McDowell County Salute to Veterans, Marion
The memorial wall is comprised of four granite panels standing in a small square flagstone courtyard. Two panels stand at the rear of the courtyard meeting the other two panels along the right side of the courtyard. The panels forming the corner are several feet taller than the two flanking panels. Square granite columns with a granite cap separate each panel and at each end. Each panel is also capped. The panels, front and back, hold granite bricks that have engraved
the name of a service member, rank and the theater served in. Peacetime veterans have years of service noted. A low granite wall runs along the courtyard front with the left side open for entrance. At an angle to the front left corner is a large stone block with the flagpole rising above. On the front is a panel with the memorial name above which appears the coat of arms in bronze of the five branches of the military. Behind the stone block is a stone panel with the bronze tablet for the memorial’s sponsors.
Images:
Granite bricks with engraved names |
Far-off view of the memorial |
Close-up view of the memorial |
Flagpole plaque |
Names of fallen heroes |
Names of sponsors |
Design and construction plaque |
Rear view of the memorial |
Fountain |
McDowell County Senior Center |
View from the fountain |
Far-off view of the memorial
Primary inscription: MCDOWELL COUNTY SALUTE / TO VETERANS / HONORING THOSE WHO SERVED / REMEMBERING THOSE WHO DIED
Killed in Action tablet: ALL GAVE SOME, THESE GAVE ALL / HONORING OUR FALLEN / GULF WAR [1 name] / VIETNAM WAR [19 names in seven columns] / KOREAN WAR [7 names] / WORLD WAR II [97 names in seven columns] / WORLD WAR I [13 names in seven columns]
Flagpole plaque: IN HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE / OF THE HEROS AND VICTIMS IN THE / FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM / AND TO CELEBRATE THE / ENDURING SPIRIT OF ALL AMERICANS / PRESENTED BY / WOODMEN OF THE WORLD
Sponsor tablet: THANK YOU SPONSORS / SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE WHO HELPED BUILD THIS MEMORIAL / *VETERANS MEMORIAL* [18 names] *MAY 11 EVENT SPONSORS* [82 names in three columns]
Design and construction plaque: THE FINAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION / OF THIS MEMORIAL WAS COMPLETED BY A / TEAM OF VIETNAM VETERAN VOLUNTEERS / PROJECT MANAGER: / ROBERT “BOB” SMITH, MAJ USA-RET / TEAM MEMBERS: / FRANK MCGEE, CLP USMC / TERRY DUNCAN, SGT USAF / LAWRENCE REEL, SSGT USAF / RANDY HOLLIFIELD, SGT USA / WILLIS VANCE, SP5 USA
Post 56 of the American Legion
May 27, 2012
35.666790 , -82.023370 View in Geobrowse
"McDowell County Salute to Veterans," The American Legion, legion.org, (accessed May 18, 2022) Link
“McDowell County Salute to Veterans Memorial Wall,” Focus (Marion, NC), May 2012, mcdowellseniorcenter.org, (accessed May 18, 2022) Link
“Officials Break Ground on Veterans Memorial Wall for McDowell,” WSOC TV, September 1, 2011, wsoctv.com, (accessed May 20, 2022) Link
Yes
Granite, stone pavers, bronze
Post 56 of the American Legion with land donated by McDowell County
More than $76,000 was raised for the project
Randy Kington was the keynote speaker. Music was provided by the McDowell County Brass Community Band.
A $100 donation was required for each of the bricks in the wall. The 4 inch by 8 inch bricks are each engraved with the name of a service member, branch of service, their rank and theater of operations or years served.
The memorial is located off of Grace Corpening Drive, Marion, N.C. across from the entrance to the McDowell County Senior Center. The street address for the center is 100 Spaulding Road, Marion, NC.
The McDowell County Salute to Veterans memorial stands at the corner of a large open lawn near hiking trails. It faces the McDowell County Senior Center and its parking area. The Senior Center gazebo stands across a sidewalk to the left. A small fountain with seasonal flower beds is next to the gazebo.