Lewisville Veterans Memorial, Lewisville
The Lewisville Veterans Memorial consists of four distinct elements dedicated over a period of several years. The central element dedicated in 2003 features a black granite pentagon shaped table with five benches anchored on a five sided concrete pad. The table was reported to weigh 9,000 pounds. The name of each military branch is inscribed on the outer façade of each bench. A flag pole is centered on each of the five sides of the pad flying the flags of each of the military branches. Next to the this element stands an 8ft. tall elongated black granite block with an inscription honoring all veterans and the seal of each branch of the armed services. There is also a flag pole for the American and state flags behind the large granite block partially encircled by a low stone wall.
In 2006 the third element was added in the form of a “Battle Cross” memorial. Two pieces of black granite form an L shaped base upon which stand a pair of boots and a rifle with a helmet hanging on the rifles stock all made of bronze. This piece is surrounded by a base of commemorative brick pavers 8ft. by 12ft. wide. Sitting to the right of the battle cross is sloped 3ft. tall black granite block with a bronze plaque explaining the history and meaning of a battle cross.
The fourth element added in 2007 is a POW/MIA memorial plaque and flag pole. This feature is a sloped piece of black granite standing 3ft. tall with a bronze plaque on top. Above the inscription appears the seal of each branch of service and includes one for the Merchant Marines. A perpetual light rests at the base of this feature. The flag pole stands behind the granite block and carries the black POW/MIA flag.
Images:
Central monument
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Benches around the pentagon shaped table
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“Battle Cross” memorial
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Battle Cross plaque
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Dedication stone marker
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Boots and a rifle with helmet
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POW-MIA Memorial Marker |
Blue Star Memorial
Granite Block, top: IN / HONOR / AND / MEMORY / OF ALL / VETERANS
Granite Block, at base: DEDICATED NOVEMBER 11, 2003 / BY THE TOWN OF LEWISVILLE, NC / MAYOR BOB STEBBENS / MAYOR PRO TEM FRED FRANKLIN / COUNCIL ROBIN DEVANE / E.A. HENDLEY / RICHARD HERRING / JOHN MCPHERSON / DAN PUGH / CITIZEN MEMBER BEN CRAWFORD / MANAGER ROBERT J. GREBACK
Benches around table: US MARINE CORP / US ARMY / US NAVY / US AIRFORCE / US COAST GUARD
Battle Cross, top face: BATTLE CROSS
Battle Cross base: AMERICAN LEGION / POST 522
Plaque at Battle Cross: THIS ARRANGEMENT OF A FALLEN SOLDIER’S / BOOTS, RIGLE AND HELMET KNOWN AS / BATTLE CROSS BEGAN IN WORLD WAR I. / SINCE THEN WHEN A SERVICEMAN OR WOMAN / IS LOST ON THE BATTLE FIELD, COMRADES ERECT A / BATTLE CROSS TOMARK THE SPOT AND / MEMORIALIZE HIS OR HER SUPREME SACRIFICE.
Dedication marker at Battle Cross: DEDICATED TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED, / SURVIVED, OR DIED IN THE SERVICE OF THE US MILITRAY. / WE HONOR YOU. / THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
POW/MIA plaque: ON BEHALF OF GRATEFUL NATION AND A PROUD AMERICAN LEGION / THIS POW-MIA FLAG FLIES TO HONOR THOSE VETERANS WHO, IN / SERVICE TO THIS GREAT NATION, SACRIFICED THEIR FREEDOM AND / THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING AS PRISONERS OF WAR. / IT ALSO RECOGNIZES THOSE WHO ARE STILL MISSING IN ACTION OR / REMAIN IMPRISONED. / THE LIGHT AT THE BASE OF THIS PLAQUE WILL BURN UNTIL ALL / POW-MIAS ARE ACCOUNTED FOR OR RETURN HOME. / TOWN OF LEWISVILLE / LEWISVILLE AMERICAN LEGION POST 522
Blue Star Memorial Marker:
BLUE STAR / MEMORIAL /
A tribute to the Armed Forces /
that have defended the /
United States of America /
sponsored by /
The Lewisville Garden Club /
in cooperation with /
North Carolina Department of Transportation /
American Legion Post 522 / and /
The Lewisville Civic Club, Inc.
City of Lewisville
November 11, 2003 (Pentagon shaped table and granite block). May 29, 2006 (Battle Cross). May 28, 2007 (POW/MIA).
36.096680 , -80.421460
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"Battle Cross," The Historical Marker Database, HMdb.org, (accessed September 5, 2015) Link
"Loyd Dunn @ Veteran's Memorial in Lewisville, NC January 2007," Slideshow.mov Link
"POW-MIA Memorial," The Historical Marker Database, HMdb.org, (accessed September 5, 2015) Link
Garber, Paul. “Place of Honor,” The Clemmons/Lewisville Journal (Winston-Salem, NC), May 31, 2007, 1, 2
Garber, Paul. “Place of Honor: New Memorial Dedicated Monday,” Leatherneck.com, (accessed August 21, 2015) Link
Kansupada, Pinky. “A New Memorial,” The Clemmons Journal (Winston-Salem, NC), November 13, 2003, 1-2
“Time to Remember: Honoring Sacrifice,” The Clemmons Journal (Winston-Salem, NC), June 1, 2006, 1
Yes
Granite, brick, bronze, concrete, stone
American Legion Post 522 (Pentagon table and benches, granite block and Battle Cross). American Legion Post 552 and Lewisville City Council (POW/MIA)
Pentagon Table and Block: $25,000. Battle Cross: unknown. POW/MIA: $6,000.
The site was first dedicated on November 11, 2003 with the unveiling of the pentagon shaped table and benches and the elongated granite block. The ceremony began with an invocation and four Marine Corps honor guards raising the American and state flags. The crowd sang the national anthem and then Mayor Bob Stebbins introduced dignitaries and guests to the crowd. The honor guard then lifted black veils from the two monuments. Veterans took turns hoisting flags representing their respective branches of service while their service songs played in the background.
The Battle Flag memorial was dedicated on Memorial Day, May 29, 2006. Newspaper coverage consisted of photographs with captions and no article. The Battle Cross is shown in one of the pictures and a news report from 2007 that states it was placed in 2006. Bruce Sprinkle was noted for playing “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes and Todd Poole, chief of staff for Representative Virginia Foxx, was noted as one of the speakers.
The POW/MIA memorial was dedicated on Memorial Day 2007 with more than 250 people in attendance. William Whitman, a World War II POW in Germany, raised the black POW/MIA flag as part of the ceremony. State Senator Pete Brunstetter and Navy veteran was the keynote speaker. “Stop and think about young people currently serving our country,” he said, “Because today, as it has been for 200 years, our freedom has a very dear price.”
The arrangement of a fallen soldier's boots, rifle and helmet known as a BATTLE CROSS began in World War I. Since then, when a serviceman or woman is lost on the battlefield, comrades erect a Battle Cross to mark the spot and memorialize his or her supreme sacrifice.
The memorial complex is located in Shallowford Square, a public park in downtown Lewisville, at 6550 Shallowford Road.
Shallowford Square is a park that serves as the focal point for Lewisville’s downtown. A pavilion at the square is available for private and public events.
This area serves as a site for public Memorial Day celebrations.
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