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Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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Source:  “Lest We Forget” Veterans Memorial, Roanoke Rapids. Photo by B.D. Cross

  • Monument Name

    “Lest We Forget” Veterans Memorial, Roanoke Rapids

  • Type

    Column

  • Subjects

    Veterans of Multiple Wars

  • City

    Roanoke Rapids

  • County

    Halifax

  • Description

    The “Lest We Forget” is a single narrow granite panel with rounded shoulders on a lectern shaped granite base. Atop the panel is a granite globe. Inscriptions appear on the panel and base. Incised on the panel front is a stylized American Eagle with its talons holding three arrows.

  • Inscription

    DEDICATED TO / THE LASTING / MEMORY OF / ALL WHO / SERVED OUR / COUNTRY / IN THE / TIME OF WAR br> “LEST WE FORGET”

    LET OUR OBJECT BE OUR COUNTRY, OUR / WHOLE COUNTRY AND NOTHING BUT OUR / COUNTRY, AND BY THE BLESSING OF GOD, / MAY OUR COUNTRY BE ALWAYS A VAST AND / SPLENDID MONUMENT, A LAND OF WISDOM, / PEACE, AND LIBERTY, UPON WHICH THE / WORLD MAY GAZE WITH ADMIRATION / FOREVER.

  • Custodian

    City of Roanoke Rapids

  • Dedication Date

    1988

  • Decade

    1980s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    36.461030 , -77.655030 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      "Roanoke Rapids Historic District," Living Places, livingplaces.com, (accessed February 22, 2022) Link

      Holm, Richard. “Veterans to Be Honored During Local Events,” The Daily Herald (Roanoke Rapids, NC), November 5, 2021, rrdailyherald.com, (accessed February 20, 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

      “Lest We Forget,” The Historical Marker Database, HMdb.org, (accessed February 20, 2022) Link

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    Granite

  • Sponsors

    Halifax-Northampton County Veterans Council

  • Location

    The memorial is located in the Roanoke Rapids Veterans Park on Roanoke Avenue near the intersection with West 7th Street, Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870.

  • Landscape

    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. An Afghanistan/Iraq/War on Terror memorial, a Korea/Vietnam War and another small Veterans Memorial most likely relocated from another site occupy the park. A walkway intersects the park, connecting all the memorials.

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