Category Archives: Brick Pavers

Finally, It’s Here…. From a dream to reality

One can not help but become a little emotional when their email flag pops up with a teaser notice that affects them.   It read, “All Done!!!  It looks great!   Just need the flag flying now!”  Excitement and pride swelled and I just thought, :Wow! Awesome!”

The memorial started as an idea that grew among local veterans, as they confronted the reality of no civic memorial to veterans existed in Chapel Hill or in Orange County.  Their idea flickered like a flame in a window.  Sometimes it just blew out, but the dream stayed alive, and veterans kept asking, “Why Not?”  They went through a lot of meetings, led fundraising events, shared the story of the memorial, and just pressed on.  Patience and Persistence… and a lot of “We can do it!”  And, so we did.

We are especially grateful to the Commissioners of Orange County for their vision and faith in our project.  Without their continuing support, the use of the Homestead Site, and funding, the memorial would still be just be “a candle in a window.”

And, above all, we thank you, the donors.  Be it a quarter in a can, a dollar, a paver purchase, or a more generous gift, your help proved to others that the memorial was supported by the community.  That encouraged others to step forward.

The start to finish story that brings us to the completion of Phase II (we have more to do and Phases III, IV, and V in planning) is yet to be written.  But, I digress from the core story.  Phase II is essentially done!  (We are still waiting on the granite plaques that will go on the stonework.)

Our stonemasons from Custom Stone NC did a wonderful job of taking the designs of David Swanson of Carrboro and brought them to life.  Where there was crushed stone walkways and the rough form of a flag plaza with a temporary flagpole, now stands a beautiful memorial.  Custom Stones’ stonemasons gave it life!  What do you think?

We have published online lots of current pictures of the memorial taking shape over the last few months.  You can view the construction and finished work photos by clicking here or on the flag plaza photo to the right.

Don’t you want to see it?  You can on Monday, May 31st, at 8 a.m., when we unveil the site to the public.  Warning, 8 a.m. is when we start our event.  We recommend you arrive no later than 7:45 a.m.  We do start on time.

Pavers have been installed!  Did you order one?  It’s here!  Bring your camera.

You will want to order a  paver once you have seen how tastefully they look encircling the flagpole.  Don’t worry, we are taking orders for Phase III placement.  Click on the link for ordering pavers and send your order to us at Orange County Veterans Memorial, Inc., 169 Boone Square St., #223, Hillsborough, NC 27278.

Cash donations, IRA distributions, gifts from groups and estates are welcome.  The Memorial is an IRS 501(c)(3).  Contact us for more information.

 

Chapel Hill, NC – Lee Heavlin, 5/28/2021

 

 

Honoring Veterans on Veterans Day

Memorial Day is for the dead.  Veterans Day is for the living… It is a day to honor and appreciate all who have served in the Uniformed Services.

Look around you.  You are looking at the faces of veterans and the sons and daughters of veterans.  Look at our buildings, our roads, our communities, and the heritage that we know as Orange County.  Listen to the stillness of the early morning and twilight.  We enjoy all that  we see because of the legacy of the thousands of men and women who left Orange County to serve their country–our Veterans.

Our veterans look just like you and me.  Many might dust off and wear a cap, shirt, or jacket with the letters VETERAN embroidered on it.  Smile when you meet them.  No, you don’t have to “thank them for their service,” but that would be nice.  But, I’d venture to say that they would hope that someday you might understand what it took to earn the title, “Veteran.”  We can help you with that.

A church in New Hamphire, the New England Shores Baptist Church,  honored American Legion Post 35 in Hampton, New Hampshire.  They created a three-part video tribute to their local veterans.  It is brand new and was published just three days ago as a tribute for Veterans Day 2019.  Why not take a moment, sit back and enjoy their video.  It includes “Our Children” by Commander Berkley Bennett.  Your heart will be touched.  As a veteran, I think you’ll have a better sense of  what it took to earn the title, VETERAN.

– Lee Heavlin

 

 

Stark Reality of War – a reminder

Our Memorial is not a monument.  It memorializes the service of both the living and the dead.  Those that died in conflict or “peacefully” at home with family.  But the stark reality of war and service is that soldiers fight because they are ordered to conflict.  They volunteered by the millions at the start of World War I–they died each year in muddy trenches, a million each year.

It is the service to their country that our memorial honors.  We hope that you will donate to our memorial, maybe even order a commemorative paver for a family member.  We also hope that you will watch this reenactment video of Christmas 1914 when the guns fell silent and both sides shared Christmas together.  One Christmas of peace, but a new year of trench warfare.  This is how your great-grandfathers served their nation.  

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg5rqxP2cZs[/embedyt]

Veterans Day Ceremony – Nov 12th

A special ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I will be held at the site of the future Orange County Veterans Memorial on Monday, Nov. 12, at 11 a.m. Orange County Commissioner Barry Jacobs will be the guest speaker.

The memorial site is located at Southern Human Services Complex, 2501 Homestead Drive, Chapel Hill. Veterans and families of veterans are invited to attend the special ceremony.

We are starting Phase II very soon.  This is the work around the flagpole are and walls. 

Have you ordered your brick paver yet?  They are 4×8 and 8×8″ and cost just $100 and $200, respectively.  The 4-inch paver allows three lines of engraving, while the 8-inch paver has up to six lines of personalized engraving.  Phase II pavers will be prominently displayed around the flagpole.

Donations toward the construction of our Veterans Memorial are also welcome.  Learn More

Remembering AMM2 Loyce Edward Deen

Did you know that Chapel Hill was a preflight training station for Naval Aviators?  Did you know that Horace Williams Air Field was used for flight training? And, Did you know that 18,700 young aviators graduated and then headed for advanced aviation training and the war?  If you didn’t, you are not alone and this is why we are building the Orange County Veterans Memorial.

Orange County supported the war effort in many ways, but Naval Aviation and the Navy’s V-12 program was vital to our success at sea.  Everyone who called Orange County their home as they participated in the V-12 program deserves recognition.  We hope that family members and alumni will remember that and consider a memorial brick paver to honor one or more of them.  Many never returned.  Many were buried at sea.  This is just one of those stories shared with you in a video.

It was during the Battle of Manila Bay on November 5th, 1944.  Aviation Machinist Mate (Gunner) 2nd Class Loyce Edward Deen was the turret gunner in a TBF Avenger Aircraft.  The mission was with Torpedo Squadron VT15, Air Group 15, off USS ESSEX (CV-9) for Battle of Manila Bay. His aircraft landed safely, but his gun and his seat were riveted with shell fire.  His canopy was shattered and his body so tattered that it could not be removed.  His fingerprints were recorded, his body covered with a shroud, and his TBF Avenger was taken aft and placed in honor at center on the tail-end of the flight deck. 

The crew gathered for committal services and prayer, then the TBF Avenger was gently slid off the deck into the sea.  Burial at sea was an all too common occurrence in battle, but this event was captured on film.  AMM2 Deen has the distinction of being the only naval aviator buried at sea in his aircraft.  It reminds us of the sacrifice made by the many Navymen and women, and, of course, Marines–many trained right here in Orange County.  We share the video with you…  We, local veterans and families of veterans, still remember the sacrifices of the many who did not return home.  How can we possibly forget?  Donate today.

Memorial Day Remembrance – A Very Special Event

We’ve noticed that some do not know that the American Flag or “National Ensign” is honored twice a day–all over the world. This is one of the very first things that a new recruit or officer candidate learns. The Army raises their flag at 0630 for Reveille, but the Navy raises or hoists their colors over every ship and station at 0800. Come join us on Memorial Day, May 28th, at 07:45 am and share in an American tradition–just one of many.

Be sure to be early so that you will be able to watch the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Honor Guard prepare for the ceremony at about 07:45 am.  They will loosen the lanyard and rig the flag for raising.  They then stand at attention until exactly 08:00 am when the presiding officer calls out, “Attention to Colors!”  and the bugler plays “To the Colors,” as the flag is briskly raised to the top and then lowered to Half Staff to honor Memorial Day.  Everyone remains at “Attention” until the last note is sounded and then hears, “Two” signaling completion of honors.

Your sense of pride should, by then, be welling up inside.  What you have just witnessed is done at every military installation and on every U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ship around the world.  If you have someone serving today, know that they are doing the very same thing somewhere.  It is a time-honored, sacred tradition.  Learn more

We will also have an honored guest and a few brief speakers to share with you other Memorial Day traditions.

The Blue Knights, North Carolina Chapter X, is joining us as Rally Event Marshals and they have invited Riders from Orange and neighboring counties to join them for our remembrance event.  The Blue Knights are our men and women in blue (law enforcement officers) who join together to honor fallen officers and to help support worthy causes.  We expect more than 200 riders and friends.

With riders come flags and motorcycles!  That signals a “Rally Tour.”  You will know when it starts as you see the riders head for their motorcycles and mount them to the sound of kickstands snapping upwards and the hum or rumble of pure power waiting to thrust forward toward the open road and a one hour tour of beautiful Orange County.  You’ll stand by the roadway in awe and be wishing you were joining them.  If you have a motorcycle, you can.  Everyone is invited to join in on the “Tour.”

Riders will parade from our Homestead Road site toward Efland, Hillsborough, and stops in between.  Then they will continue on their ride through picturesque back roads of Orange County.  They will eventually arrive at the American Legion Chapel Hill Post 6 (1714 Legion Road) at about 10 am.  You are welcome to head there to meet them and wave them in. 

The American Legion is hosting their Annual Open House and Memorial Day Celebration.  Maple View Ice Cream will be there with their mobile trailer.  The Post will have historical memorabilia on display at 10 am, a memorial service at 11 am, and a Village Band Concert at 12:30 pm.  Hot dogs and a beverage will be served by Boy Scout Troop 805 and is funded by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.

So, what are you doing on Memorial Day?  Should it not start and end with a remembrance event that is family oriented?  An event that you will participate in and leave with a strong sense of pride in your community and our rich history.  Bring your kids.  Bring the grandchildren.  Make this event a family tradition–your family tradition.

Please help us share the word about this special event.  Share a copy of our event flyer or share this page on FaceBook and Twitter. 

QUICK LINKS

[mappress mapid=”2″]

Brick Pavers Are Available

Some like to memorialize a family member, friend, or veterans group.  The The Orange County Memorial  walkways  provide this opportunity.  Engraved pavers are 4″ x 8″ and 8″ x 8″ in size and cost $100 and $200, respectively.

We have memorial brick program for the Orange County Veterans Memorial and it is available for mail order now.  We will expand our on-line options in time for Christmas orders.

Our immediate goal is to produce 2,300 individual pavers for the first phase of construction.  This is the flag plaza area.  You do not want to miss the opportunity to have your family or relative honored in the first 2,300-brick group.  Order your brick pavers now.  They are ready for ordering today.  Learn more

Visit the Memorial on Friday, November 10th, at 11 a.m. for our Veterans Day Ceremony.  And, while you are there, explore our first phase and view the architect’s sketches and samples at the entrance kiosk.  Learn more about this event.