Veterans Memorial, Roanoke Rapids
The marker to mill employees of Roanoke Plant No. 2 who served in the military is a cast iron tablet attached to an irregular shaped granite boulder. At the top of the tablet is an American eagle with spread wings perched on a shield with thirteen stars and 13 bars. Extending from the shield and under the eagle wings are partially furled American flags.
Images (photo by Brandon D. Cross, courtesy HMdb.org):
Far-off view of the memorial
PROUDLY WE PAY TRIBUTE / TO THE MEMBERS / OF OUR ORGANIZATION / WHO ANSWERED THE CALL / TO THE COLORS / IN ALL WARS / AND / IN GRATEFUL MEMORY / OF THOSE / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES / IN DEFENSE OF / AMERICA’S / ETERNAL FREEDOM / ROANOKE PLANT NO. 2 / J.P. STEVENS & CO., INC.
City of Roanoke Rapids
Circa 1960
36.461030 , -77.655030
View in Geobrowse
"Roanoke Rapids Historic District," Living Places, livingplaces.com, (accessed February 22, 2022) Link
United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service. "Roanoke Rapids Historic District,” National Register of Historic Places, (accessed February 22, 2022) Link
“Veterans Memorial,” The Historical Marker Database, HMdb.org, (accessed February 20, 2022) Link
Yes
Granite, cast iron
J.P. Stevens & Co., Inc.
J.P. Stevens & Co., Inc. owned Roanoke Plant No. 2 between 1956 and 1988. The plant, which is listed on the "National Register of Historic Places", was closed in 1998. Typically markers at factories and mills were located at those locations. They are frequently relocated as ownership changes and factory buildings are closed or torn down. The "National Register of Historic Places" notes a marker with the same inscription at the Patterson Plant, located on Jefferson Street in Roanoke Rapids. The Register notes a "flagpole placed immediately adjacent to the west (rear)."
The memorial marker is located in the Roanoke Rapids Veterans Park on Roanoke Avenue near the intersection with West 7th Street, Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870.
The city block with the park is mostly a paved parking lot. The park occupies a narrow strip along Roanoke Avenue. Two large trees and shrubbery decorate the plot. The "Lest We Forget" Veterans memorial, an Afghanistan/Iraq/War on Terror memorial and Korea/Vietnam War memorial also occupy the plot. A walkway intersects the park, connecting all the memorials.
When first erected before 1960, the marker was most likely located at the site of Roanoke Plant No. 2 on Jackson Street. However, the "National Register of Historic Places" (prepared in 1998) notes a marker with the same inscription at the Patterson Plant, located on Jefferson Street in Roanoke Rapids. The Register notes a "flagpole placed immediately adjacent to the west (rear)."
Know anything else about this monument that isn't mentioned here? If you have additional information on
this or any other monument in our collection fill out the form at the Contact Us link in the footer. Thank you.
