Documenting the American South

Monument Name

Iredell County World War I Memorial, Statesville

Type

War Memorial

Subjects

World War I

City

Statesville

County

Iredell

Description

The memorial is composed of a tall, tapered granite column, bronze plaques on the front and rear, and a bronze eagle perched atop the column. The eagle, the symbol of the United States of America, is depicted with its wings outstretched. The left and right sides of the column each bear a bronze bas-relief of an olive branch, a classical symbol of both peace and victory. The monument bears two inscribed plaques: the rear plaque is the original plaque, and the front plaque is a newer plaque, duplicating the names on the original plaque with the addition of fallen servicemen who were not included in the original. Additionally, the original plaque included the names of African American servicemen separately. In the new plaque, all servicemen are listed in alphabetical order.

Images: Plaque | Angle view | Walk of Honor outside the Iredell County Hall of Justice

Inscription

Front plaque: In memory of the men of Iredell County who gave their lives in World War I /

Clarence Alvin Arthurs / James Garland Ayers / J.A. Barkley / Donnie Bicle Bess / Samuel Burette Blackwelder / Clint Brown / Dempsey Brown / Carl Augustus Byers / William Andrew Cash / William Iliff Castles / Horace Bryan Connelly / John Kinsley Culbertson / Luther Carson Dalton / Fred Frank Davidson / William Clarence Davidson / Elam Monroe Dishman / Joseph C. Elam / Moyer B. Elliott / Claude Butler Fry / Albert Grant / Garland V. Hager / James Henry Hedrick / James Monroe Josey / Robert Bruce King / Clyde Claude Madison / John W. McCoy / Oscar L. McCoy / Albert Glenn McKay / Quincy Sharpe Mills / Monroe Moore / Ernest Morgan / Hackett Munday / William Berry Murray / John R. Myers / George Foster Niblock / Risden S. Parks / David Reid Pool / Wilborn Reid / Frederick A. Settlemeyer / George Sharpe / Clyde M. Sheppard / Preston D. Sipes / Clarence H. Sloop / Fred. Jones Smith / Lonnie Weaver Smith / Nester Lee Smith / Thomas P. Snow / Thomas Boyd Speaks / Gurney A. Stamper / Davis King Summers / Loyce Bryan Thompson / John Wilder Tomlinson / John Torrence / John Troy Troutman / Robert Hurst Turner / Ray M. Wagner / Paul Fraley Ward / Lonnie C. Welborne / Dewey A. Williams / Franklin B. Wilson / James L. Woodsides / Isadore Cheshire Woodward / Jack Wyckoff /

Placed by their comrades and citizens of the county /

This monument honors the sacrifices of Iredell County citizens in World War I. Originally / dedicated on May 30, 1928. It was erected at the end of West Broad Street. After cleaning / and restoration in 2005, the monument was moved to the Walk of Honor at the Iredell County / Hall of Justice. The names of four fallen servicemen who were not included on the original / monument have now been added to the alphabetical list of names.

Rear plaque: In memory of the men of Iredell County who gave their lives in the World War /

Clarence Alvin Arthurs / James Garland Ayers / Donnie Bicle Bess / Samuel Burette Blackwelder / Clint Brown / Demps Brown / Willie Cash / William I. Castles / Horace Bryan Connelly / Kingsley Culbertson / Clarence Davidson / Elam Monroe Dishman / Joseph C. Elam / Moyer Elliott / Claude Frye / Albert Grant / Garland Hager / James H. Hedrick / James Josey / Robert Bruce King / Clyded Claud Madison / Albert G. McKay / John W. (Lee) McCoy / Oscar McCoy / Quincy Sharpe Mills / John R. Myers / Hackett Munday George Foster Niblock / Risden Parks / David Reid Pool / Wilborn Reid / Fred A. Settlemyer / Clyde M. Shepherd / Preston D. Sipes / Clarence H. Sloop / Lonnie Weaver Smith / Fred Jones Smith / Nester Smith / Thomas P. Snow / Boyd Speaks / Gurney A. Stamper / Davis King Summers / Loyce B. Thompson / John W. Tomlinson / John Troy Troutman / Robert Hurst Turner / Ray M. Wagner / Paul Fraley Ward / Lonnie C. Welborne / Dewey Williams / Franklin B. Wilson / James L. Woodside / Isadore Cheshire Woodward /

Colored / Luke Dalton / Fred Frank Davidson / Monroe Moore / Ernest Morgan / William Berry Murray / George Sharpe / John Torrence /

Placed by their comrades and citizens of the county

Dedication Date

May 30, 1928

Decade

1920s

Geographic Coordinates

35.787880 , -80.886170 View in Geobrowse

Supporting Sources

"Iredell County World War I Memorial, " The Historical Marker Database, HMdb.org, (accessed February 6, 2013) Link

“Granite Monument is Formally Unveiled,” Statesville Record and Landmark (Statesville, NC), May 31, 1928

Public Site

Yes

Materials & Techniques

Granite, bronze

Sponsors

The American Legion

Monument Dedication and Unveiling

The Iredell County World War I Memorial was unveiled on a Monday, May 30, 1928, and the events of the day lasted from 10:30 in the morning to 2:00 in the afternoon. The day provided good weather for the ceremony as it was sunny and there was a breeze blowing. The unveiling and dedication ceremony to honor those from the community who lost their lives in World War I dominated the day, as banks, stores, businesses, and the post office were closed during the events. The monument was unveiled in a grassy area on West Broad Street. There were many people in the area to view the dedication and unveiling. The ceremony featured numerous local figures. Dr. C. A. Turner’s band performed patriotic music. After the band finished its performance, an invocation was given by pastor of the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Dr. J. H. Pressly. Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Dr. Charles E. Raynal also spoke on those veterans being honored, mentioning that “They died not only for their country, but for us all.” The monument was finally revealed by Bobby Turner, who took off the covering. This aspect of the ceremony was brought to a close by Dr. C. A. Turner’s band that played tap and “Nearer, My God, to Thee.” The people at the ceremony then moved to the Playhouse. Here, the crowd was first addressed by Commander Coite L. Sherrill before an invocation was provided by Reverend Q. O. Lyerly. A Dr. Wallace Hoffmann read the poem “I Have a Rendezvous with Death” by Alan Seeger. The mayor, J.B Roach also spoke. A World War I Veteran, Mr. Allen Adams was the primary speaker, and spoke on the sacrifice of those being honored, the need for peace, as well as the importance in avoiding further wars. After the events at the Playhouse, the graves in Oakwood cemetery of the World War I veterans being honored were decorated, which was then followed by a picnic lunch.

Subject Notes

In 2005, after restoration, the monument was moved from West Broad Street to the Walk of Honor at the Iredell County Hall of Justice.

Location

The memorial is located in the Walk of Honor outside the Iredell County Hall of Justice off Constitution Avenue in Statesville, NC. The granite column stands next to Iredell County Korean & Vietnam War Memorial and Iredell County World War II Memorial.

Landscape

The monument stands on the lawn next to the Iredell County World War II Memorial and Iredell County Korea & Vietnam War Memorial. The monuments are surrounded by the lawn and mature trees.

Relocated

Yes

Former Locations

Until 2005 the memorial was located on West Broad Street. Statesville, NC.