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Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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Source:  Lee County Veterans Memorial, Sanford. Photo courtesy of Rusty Long

  • Monument Name

    Lee County Veterans Memorial, Sanford

  • Type

    War Memorial

  • Subjects

    Veterans of Multiple Wars

  • Creator

    Will Bayer, Designer

  • City

    Sanford

  • County

    Lee

  • Description

    The Lee County Veterans Memorial is a black granite monolithic stone that tappers to a lectern top. It sets atop a beveled white marble base. In addition to the inscription, an eagle with spread winds has been incised into the front face of the monolith near the top. In addition to dedication information the inscriptions include a quote from Irish novelist and poet Oliver Goldsmith’s 1764 poem “The Traveler.” The memorial is surrounded by a circular brick paver courtyard and a single long brick walkway leading from the street. Three flags poles behind the monument, landscape plants and lighting complete the memorial area.

    Images: Inscription | View of the memorial with flagpoles | Far-off view of the memorial

  • Inscription

    SUCH IS THE / PATRIOT’S BOAST / WHERE’ER WE ROAM, / HIS FIRST, BEST COUNTRY / EVER IS AT HOME / GOLDSMITH

    THIS MEMORIAL HAS / BEEN ERECTED BY THE / PEOPLE OF LEE COUNTY / IN HONOR AND MEMORY OF / THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO / SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES / OF OUR COUNTRY TO EXPRESS / OUR GRATITUDE, APPRECIATION, / AND ADMIRATION. / MAY 28, 1989

  • Custodian

    City of Sanford

  • Dedication Date

    May 28, 1989

  • Decade

    1980s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    35.489210 , -79.174760 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      Rajtar, Steve and Franks, Frances Elizabeth. War Monuments, Museums and Library Collections of 20th Century Conflicts: A Directory of United States Sites (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2002), 184 (accessed December 19, 2016) Link

      “Lee County Veterans Memorial,” War Memorials HQ, http://www.warmemorialhq.org, (accessed December 20, 2016) Link

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    Black granite and white marble, brick

  • Sponsors

    People of Lee County

  • Subject Notes

    The memorial was the result of a history class project at Lee County High School. It was designed by junior high student Will Bayer.

  • Location

    The memorial is located on the lawn of the City of Sanford Government and Sanford Police Department building at 225 E Weatherspoon Street in Sanford, NC.

  • Landscape

    The memorial complex is surrounded by trees and seasonal greenery.

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