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Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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Source:  African American Soldier Gold Star, High Point. Photo courtesy of Rusty Long

  • Monument Name

    African American Soldier Gold Star, High Point

  • Type

    Plaque

  • Subjects

    World War II

    African American Monuments

  • City

    High Point

  • County

    Guilford

  • Description

    A simple bronze plaque with black background on a steel pole stands several feet tall. The only adornment aside from the inscription is a shield with a gold star. In 1944 High Point began recognizing servicemen killed in World War Two. Initial acknowledgements did not include African Americans prior to placement of this marker.

    Images: Far-off view of the Memorial Park

  • Inscription

    THE HIGH POINT CITY COUNCIL / ACKNOWLEDGES THE INJUSTICE / COMMITTED IN MARCH 1944 / BY THE CITY OF HIGH POINT / WHEN AFRICAN AMERICAN SERVICE / MEMBERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES / DURING WORLD WAR II WERE NOT / RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR SERVICE / TO OUR COUNTRY. / THOUGH MANY YEARS OVERDUE, / WE PRESENT THEM A GOLD STAR. / MAY 2013

  • Custodian

    City of High Point

  • Dedication Date

    May 27, 2013

  • Decade

    2010s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    35.957430 , -80.005610 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      Killian, Joe. “For Black Veterans, High Point Memorial Long Awaited,” Greensboro News And Record (Greensboro, NC), May 28, 2013 Link

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    Bronze

  • Sponsors

    High Point City Council

  • Monument Dedication and Unveiling

    High Point Mayor Bernita Sims noted that similar slights to black servicemen happened all over the country. “These are individuals who we should have acknowledged long ago,” Sims said. Bruce Davis who represented High Point on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners said the honor for black veterans was long overdue, but that like a lot of progress it had to happen slowly. “Unfortunately, many times those who objected or opposed the recognition for black veterans had to pass on before this could happen.”

  • Controversies

    The use of the word “injustice” on the plaque had some opposition among politicians who “didn’t want to embarrass people.”

  • Location

    The bronze marker stands on a brick plaza, or, Memorial Park, located at the intersection of N. Main Street and E. High Avenue. Other memorials include Revolutionary War Patriots, Veterans Memorial, World War Two Honor Roll, WWI Doughboy statue, and POW/MIA plaque. On the corner across E. High Street is a plaque to General Maxwell Reid Thurman. Across Main Street at the restored High Point Train depot is the Plank Road Foreman statue and “High Point” marker.

  • Landscape

    Bushes and trees adorn the brick plaza where the African American Soldier Gold Star marker is located.

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