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Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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Source:  Durham Korean and Vietnam Wars Monument, photo by Donald Burgess Tilley Jr.

  • Monument Name

    Korean and Vietnam Wars Memorial, Durham

  • Type

    Obelisk

  • Subjects

    Veterans of Multiple Wars

    Vietnam War, 1960-1975

    Korean War, 1950-1953

  • City

    Durham

  • County

    Durham

  • Description

    This three-sided obelisk is a memorial to those from Durham who lost their lives in the Korean and Vietnam wars. One side commemorates the 23 who lost their lives in the Korean War while another is dedicated to the 39 from Durham who lost their lives during the Vietnam War. On the third side is inscribed a quotation. An eagle sits with its wings spread atop the obelisk.

  • Inscription

    Right Side: IN HONOR OF THOSE 23 / BRAVE HEROES FROM / DURHAM COUNTY WHO / DIED WHILE SERVING THE / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / AND MANKIND BY / DEFENDING FREEDOM IN / KOREA. / DEDICATED MAY 30, 1994 / KOREA / 1950-1954
    Image

    Left Side: IN HONOR OF THOSE 39 / BRAVE HEROES FROM / DURHAM COUNTY WHO / DIED WHILE SERVING THE / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA/ AND MANKIND BY / DEFENDING FREEDOM FOR / ALL MANKIND IN VIETNAM. / DEDICATED MAY 30, 1994 / VIETNAM / 1958-1975
    Image

    Rear: For those who fight for it, freedom has a flavor that the protected will never know.

  • Custodian

    Durham County

  • Dedication Date

    May 30, 1994

  • Decade

    1990s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    35.994350 , -78.898730 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      "Korea-Vietnam War Memorial," OpenDurham, opendurham.org, supported by Preservation Durham, (accessed August 29, 2017) Link

      Borden, Sidney, Steven Chickos, and Daniel Jourdan. "The Korean War: North Carolina's Commemoration of the 'Forgotten War'," uploaded February 4, 2014, YouTube, (accessed February 4, 2014) Link

      Leepson, Marc. "The Tar Heel State Honors its Vietnam Veterans," The VVA Veteran, June 2001/July 2001

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Location

    Located in front of the Durham County courthouse, this monument stands next to the Durham County World War I and the Durham County Worl War II Monuments. There is a Confederate monument on the other side of the entrance to the Old Durham County Courthouse building.

  • Landscape

    The monument stands in a grass area surrounded by shady trees.

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