World War One Plaque, Nashville
The elaborate bronze tablet honoring citizens of Nash County who served in World War One and those who made the ultimate sacrifice is approximately six-feet high by three-feet wide. An American Eagle with spread wings and olive branches in its talon’s stands on the plaque’s pediment shaped top. Just below the eagle on the tablet's top section is a high-relief depiction of the Liberty Bell with partially furled American flags to either side. To the left of the bell in low-relief is a naval battle scene. To the right in low-relief is an aerial battle scene. The center section holds the inscriptions. The bottom section center depicts a shield with an inscription. The left bottom section has a low-relief depiction of artillery in action. The right bottom section depicts soldiers going “over the top.”
1917-1918 / TO THE HONOR OF THOSE MEN FROM NASH COUNTY WHO ENTERED THE / SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR AND TO THE MEMORY / OF THE MEN FROM THIS COUNTY WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THE CAUSE, / THIS TABLET IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED.
WHITE / [Left column] WILLIAM D. ADAMS / WILLIAM ARTHUR BAKER / CHARLES T. BARNES / JOHN MANNING BATTLE / DUDLEY BRANTLEY / WILLIAM L. BRASWELL / CLAUD GRAY CHAMPION / WILLIAM RICHARD COLEMAN / WILLIAM CLARENCE CULPEPPER / PARROTT DANIEL / JAMES B. DEANS / WILLIAM CALLIE DENSON / OLLIE DRIVER / NOAH M. EATMAN / JOHN R. EZZELL / [Right column] WILLIAM A. JORDAN / GEORGE W. LANCASTER / HOWARD LAWTON / KEARNEY DAVIS MATTHEWS / ROSCOE D. MATTHEWS / JAMES G. MOSES / EDWARD CLIFFTON PITT / HOMER S. PROCTOR / FRED SHIPP / WILLIAM GRAY STILS / HARRY MACON SWANSON / JAMES B. VESTER / ROBERT B. WHEELESS / JOHN NORMAN WILDER / RUFUS WILLIAMS
COLORED / [Left column] JACK ALLEN / HERMAN BAKER / LEWIS BATTLE / WADE BYRANT / HENRY ELLIS / [Right column] JOSEPH GRANT / JAMES HIGGINS / LOUIS JOYNER / BLAKE RICHARDSON / JACK THOMAS / HENRY THORP
THE NAMES INSCRIBED ABOVE ARE THOSE WHOSE LIVES LOST IN THE / VARIOUS BRANCHES OF THE SERVICE. THERE IS ROSTER IN THE ARCHIVES / OF THIS BUILDING IN WHICH IS RECORDED THE NAME AND RECORD OF SERVICE / OF EACH ONE FROM THE COUNTY WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE WAR.
Bottom center: “THE RIGHT / IS MORE / PRECIOUS / THAN PEACE” / [Signature] WOODROW WILSON
Nash County
November 11, 1922
35.975480 , -77.968320
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"Nash County Courthouse in Nashville, North Carolina," Aug 24, 2016, bobbystuff.com, (accessed September 4, 2023) Link
“Another Bright Page in History of Nash County,” The Graphic (Nashville, NC), November 16, 1922
“Great Throng Expected to Attend Memorial Service,” The Graphic (Nashville, NC), November 9, 1922
“Legionnaires Want Monument Erected,” The Graphic (Nashville, NC), June 30, 1921
Yes
Bronze
Nash County Board of Commissioners
Events of the day included a parade with World War One veterans, school children and members of fraternal and civic organizations. Ferried by car, Civil War veterans were also included. Congressman Edward W. Pou delivered the keynote address. Due to the late addition of several names for the tablet, it did not arrive in time for the ceremony.
The World War One plaque is attached to the front exterior wall near the entrance to the older section of the Nash County Courthouse. Other plaques at the courthouse include World War Two, Korean War, and Vietnam, all on the front exterior wall. The Nash Memorial stands to the right, east side, of the older section of the Nash County Courthouse near the sidewalk. The Spirit of the American Doughboy statue stands on the west lawn several feet to the left side of the courthouse entrance. A Local Peace Officer Memorial is located on the lawn further to the west next to a red brick sidewalk. The courthouse address is 234 W. Washington St. Nashville, NC.
The entrance to the courthouse is surrounded by manicured lawn and plantings.
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