Vietnam Veterans Memorial

This ceremony is dedicated to the thousands of men and women from North Carolina who served their state and nation so admirably during the Vietnam War. We acknowledge their heroism and express our sincere appreciation for their sacrifices.

If you are able,
save for them a place
inside of you
and save one backward glance
when you are leaving
for the places they
can no longer go.

Be not ashamed to say
you loved them,
though you may
or may not have always.

Take what they have left
and what they have taught you
with their dying
and keep if with your own.

And in that time
when men decide and feel safe
to call the war insane,
take one moment to embrace
those gentle heroes
you left behind.

Major Michael Davis O'Donnell
1 January, 1970
Dak To, Vietnam

Dedication of the
N.C. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park
May 27, 1991, 11 A.M.

Prelude.........................................440th Army Band
.........................................................N.C. Army National Guard
.........................................................Morrisville

Master of Ceremonies.............Secretary Thomas J. Harrelson
.........................................................N.C. Department of Transportation

Invocation...................................Reverand Billy Joe Leonard
.........................................................Second United Church of Christ

Posting of the Colors...............N.C. Army National Guard
.........................................................4th Battalion of the 113th Field Artillery
.........................................................Lexington

Pledge of Allegiance...............Billy Ray Cameron
........................................................Vietnam Veteran

National Anthem......................Lt. Col. Baron G. Hignite
........................................................N.C. Army National Guard

Welcome......................................The Honorable Howard J. Coble
.........................................................U.S. House of Representatives

Introduction of Platform.......Secretary Harrelson

Speakers......................................Major Gen. Nathaniel Robb Jr.
.........................................................Adjutant General
.........................................................N.C. Army National Guard

.........................................................Lt. Gen. John J. Tolson III, USA (Ret.)
.........................................................Deputy Commanding General
.........................................................U.S. Continental Army

.........................................................The Honorable Donald M. Dawkins
.........................................................N.C. House of Representatives

.........................................................Secretary Joseph W. Dean
.........................................................N.C. Dept. of Crime Control and Public Safety

Keynote........................................The Hororable James C. Gardner
.........................................................Lieutenant Governor

Remarks.......................................David R. Tanis
.........................................................Vietnam Veteran, 196th Light Infantry Brigade
.........................................................American Division

Benediction.................................Reverand Leonard

Recessional..................................Lt. Col. Hignite, Vietnam Veteran
..........................................................and Platform Guests

There will be a ribbon cutting following the ceremony.

CONTRIBUTERS TO THE
NORTH CAROLINA VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK

A time capsule will be placed at the entry of the park with the names
of the people who contributed to this memorial.

Major Benefactors

.....Brick Association of North Carolina
.....N.C. Mason Contractors Association
.....State of North Carolina
.....U.S. Department of Transportation
.....U.S. Army, Ft. Bragg
.....N.C. National Guard
.....First Citizens Bank
.....N.C. Alliance of Community Financial Institutions

Benefactors
.....The Winston-Salem Foundation
.....The Davidson County Veterans Council
.....J.G. Hanes Foundation
.....Guilford Mills, Inc.
.....The Wachovia Foundation
.....The Charlotte Observer

Patrons
.....NCNB Corporation Charities
.....Burlington Industries
.....Dillard Paper Co.
.....Dickson Foundation
.....Sara Lee Corp.
.....John W. & Anna Hanes Foundation
.....N.C. Arts Council
.....Martin Marietta Aggregates
.....Carolina Steel
.....RJR Tobacco Co.
.....R.C. Koonts & Sons Masonry
.....N.C. Nurserymen Association
.....Pittsbugh Brewing Co.

Sponsors
.....Montgomery Monument Works
.....Jacobs Creek Stone Co.
.....Blumenthal Foundation
.....Greensboro News & Record
.....Lance Corp.
.....National Champions Foundation
.....Northern Telecom, Inc.
.....Smith Richardson Foundation
.....Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph Co.
.....Texfi Industries
.....Smith Turf and Irrigation Co.
.....Floyd Lee Barrier Post No. 3074
.....Carolina Concrete Masonry Association
.....Lucy Mayo Boddie Foundation
.....Turfgrass Council of America
.....First Union Foundation for the Carolinas
.....Sidley & Austin
.....J. Dennis Hoban
.....Walt F. Ulmer
.....J. Kennith Torreyson
.....John P. D'Arcy
.....David Kirk Tate
.....Paul Trusik
.....Curved Plywood, Inc.
.....Jefferson Pilot Foundation
.....Charles and Clara Hinkle
.....Tamara Nelson Laine
.....Archibald C. Rufty
.....Famco

Many thanks go to the N.C. Army National Guard, Brick Association of North Carolina,
N.C. Mason Contractors Association, and the N.C. Department of Transportation.

Special thanks is extended to the N.C. Forest Service which donated and planted 58,000 loblolly pine seedlings along the 11-mile stretch between Greensboro and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park. Planted five years ago, the evergreen trees symbolize the lifelong memory of the 58,000 Americans who gave their lives during the Vietnam War.

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