Red Springs War Memorial, Red Springs
As dedicated in 1978, the memorial was composed of a large, rectangular block of polished
marble, approximately six feet long by four feet high. It had a double base also of marble and
rested on a concrete pad outside Red Springs town hall. The narrow end of the monument
facing Main Street held an incised inscription. The original plan called for a sculpture depicting a
wounded serviceman protected by a fellow soldier. It was to be sculpted in Italy. The base was
to have been dedicated on Memorial Day 1978 and the sculpture on Veterans Day 1978. It is
possible that funding was an issue as the base was not dedicated until Veterans Day 1978 and
that sculpture of two servicemen was never added.
In 1994 the town of Red Springs completed the project in a manner similar to the original
proposal. A bronze bust and plaque in honor of World War Two hero James Dougald
McRacken were added to the base. Bronze plaques listing war dead were also added at this
time.
Images:
Base inscription (1978)
Incised base inscription (1978): DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF / THOSE THAT LOST THEIR LIVES / IN
WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR II, / KOREAN AND VIETNAM WARS. / DONATED BY THE CITIZENS
OF RED SPRINGS
Inscriptions added in 1994:
Right plaque:[The names of soldiers fallen in the Korean War and the Vietnam War are inscribed.]
Left plaque: [The names of soldiers fallen in World War I and World War II are inscribed.]
Town of Red Springs
November 11, 1978
34.814420 , -79.182750
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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
“Dedicated To The Memory,” The Robesonian (Lumberton, NC), November 11, 1978
“War Memorial Is Planned At Red Springs,” The Robesonian (Lumberton, NC), December 14, 1977
Yes
Marble
Local funding under auspices of War Memorial Commission comprising two members each from the Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and City Council.
The memorial was dedicated as part of the Red Springs Veterans Day observance. John R. Fauscett and Thomas Egan unveiled the marker. The names of all Red Springs service men killed in the previous four wars were read during the ceremony, which included music by the Red Springs High School band.
The Red Springs War Memorial and the James Dougald McRacken bust on top of it are located in front of the Red Springs town hall, at 217 S Main St, Red Springs, NC 28377. They are on the right side of the walkway leading to the entrance with the front of the monument facing the walkway. A Dwight D. Eisenhower Green Ash Memorial Tree is right behind the memorial.
The memorial is located on a paved area in the lawn in front of the town hall.
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