Orange County Veterans Dedicate Site for Future Memorial

Community members, officials and veterans celebrated Veterans Day a little differently this year, honoring the dedication of the area for the Orange County Veterans Memorial.

They gathered at the site adjacent to the Southern Human Services Center Friday to take part in the ceremony.

“My dream is that it will be on the must-see spots in Chapel Hill,” said Lee Heavlin, Fundraising Chair of the Veterans Memorial Fundraising Committee. “Along with the bell, and the well and all the rest of the stuff. As you heard today, Orange County’s history with veterans pre-dates our country.”

Heavlin said Orange County has a special history with veterans, going back to before the American Revolution.

The committee has presented renderings of what the finished memorial could look like at a walk-through in September. Orange County Commissioner Barry Jacobs said it will be a spot people will visit often to relax, socialize and reflect.

“It’s beautiful,” he said. “Which is appropriate to the fact that we are trying to bring the best out in our spirit.”

Commissioner Renee Price also spoke at the dedication ceremony. She said it’s important to think about what the memorial represents, as the committee moves into the phase of fundraising, then bringing the memorial’s design to life.

“This memorial will serve as a lasting reminder of the sacrifices you and others have made,” Price said. “So that we may continue to enjoy the freedoms you provide to us.”

Heavlin said it’s also important to see the memorial as a piece of recognition for veterans: present, past and future.

“It all started here,” he said. “We hear about Bunker Hill, we hear about Boston, we hear about Philadelphia, but it was here in my town, in your town, that’s something to be proud of.”

The committee has started to accept donations for the memorial. Information on how to donate or get involved can be found here.