View complete article and references at Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina at: https://docsouth.unc.edu/commland/monument/35

Description: The memorial is a wall made of North Carolina red brick. The center panel of the front face of the memorial contains the names of over 1620 North Carolinians killed or missing in Vietnam. The foot of the monument lists the counties from which the dead hailed. In addition, a plaque displays the dedication date and honors those who lost their lives as well as those who served during the war. A brick walkway leads visitors through the park to the monument. The Evergreen trees which surround the monument were planted by the N.C. Forest Service to symbolize everlasting memory. 58,000 seeds were planted for the 58,000 Americans who lost their lives in this conflict.

Image of wall and close-up of bricks Image of landscape

Inscription:
Engraving: THE NORTH CAROLINA / VETERANS MEMORIAL / DEDICATED TO THE 216,000 / NORTH CAROLINIANS WHO SERVED / AND THE OVER 1,600 WHO WERE / KILLED OR MISSING IN THE VIETNAM WAR / MEMORIAL DAY 1991

Small Bronze Plaque: IN APPRECIATION TO THE BOARD MEMBERS / OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS LEADERSHIP / PROGRAM, INC. WHO TOOK A DREAM / AND MADE IT INTO A REALITY. / CHARLES RAY HOLYFIELD / J. DENNIS HOBAN / DAVID K. TATE / DAVID TANIS / PAUL TRUSIK / E. "ROBBIE" ROBINSON / JOHN P. D'ARCY / KENNETH TORREYSON / RAYMOND EVERST / ALSO: / TAMARA LAINE, PROJECT DIRECTOR / THOMAS BRICKER

Larger Bronze Plaque: CONTRIBUTORS TO THE / NORTH CAROLINA VIETNAM / VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK A TIME CAPSULE IS AT THE ENTRY OF THE PARK WITH THE NAMES / OF THE PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS MEMORIAL MAJOR BENEFACTORS / BRICK ASSOCIATION OF NORTH CAROLINA / N.C. MASON CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION / STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA / N.C. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION / U.S. ARMY FT. BRAGG / N.C. NATIONAL GUARD / FIRST CITIZENS BANK / N.C. ALLIANCE OF COMMUNITY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS // BENEFACTORS / THE WINSTON SALEM FOUNDATION / THE DAVIDSON COUNTY VETERANS COUNCIL / J.G. HANES FOUNDATION /GUILFORD MILLS INC. / THE WACHOVIA FOUNDATION / THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER // PATRONS / NCNB CORPORATION CHARITIES / BURLINGTON INDUSTRIES / DILLARD PAPER CO. / DICKSON FOUNDATION / SARA LEE CORP / JOHN W. & ANNA HANES FOUNDATION / N.C. ARTS COUNCIL / MARTIN MARIETTA AGGRGATES / CAROLINA STEEL / RJR TOBACCO CO. / R.C. KOONTS & SONS MASONRY / N.C. NURSEYMEN ASSOCIATION / PITTSBURGH BREWING CO. // SPONSORS / MONTGOMERY MONUMENT WORKS / JACOBS CREEK STONE CO. / BLUMENTHAL FOUNDATION / GREENSBORO NEWS & RECORD / LANCE CORP. / NATIONAL CHAMPIONS FOUNDATION / NORTHERN TELECOM INC. / SMITH RICHARDSON FOUNDATION / NORTHERN TELECOM, INC. / SMITH RICHARDS FOUNDATION / SOUTHERN BELL TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH CO. / TEXFI INDUSTRIES / SMITH TURF AND IRRIGATION CO. / FLOYD LEE BARRIER POST NO. 3074 / CAROLINA CONCRETE MASONRY ASSOCIATION / LUCY MAY BODDIE FOUNDATION / TURFGRASS COUNCIL OF NORTH CAROLINA / FIRST UNION FOUNDATION FOR THE CAROLINAS / SIDLEY & AUSTIN / J. DENNIS HOBAN / WALT F. ULMER / J. KENNETH TORREYSON / JOHN P. D'ARCY / DAVID KIRK TATE / PAUL TRUSIK / CURVED PLYWOOD INC. / JEFFERSON PILOT FOUNDATION / CHARLES AND CLARA HINKLE / TAMARA NELSON LAINE / ARCHIBALD C. RUFTY / FAMCO MANY THANKS TO THE N.C. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, BRICK ASSOCIATION OF / NORTH CAROLINA, N.C. MASON CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, AND THE / N.C. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SPECIAL THANKS IS EXTENDED TO THE N.C. FOREST SERVICE WHICH DONATED / AND PLANTED 58,000 LOBLOLLY PINE SEEDLINGS ALONG THE 11 MILE STRETCH / BETWEEN GREENSBORO AND THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK, PLANTED / FIVE YEARS AGO, THE EVERGREEN TREES SYMBOLIZE THE LIFELONG MEMORY / OF THE 58,000 AMERICANS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES DURING THE VIETNAM WAR

Images: Engraved Stone Small Bronze Plaque Larger Bronze Plaque

Dedication date: 5/27/1991

Materials & Techniques: North Carolina brick

Sponsor: The North Carolina Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program, NC Department of Transportation.

Cost: $600,000

Unveiling & Dedication: The monument was dedicated on Memorial Day, May 27th, 1991 under an overcast sky. Remarks were given by those who had organized the fundraising, building, and dedication of the structure. Congressman Howard Coble and then Lieutenant Governor James Gardner spoke at the dedication. At the end of the ceremony, all Vietnam veterans in attendance were asked to be recognized at the dais.

Location: It is located at mile marker 100 on Interstate 85 between Greensboro and Charlotte. The monument can be accessed through a rest stop.

City: Lexington

County: Davidson

Subjects: Vietnam War