Documenting the American South

Monument Name

Vance County WWII Memorial, Henderson

Type

War Memorial

Subjects

World War II

City

Henderson

County

Vance

Description

The monument consists of a stone slab standing approximately five feet tall with a bronze plaque. The plaque lists the names of those lost in World War II from Vance County.

Images: Side view of the memorial | Bronze plaque | View of the memorials along Young Street | Side view of the memorials on Young Street

Inscription

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY / 1941 1949 / IN MEMORY OF THOSE / WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE / IN WORLD WAR II, / VANCE COUNTY, N.C. / [list of names in three columns] / ERECTED BY / THE HENDERSON LIONS CLUB / 1947

Custodian

The Henderson Lions Club

Dedication Date

August 17, 1947

Decade

1940s

Geographic Coordinates

36.328090 , -78.402090 View in Geobrowse

Supporting Sources

“Henderson Lions Plan Plaque to War Dead,” The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC), July 5, 1947

“Plaque Is Dedicated to Vance War Dead,” The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC), August 20, 1947

“Vance Receives Plaque of World War II Dead,” The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC), August 6, 1947

Public Site

Yes

Materials & Techniques

Granite, bronze. The bronze tablet was cast in New York

Sponsors

The Henderson Lions Club

Monument Cost

Over $600

Monument Dedication and Unveiling

Gaither M. Beam, a Louisburg attorney and governor of District 31-C of Lions International, was the chief speaker. A heavy rain forced the dedication service to be held across Garnett St. in the First Methodist Church.

Subject Notes

This memorial replaced a temporary wooden marker that stood in the small park near the railroad underpass on North Garnett Street, Henderson, NC.

Location

This memorial and at least five other markers are located along Young Street near the intersection with N. Garnett St. in Henderson, NC. They are positioned along the sidewalk that runs next to Henderson Fire Department-Station #2. Near this memorial on Young street are the Vance County Iraq War, Vance County Korean War, Vance County Vietnam War memorials, a “Rebel” firehouse dog memorial and time capsule. Further north on the grounds of the old Vance County Courthouse is the Leonard Henderson marker.

Landscape

The memorial stands on the grass along the sidewalk.

Relocated

Yes

Former Locations

This memorial, along with several others, was originally located in a small park near the railroad underpass on North Garnett Street across the street from First Methodist Church. It was surrounded by evergreen trees and shrubs. Geo coordinates: 36.328310 , -78.40098. The relocation occurred after 2019.