Veterans Memorial, Jack Laughery Park, Rocky Mount
The centerpiece of the memorial complex is a large round courtyard made of light gray brick pavers with white bricks forming a large five point star. Inside each star segment is a flagpole with flags of each branch of military service. In the center is a circular fountain of granite with a flagpole flying the MIA/KIA flag. A backdrop to the courtyard is six, tall, square pillars connected by five lentils with caps. Incised into the lentils are the branches of the military from left to right: UNITED STATES ARMY, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, UNITED STATES NAVY, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, UNITED STATES COAST GUARD.
Across the courtyard facing the backdrop is a granite panel positioned at a slant on two granite panels. This panel holds nine bronze plaques of various sizes listing municipal officials and donors. Three individual markers are on the site. One if for Jack Laughery, consisting of a diamond shaped granite block with a diamond shaped bronze plaque featuring a relief image of Laughery. The other two markers are lectern shaped granite blocks with bronze plaques honoring two Medal of Honor winners. Each plaque has the Medal of Honor citation and has an image of the medal at the top. Several memorial benches are also present.
Jack Laughery marker: JACK A. LAUGHERY / 1935-2006 / THIS PARK IS DEDICATED TO JACK A. LAUGHERY, / COMMUNITY LEADER, HARDEE’S CHAIRMAN, / RESTAURATEUR, FAMILY MAN, AND U.S. ARMY / VETERAN. JACK ALWAYS BELIEVED IN THE / POWER OF POSITIVE ACTION AND / WORKED TIRELESSLY TO CREATE / OPPORTUNITY AND A BETTER / LIFE FOR EVERYONE / HE TOUCHED.
Veterans Memorial Tablet: VETERANS MEMORIAL / AT JACK LAUGHERY PARK / IN HONOR OF ALL MEN AND WOMEN / WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY / IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED SERVICES / DEDICATED ON VETERANS DAY / NOVEMBER 11, 2007
City/County Officials Plaque: VETERANS MEMORIAL / AT JACK LAUGHERY PARK / NOVEMBER 11, 2007 /
[List of City and County officials]
Contributors Plaques, (seven in total): MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTORS [list of names]
Adolphus Staton marker: THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES / IN THE NAME OF CONGRESS / TAKES PLEASURE IN PRESENTING THE / MEDAL OF HONOR / TO / ADOLPHUS STATON / LIEUTENANT, U.S. NAVY. PLACE AND DATE: VERA CRUZ, MEXICO, / 22 APRIL 1914. BORN: 28 AUGUST 1879, TARBORO, N.C.
CITATION: / FOR DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT IN BATTLE, ENGAGEMENT OF VERA / CRUZ, 22 APRIL 1914; LIEUTENANT STATON WAS EMINENT / AND CONSPICUOUS IN COMMAND OF HIS BATTALION. LIEUTENANT / STATON EXHIBITED COURAGE AND SKILL IN LEADING HIS MEN / THROUGH THE ACTION OF THE 22D AND IN THE FINAL OCCUPATION / OF THE CITY.
Harold B. Durham, Jr. plaque: THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES / IN THE NAME OF CONGRESS / TAKES PLEASURE IN PRESENTING THE / MEDAL OF HONOR / TO / HAROLD BASCOM DURHAM, JR. / SECOND LIEUTENANT, U.S. ARMY, BATTERY C, 6TH BATTALION, / 15TH ARTILLERY, 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION. PLACE AND DATE: REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM, 17 OCTOBER 1967, BORN 12 OCTOBER / 1942, ROCKY MOUNT, N.C.
2D LT. DURHAM, DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF BY CONSPICUOUS / GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY AT THE COST OF LIFE ABOVE / AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY WHILE SERVING AS A FORWARD / OBSERVER WITH COMMAND D, 2ND BATTALION, 28TH INFANTRY. / WHEN CONTACT WAS MADE WITH A CONCEALED ENEMY FORCE, 2D / LT. DURHAM IMMEDIATELY MOVED INTO AN EXPOSED POSITION TO / ADJUST THE SUPPORTING ARTILLERY FIRE. HE ADMINISTERED FIRST / AID TO THE WOUNDED IN SPITE OF HEAVY ENEMY SNIPER FIRE. / WHEN ENEMY UNITS ASSAULTED FRIENDLY POSITIONS, HE MOVED / TO REPLACE A WOUNDED OBSERVER, AND THE ENEMY DETONATED A / CLAYMORE MINE, SEVERELY WOUNDING HIM IN THE HEAD. IN SPITE / OF THE INTENSE PAIN, HE CONTINUED TO DIRECT ARTILLERY FIRE / AND TO EMPLOY HIS INDIVIDUAL WEAPON. AS THE ENEMY PRESSED / THEIR ATTACK 2D LT. DURHAM CALLED FOR SUPPORTING FIRE TO / BE PLACED ALMOST DIRECTLY ON HIS POSITION, AND TWICE THE / INSURGENTS WERE DRIVEN BACK. HE REFUSED TO SEEK COVER / AND INSTEAD POSITIONED HIMSELF IN A SMALL CLEARING TO BETTER / ADJUST THE FIRE. HE WAS SEVERELY WOUNDED A SECOND TIME. AS / HE LAY NEAR DEATH, HE SAW TWO VIET CONG SHOOTING DEFENSELESS / WOUNDED MEN. WITH HIS LAST EFFORT 2D LT. DURHAM WARNED A / NEARBY SOLDIER WHO KILLED THE INSURGENTS. HE DIED MOMENTS / LATER, STILL GRASPING THE RADIO HANDSET. 2D LT. DURHAM’S / GALLANT ACTIONS IN CLOSE COMBAT WITH AN ENEMY FORCE ARE IN / KEEPING WITH HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MILITARY SERVICE / AND REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, HIS UNIT, AND THE / U.S. ARMY.
City of Rocky Mount
November 11, 2007
35.946750 , -77.795100
View in Geobrowse
“Adolphus Staton,” The Historical Marker Database, HMdb.org, (accessed October 30, 2023) Link
“Harold Bascom Durham, Jr.,” The Historical Marker Database, HMdb.org, (accessed October 30, 2023) Link
“Jack Laughery (1935-2006),” North Carolina History Project, northcarolinahistory.org, (accessed October 30, 2023) Link
“Veterans Memorial At Jack Laughery Park: Rocky Mount, North Carolina,” YouTube.com, (accessed October 30, 2023) Link
“Veterans Memorial at Jack Laughery Park,” City of Rocky Mount, (accessed October 30, 2023) Link
“Veterans Memorial at Jack Laughery Park,” The Historical Marker Database, HMdb.org, (accessed October 30, 2023) Link
Yes
Granite, bronze, brick
City of Rocky Mount
Jack A. Laughery, an Iowa native, graduated from the University of Iowa in 1957. In 1962 he joined the regional fast-food chain Sandy’s as a manager. By 1971 he had risen to the position of the company’s president and chief executive. He then helped negotiate a merger between Sandy’s and Hardee’s Food System and relocated to Rocky Mount, becoming executive vice president of Hardee’s. During his time with the company, Hardee’s expanded from 909 to 3,291 locations.
Jack Laughery Veterans Memorial Park is located at 321 N Church St, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.
The park is a mixture of open lawn, fountain, trees, benches, and memorial markers.
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