. The community was very receptive of this project. When I went to different civic groups, everyone was really receptive of the idea.”

Jim also sold bricks and promoted it on Facebook.

There are countless people that Betty and Jim wanted to thank but they did not want to single anyone out, and possibly leave someone out. They did have to get “the blessings” of the Hampton family and their permission first, though, before they began this big project.

The battle theme of “never forget” is what kept Jim going. He did not mind asking people to donate money because it was for such a good cause. Plus, he said so many different things were donated that really helped out.

Betty described this project as being community, faith, patriotism and honoring our military and first responders.

“It’s just so magical to see this,” Betty said last week at the library. “We’ve never done anything to check this box or that box for recognition. It’s never been our intention at all. I don’t think I cried until we got the helicopter and then it was just so overwhelming that this is going to happen.”

Getting the helicopter

Jim just did a great job of networking and meeting people who could help, including the difficult task of finding a helicopter that would be fitting.

“One night we were meeting at the Lions Club and some people said to me you know what … I know someone who might be really interested in this project and we’re going to see him this weekend,” Jim said. “I had no idea who they were talking about. They knew somebody at Fort Rucker where Kimberly did her helicopter training. There is a great aviation museum (in Alabama) and they have warehouses full of helicopters — some have been refurbished and some are in storage.”

After finding one, then the helicopter was brought to Greenville and it was painted.

Perfect timing

Ironically, the ceremony for the naming of the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library, was one week before COVID hit. “A week later, the world shut down,” Jim said.