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Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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Source:  Garinger High School Vietnam War Dead Memorial, Charlotte. Photo by Don Thompson

  • Monument Name

    Garinger High School Vietnam War Dead Memorial, Charlotte

  • Type

    Marker

  • Subjects

    Vietnam War, 1960-1975

  • Creator

    Larry Walker, Garinger class of 1964, Vietnam Veteran, U.S. Mar, Designer

  • City

    Charlotte

  • County

    Mecklenburg

  • Description

    The rectangular shaped granite marker stands six feet tall and lists the names of 18 men who attended Garinger High School and lost their lives during the Vietnam War. Fifteen names were present when first dedicated with three additional names added in May 2016. Near the marker top is a green, white and red Vietnam War military campaign tab. Two photos assumed to be those of men on the marker are located at the bottom corners. The marker stands in the center of a circular gray brick walkway outlined with a low grey stone wall.

    Images (courtesy of Don Thompson, Garinger High School class of 1964, USAF ret.): Far-off view | Inscription

  • Inscription

    Front: TO GARINGER’S SONS / WHO FELL IN VIETNAM / THIS MEMORIAL IS DEDICATED TO / OUR CLASSMATES WHO SERVED, BLED / AND DIED IN VIETNAM. MAY WE / ALWAYS HONOR THEIR MEMORY FOR / THEIR SACRIFICE TO OUR COUNTRY. ALL GAVE SOME SOME GAVE ALL / THOSE WHO GAVE ALL / MICHAEL RAY SMITH / ARCHIE MONROE CARLYLE / DARLY LEE DAVIS / JAMES RANDALL WILLIAMS / FRED MELVIN WRENN / DONALD RAY CHAMBLIN, JR. / RONALD DEVONE GRIFFIN / WILLIAM SAMUEL ERBY / TERRY ALAN HODGES / GEORGE MICHAEL PRICE / ROBERT MERRILL CAMPBELL / ALAN RICHARD COOK / ROBERT LANE FALLOWS / ANSEL WENDELL MORSE / JOHNNY SAXON

    ERECTED BY / THE GARINGER EDUCATION FOUNDATION / AUGUST 2014

    Rear: WILLIAM ALLEN JOHNSON / ROYD STEVE KERLEY, JR. / ROBERT HAROLD PETTIT

  • Custodian

    Garinger High School

  • Dedication Date

    August 8, 2014

  • Decade

    2010s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    35.240990 , -80.784150 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      Baccellieri, Emma. “50 Years Later, Garinger Remembers-Memorial, Scholarships Honor 15 Former Students Who Died In Vietnam,” Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, NC), August 8, 2014

      Baccellieri, Emma. “Garinger Honors Vietnam Sacrifice,” Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, NC), August 9, 2014

      Sullivan, Karen. “3 Vietnam Veterans Added to Memorial at Garinger High,” Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, NC), May 21, 2016, (accessed July 24, 2020) Link

      “Dozens Gather in Charlotte to Honor the Fallen at Vietnam War Memorial,” WSOC-TV, (Charlotte, NC), August 9, 2014, (accessed July 24, 2020) Link

  • Public Site

    No

  • Materials & Techniques

    Granite

  • Sponsors

    The marker was a gift of the Garinger High School class of 1964 in honor of their 50th class reunion. The idea of Ron Tucker.

  • Monument Dedication and Unveiling

    Over 100 Garinger alumni and friends and family of those honored on the memorial were in attendance for the dedication service. The 82nd Airborne Division’s Band from Ft. Bragg provided music for the ceremony. Family and friends shared stories and memories of the 15 men named on the memorial.

  • Subject Notes

    Fifteen scholarship funds for graduating seniors were established as part of the memorial fundraising efforts, one in honor of each of the fallen students.

  • Location

    The memorial is located at front of Garinger High School, 1100 Eastway Dr, Charlotte, NC 28205.

  • Landscape

    The memorial stands on the school front lawn.

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