Documenting the American South

Doc South header logo Home
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes banner

Source:  Orange County Veterans Memorial, Chapel Hill. Photo by Rusty Long

  • Monument Name

    Orange County Veterans Memorial, Chapel Hill

  • Type

    Public Space

    War Memorial

  • Subjects

    Veterans of Multiple Wars

    Proposed/Incomplete Monuments

  • Creator

    David Swanson, Landscape, Carrboro, NC, Unspecified

  • City

    Chapel Hill

  • County

    Orange

  • Description

    A low curved masonry rock wall with a sloped face that rises slightly in the center is the backdrop for a courtyard formed by brick pavers. The courtyard is framed by strips of granite creating four sides to the front (curved wall forms what would have been the fifth and six sides of a hexagram). A flag pole is centered in the courtyard surrounded by stone pavers and outlined with granite strips to form a hexagon. At the point of each side of the hexagram are incised granite coats of arms for each of the six branches of the military: Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Space Force. At points in the outer granite strips are the Great Seal of the United States and the Great Seal of North Carolina. Large boulders are piled at each end of the curved wall, forming benches. The sloped face of the curved wall is composed of finished black granite holding the inscription.

    Two of four planned phases of the memorial had been completed as of January 2024. Phase 1 consisted of walking trails and a temporary flagpole. Phase 2 was placing the stone and brickwork and permanent flagpole. Plans for Phase 3 are to add an electronic kiosk for people to search for information about Orange County veterans. Plans for Phase 4 included improving walking paths and adding stone benches for people to sit and reflect.

    Images: Close-up view of the memorial complex | Far-off view of the memorial | Inscription | Coats of arms for: Army | Air Force | Navy | Marine Corps | Coast Guard | Great Seal of the United States | Great Seal of North Carolina | Map of the memorial complex

  • Inscription

    FREEDOM / SERVICE ★ SACRIFICE

  • Dedication Date

    Phase I site dedication: May 29, 2017. Phase II dedication: May 31, 2021

  • Decade

    2010s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    35.949700 , -79.064700 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      McConnell, Brighton. “Orange County Veterans Memorial Hosts First Event With New Phase of Construction,” Chapelboro.com, May 31, 2021, (accessed January 5, 2024) Link

      “Orange County Unveils New Memorial Site for Veterans,” WRAL, (Raleigh, NC), May 31, 2021, wral.com, (accessed January 5, 2024) Link

      “Orange County Veterans Memorial,” Orange County Veterans Memorial, ocveteransmemorial.com, (accessed January 5, 2024) Link

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    Finished granite, stone, stone masonry, brick pavers and metal flag pole

  • Sponsors

    Orange County Veterans Memorial Committee

  • Monument Cost

    Phase I and II: approximately $150,000

  • Location

    The memorial is located at 2501 Homestead Road near the Seymour Center in Chapel Hill, NC.

  • Landscape

    The area surrounding the memorial is a park like open woodlands.

Icon for reporting missing/incorrect information 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.