Editor’s note: This story was updated Sept. 23, 2023 to add the address for Rupert Huse Veteran Center, located at 770 Pelham Road, Greenville. 

With South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and Greenville Mayor Knox White in attendance, the Rupert Huse Veteran Center performed its ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 19.

The Rupert Huse Veteran Center is a connection center for veterans returning home to adjust back into civilian life. Several real estate businesses are located inside the center, as well as an attorney’s office to help veterans find housing. The Center also provides veterans with PTSD counselors and an art room for veterans to express their feelings through various art forms.

Several hundred attendees, most of whom were veterans from Greenville, gathered outside the Rupert Huse Veteran Center to witness the ceremony. The ceremony began shortly after 4 p.m., with an introduction given by Ali FauntLeRoy, who then announced the presentation of the American flag. Four marines in dress uniform marched up the aisle and presented the American flag as Eric Babb sang the National Anthem.

Once the marines finished, Ted Hamm, the Upstate Warrior Solution Church Partnership Program manager, approached the platform and prayed.

Mastin Roberson, the UWS Chairman of the Board, spoke first. He explained that the UWS exist to ensure veterans do not need to worry about what they will do when they return home from war. “When a veteran needs anything, there is a community,” Roberson said. “That’s what propelled them to do the heroics they did on the battlefield.”

However, Roberson said the national and state veteran affairs programs cannot provide these returning veterans with everything they need.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster spoke about the military background of South Carolina which, combined with a Judeo-Christian values, created the culture of today’s Greenville. As the Governor finished his speech, he recognized the importance of the Rupert Huse Veteran Center. “Let this be a shining example for other people and other places to do the same thing,” McMaster said.

The third main speaker, Rupert Huse Charitable Fund Trustee Dorothy Dowe, spoke about her father, Rupert Huse, and his life and service to his country. Huse had been in the ROTC program at Union College in New York. After graduating, he volunteered to serve in the United States Army Reserves from 1958-1964, serving in the Army Signal Corps.

The Greenville Poet Laureate, Glenis Redmond, read a poem that she had written for this occasion. The poem paid homage to our nation’s veterans.

“We stand here, we take in freedom’s breath because of you. We nod to veterans and say thank you for your service,” Redmond read. “But we know our civilian salute does not match the gravity of our gratitude. We will never know the sum total of what you sacrifice.”

Redmond then transitioned into how the Center was one way in which the citizens of America could tell veterans thank you.

“Let this be a shining example for other people and other places to do the same thing,” McMaster said.

Redmond then transitioned into how the Center was one way in which the citizens of America could tell veterans thank you.

Paul Sparks, UWS Board of Directors, and Charlie Hall, UWS President, both thanked the crowd for their attendance at the event before Dowe cut the ribbon, opening the center for the public. FauntLeRoy then invited the attendees to tour the Center.

Bob Jones University students interested in volunteering at the Rupert Huse Veteran Center can go to UpstateWarriorSolution.org and fill out a volunteer application to get involved with helping and supporting the nation’s heroes. The center is located at 770 Pelham Road in Greenville.