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Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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Source:  Freedom Flame, Wilmington. Photo by Cosmos Marine

  • Monument Name

    Freedom Flame, Wilmington

  • Type

    Sculpture

  • Subjects

    Veterans of Multiple Wars

  • City

    Wilmington

  • County

    New Hanover

  • Description

    The Freedom Flame burns in a streetlight-style gaslight atop a square concrete column. The column stands on a sloped triangular base. The original bronze inscription plaque is attached to the base. A plaque to the 2002 restoration of the flame is attached to the concrete column. The streetlight-style gaslight is not the original style used for the memorial. Three steel poles at the three points of the base support a heavy chain.

  • Inscription

    Original plaque: FREEDOM FLAME / MAY IT BURN ETERNALLY / DEDICATED TO THOSE CITIZENS OF / WILMINGTON AND NEW HANOVER COUNTY / WHO HAVE GIVEN OF THEMSELVES AND / THOSE YET TO ANSWER THE CALL / TO PRESERVE LIBERTY FOR ALL MANKIND

    PLACED HERE BY WILMINGTON SERTOMA CLUB / FREEDOM WEEK – FEBRUARY 1970

    2002 plaque: WITH SPECIAL GRATITUDE / TO MR. PETE HARDEN / FOR REKINDLING / THE FREEDOM FLAME / IN THE HEARTS / OF ALL CITIZENS / OF WILMINGTON AND / NEW HANOVER COUNTY

  • Custodian

    New Hanover County

  • Dedication Date

    February 1970. Re-dedication: September 11, 2002

  • Decade

    1970s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    34.236630 , -77.945940 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      Fennel, Bettie. “Tragedy Relights Flame,” Star News Online, September 11, 2002, (accessed November 17, 2023) Link

      Scott, Sam. “2002 Was an Eventful Year in Wilmington and Around the Area,” Star News Online, December 29, 2002, (accessed November 17, 2023) Link

      “Freedom Flame,” The Historical Marker Database, HMdb.org, (accessed November 17, 2023) Link

      “New Hanover County Courthouse in Wilmington, North Carolina,” Bobbystuff.com, (accessed November 5, 2023) Link

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    Concrete, bronze, metal

  • Sponsors

    Wilmington Sertoma Club

  • Monument Cost

    2002 restoration: Approximately $7,500

  • Subject Notes

    The Freedom Flame memorial had been out for at least 20 years, but after a 10-year campaign by World War II veteran Pete Harden, the city lit the flame on the anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks.

  • Location

    The memorial is located on the grounds of the New Hanover County Courthouse at 316 Princess St, Wilmington, NC 28401. Other memorials on the courthouse grounds include the Colonel James Innes marker, Korean War and Vietnam War, Missing in Action, and Statue of Liberty replica.

  • Landscape

    The memorial marker stands on the front lawn of the courthouse building.

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