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Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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Source:  Davidson County Vietnam and Afghanistan Veterans Memorial, Lexington. Photograph courtesy of Natasha Smith.

  • Monument Name

    Davidson County Vietnam War and Afghanistan Veterans Memorial, Lexington

  • Type

    War Memorial

  • Subjects

    Other Wars

    Vietnam War, 1960-1975

    Afghanistan War, 2001-2021

  • City

    Lexington

  • County

    Davidson

  • Description

    A rectangular copper plaque with an American eagle with spread wings above lists the names of those killed during the Vietnam War. This monument was placed sometime during the 1970’s. During Memorial Day ceremonies in May 2011 the name of a US Navy Seal killed in Afghanistan was added to this monument because there was the space to do so.

  • Inscription

    IN HONOR OF / THE DAVIDSON COUNTY VETERANS / WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY DURING / THE VIETNAM WAR / AND / IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO GAVE / THEIR LIVES FOR THE UNITED STATES.

    RICHARDS ROOSEVELT BANKS
    KENNETH CLAY BERRIER
    CARY REID CLODFELTER
    JACOB H. CUNNINGHAM III
    GEORGE G. DAVENPORT, JR.
    SAMUEL LUTHER DAVIS
    WILLIAM FORD
    JOHN B. GRAINGER
    JIMMY CARROLL HESTER
    SAMUEL F. HOLLIFIELD, JR.
    HENRY EARL IMES, JR.
    BOBBY WAYNE JONES
    RONALD FRED LEONARD
    NOBE RAY KOONTZ, JR.
    ROBERT LOVE
    RAY THOMAS MARTIN
    HAROLD THOMAS MCCARN
    ROBERT FRANKLIN MELTON, JR.
    ANDREW JACKSON NEWCOMBE
    DAVID LEE NORRIS
    CLARK FRANKLIN ROGERS
    HUGH AMES SEXTON, JR.
    VANN DWAIN SHERRILL
    VICKEY EARL STANLEY
    CLYDE LEWIS TENSLEY
    ROBERT JOSEPH TURNER
    WAYNE VASTER WILSON
    CLARENCE LUTHER MORRIS

    AFGHANISTAN
    JOSHUA THOMAS HARRIS
    ERECTED BY THE DAVIDSON COUNTY VETERANS COUNCIL / AMERICAN LEGION POST 8. AMERICAN LEGION POST 162. / AMERICAN LEGION POST 255. AMVETS POST 13. / AMVETS POST 240. AMVETS POST 760. AMVETS POST 835. / D.A.V. CHAPTER 29. D.A.V. CHAPTER 39. D.A.V. CHAPTER 66. / V.F.W. POST 3074. V.F.W. POST7500. U.V.A. CHAPTER 257

  • Dedication Date

    1970’s

  • Decade

    1970s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    35.823980 , -80.252820 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      "Historic Uptown Lexington, North Carolina. A Heritage Tour," Uptown Lexington, Inc., (accessed December 3, 2013) Link

      Edwards, Deneesha. “Fallen Soldiers Honored at Ceremony, Two Local Names Placed on Memorials,” The Dispatch (Davidson, NC), May 29, 2011, (accessed July 1, 2011) Link

      Ignasiak, Darrick. “Lexington Event to Honor Fallen Navy Seal, Korean War Veteran", The Dispatch (Lexington, NC), May 27, 2011, (accessed November 16, 2019) Link

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

      “Vietnam War Memorial, Town Square, Lexington, NC, USA,” Waymarking.com, (accessed November 16, 2015) Link

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    Granite marker, bronze tablet

  • Sponsors

    Davidson County Veterans Council, American Legion Post 8, American Legion Post 162, American Legion Post 255, Amvets Post 13, Amvets Post 240, Amvets Post 760, Amvets Post 835, D.A.V. Chapter 29, D.A.V. Chapter 39, D.A.V. Chapter 66, V.F.W. Post 3074, V.F ERECTED BY THE DAVIDSON COUNTY VETERANS COUNCIL / AMERICAN LEGION POST 8. AMERICAN LEGION POST 162. / AMERICAN LEGION POST 255. AMVETS POST 13. / AMVETS POST 240. AMVETS POST 760. AMVETS POST 835. / D.A.V. CHAPTER 29. D.A.V. CHAPTER 39. D.A.V. CHAPTER 66. / V.F.W. POST 3074. V.F.W. POST7500. U.V.A. CHAPTER 257

  • Monument Dedication and Unveiling

    On Sunday May 29th, 2011 the Davidson County Veterans Council's hosted the 66th Annual Davidson County Veterans Memorial Service at Lexington Square. The name of Josh T. Harris, a US Navy Seal who died in 2008 combat operations in Afghanistan was added to this monument. The name of Charlie F. Cagle was added to the appropriate plaque on the nearby World War II/Korean War marker. He was killed during the Korean War but his remains had been recently found and returned to the United States.

  • Location

    The Lexington Square located at the intersection of Main and Center streets is home to the Historic Davidson County courthouse along with several memorials and markers. The Confederate Dead monument stands in the southeast quadrant of the square, at the intersection of S Main and E Center streets. The northeat quadrant (intersection of E Center and N Main streets) hosts memorials to Davidson County Vietnam War and Afghanistan Veterans, WWII and Korean Veterans, and WWI Veterans who died in the Great War. A marker to Daniel Boone and Nathanael Greene stands on the northwest quadrant (intersection of W Center and N Main streets) right by Captain Benjamin Merrill and City of Lexington memorials.

  • Landscape

    Bushes and trees surround the quadrant with memorials.

  • Post Dedication Use

    The Davidson County Veterans Council holds annual Memorial Day services at Lexington Square in downtown Lexington.

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