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Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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Source:  World War One Memorial, Monroe. Photo courtesy of Rusty Long

  • Monument Name

    World War One Memorial, Monroe

  • Type

    Marker

  • Subjects

    World War I

  • City

    Monroe

  • County

    Union

  • Description

    The memorial is a simple rectangular slab of granite on a single base. It is unadorned aside from the inscriptions. Although erected in 1996, the names of Roy Perry and James Floyd Staton were not added until 2014.

    Images: Far-off view of the memorial

  • Inscription

    WORLD WAR I MEMORIAL / DIED IN SERVICE TO THEIR COUNTRY /

    [Left Column] WILLIAM MCMURRAY ALDRIDGE / JUDGE LEE AUSTIN / GEORGE A. BALL / SAMUEL DALLAS CARTER / HENRY CROWELL / MELVIN M. DEESE / JACKSON FINCHER / ARTHUR A. FLOW / JOHN L. GARLAND / JAMES P. GORDON / BENJAMIN S. GRIFFIN / JAMES FLOYD STATON /

    [Center Column] JESSE BAXTER GRIFFIN / JENNINGS B. HAYWOOD / WILLIAM L. HOOPER / JAMES B. HOWARD / HARRISON F. MANGUM / CHARLIE B. MCGUIRT / ARTHUR CLAY MCWORTER / JOHN MEDLIN / JOHN C. MILLER /

    [Right Column] JOSEPH L. ORR / JOHN W. PARKER / CLARENCE R. PATE / HENRY W. PRESSLEY / FLETCHER RAPE / WALTER N. SMITH / GEORGE J. STALLINGS / FRANK H. VESTAL / VERNON F. WEBB / O’BRIEN H. WILLIAMS / ROY PERRY /

    [Two names bottom between columns] DAVID L. GRIFFIN / JAMES M. NASH

  • Custodian

    Union County

  • Dedication Date

    May 25, 1996

  • Decade

    1990s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    34.983060 , -80.550000 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      Bell, Adam. “Forgotten NC Soldiers Are Focus of 100th Anniversary of World War I,” Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, NC), July, 26, 2014 Link

      Daniel, Bobby. "Union County Courthouse in Monroe, North Carolina," bobbystuff.com, (accessed August 2, 2021) Link

      “Old Courthouse,” Union County Public Library, http://history.union.lib.nc.us, Photo # 00026, (accessed August 15, 2016) Link

      “World War I Memorial on the grounds of the historic Union County Courthouse being put into place (May 1996),” Union County Public Library, http://history.union.lib.nc.us, Photo # 00078, (accessed August 10, 2016) Link

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    Granite

  • Sponsors

    Union County Commissioners

  • Location

    The monument is located in front of the Old Union County Courthouse on North Main Street to the right of the Confederate Soldiers Monument (north side of building), at 400 North Main Street, Monroe, NC 28112. Other memorials in front of the historic courthouse include a marker for Confederate Pensioners of Color, Courthouse Cross and War Dead Plaques, and Korean War memorial. A Revolutionary War memorial is on the west side lawn, Fire Fighters memorial on the south side and Vietnam Memorial on the east side lawn.

  • Landscape

    The courthouse building is surrounded by mature shady trees, seasonal and evergreen plants, and a well-maintained lawn.

  • Post Dedication Use

    The courthouse lawn serves as a ceremonial center for community activities, such as parades. The United Daughters of the Confederacy used to hold Memorial Day celebrations at the site until some residents protested the ceremonies.

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