Category Archives: Veterans Day

Honoring Veterans on Veterans Day

We are honoring our local veterans with a Veterans Day Ceremony at the Orange County Veterans Memorial Site at Homestead Park.  It is at 11 a.m., Monday, November 11th, 2019.  The memorial is located above the Seymour Center at 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill.  There is plenty of parking.

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

 

 

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

Grappling Classic to Benefit Memorial

Ranger Up Grappling Classic – 1st Annual Veterans Day Tournament

We are thrilled that the Ranger Up team is helping make our Orange County Memorial a reality by creating and hosting the 1st Annual Veterans Day Ranger Up Grappling Classic Tournament.

When, Where and Why?
It’s on November 10th at Chapel Hill High School – Chapel Hill, NC
Home of the NC Wrestling Regionals.

All proceeds go to the Orange County Veterans Memorial Fund

The Deets:

Youth Gi and Nogi Divisions
Adult Gi and Nogi Divisions
Entry into Absolute Divisions is included

Participants can weigh in the evening before or morning of the competition.
Friday night weigh-ins will take place: TBA

Rules are found by clicking Here
Weigh classes and division details here

  • What’s different from all the others?
    Specialized Finals for Absolute matches (Have your walkout song picked…)
    Team Trophy
    Military Branch Trophy – Who’s going to take it? Army? Navy? (….Coasties?!)
    1st, 2nd, 3rd place awards
    Special Guests!
    After Party! Clean Juice will be on site all day so you can grab some amazing açaí!

BJJ, Wrestling, Sambo, all grapplers welcome

Clean Juice will be on site all day so you can grab some amazing açaí!

BJJ, Wrestling, Sambo, all grapplers welcome

In Association with the Town of Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill Gracie Jiu Jitsu, and Clean Juice.

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.

Veterans Day at the Memorial Site

We do hope that you will join us to commemorate Veterans Day at the Orange County Veterans Memorial on Friday, November 10th.  Much has happened at the site since Memorial Day.  Walkways are appearing, there is a Visitors Kiosk, and the flag is proudly waving.  

Veterans Day is Nov 11th, and we are preparing for a ceremony at the site on Friday, Nov 10th at 11 a.m. Our speaker is Larry Hall, Secretary of State for Military & Veterans Affairs. Second Lieutenant Anna Page will serve as the Chaplain. We also look forward to the Civil Air Patrol assisting us. We will post an event program shortly.

Donations are picking up, but there is much yet to do.  We thank the Orange County Commissioners for their generous $15,000 matching fund.  That means that every private donor’s contribution will be matched dollar for dollar up to $15,000.  Why only private?  The memorial is a gift of the people and, although there are large donations, it is you who are the foundation to the memorial.  Your dollars are just as important and will comprise the bulk of the donations made.

Want to make a donation?  Just click here.

Veterans Day Breakfast and Veterans Memorial Site Dedication

Memorial Site miniVeterans Day 2016 starts at the Hillsborough Senior Center with a breakfast hosted by The Orange County Department on Aging.  Veterans are invited to a free breakfast hosted in their honor on Friday, Nov. 11, from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.  Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Danny W. Hassell, U.S. Army, will be the guest speaker. The breakfast will take place at the Passmore Center, which is located at 103 Meadowlands Drive in Hillsborough.

Amedisys Home Health and Hospice, Orange County Department on Aging, and Orange County Department of Social Services are co-sponsoring the breakfast to show appreciation for veterans’ contribution and service to the United States.

To reserve seating, please call 919.245.2015 on or before Wednesday, Nov. 9.

After the breakfast, guests are invited to the Orange County Veterans Memorial Site Dedication. The ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. at the memorial site that is adjacent to Southern Human Services campus located at 2501 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill.

Transportation to and from the Veterans Memorial site dedication ceremony from the Passmore Center will be provided for the first 50 individuals to make reservations. The bus will leave from the Passmore Center at 10:30 a.m. and return around 1 p.m.  Parking is available at the memorial site.

For more information and to reserve transportation, please call 919.245.2015