New War Memorial Opens In Greensboro

A new memorial honoring fallen veterans in Guilford County is officially open to the public. The site will bear the names of hundreds of fallen soldiers.

Dozens of people attended a dedication ceremony Monday afternoon in downtown Greensboro.  The site pays tribute to the 632 men and women of Guilford County who've died in battles since World War II. The War Memorial Auditorium originally housed the memorial, but that building is closing.

Bruce Davis is a county commissioner. He also retired from the Marine Corps after 20 years of service.  He says developers relocated more than 3,000 bricks and the original marble plaque.

“[It's] another salute to our veterans and all the great work that they have done in the military. It's also a place for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, a place where folks can come 24/7 and reflect back on their loved ones and their friends that have served," says Davis. "It's just a great memorial and a good thing for the city of Greensboro to do."

The memorial also has flags to honor the five different branches of the armed services, and a POW/MIA flag.

Matt Brown, managing director of the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, says the new site compliments the new Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts and Carolyn & Maurice Bauer Park, which will be dedicated next week.

“This project is a further enhancement of the downtown," says Brown. "We will put the original 632 names that were on the walls of the former auditorium lobby on bronze plaques that will be installed at the end of the month.”

Harrison Turner was a flight surgeon in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. He says the site is a reminder that freedom comes with a cost.

“There are a lot of names and I think it will draw a lot of people looking at those names to find their families because there are a lot of families that are still in Guilford County and their ancestors are on those plaques, so I think it will be an attraction for them to come downtown and meditate about what their family did,” says Turner.

The new war memorial in Greensboro is located at Summit Avenue and Lindsay Street. The official name of the site hasn't been determined. Greensboro City Council members say they will consider a new name for the tribute by the end of this year.

Follow Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news