Over 1,000 flags wave in the fall breeze. Every November, Veterans are honored throughout the country, yet memorials for veterans of multiple conflicts are few and far between. Instead of focusing on just one area of service, NC State commemorates those who made sacrifices to our nation by building a site for all. The site represents the North Carolina veterans that have fallen or survived in their sacrifices for our country.
Larry Hancock, a former first lieutenant and helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War, joined the Lessons of Vietnam class at Green Hope. During his visit, he shared details on, and the importance of, NC State’s new Veteran’s Day memorial site to the Green Hope community.
Hancock is one of the main leaders, along with Chief Warrant Officer Reg Harris, in putting together the new Veterans Day memorial. Both Hancock and Harris are members of the North Carolina Army National Guard as aviators. In 2021, both of them discovered a similar interest in seeing a new memorial built on the NC State Campus.
The Memorial Bell Tower is perhaps the best known symbol of NC State, but honors the NC State alumni who died in WWI. With the previous history in mind, both of them knew there was no other memorial on campus to honor all the brave men and women who have died in service to the U.S. This inspired Hancock and Harris to create a new form of recognition for those who served in WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan.
In an interview with the GH Falcon, Hancock shares the process in which himself and Harris put together the veterans memorial. “Reg and I had many meetings with folks whom we hoped would listen to us. Eventually, the Vice Chancellor for Facilities, Doug Morton, championed our cause with those who could make it happen,” he said.
“We had many meetings with Doug and others on the NC State Campus, including Nick Drake of the Jeffrey Wright Military and Veteran Services Office.” The new Memorial eventually earned its approval by the NCSU Board of Trustees.
With all of Hancock’s efforts with the memorial, he touches on his personal favorite aspect of the new installment. “My favorite part of the new memorial is its prominent location on the ‘Court of North Carolina,’ which is one of NC State’s hallowed places. It also has a direct line of sight with the Memorial Bell Tower.”
The ceremony kicked off with Jeffrey Wright Military and the members of the Veteran Services office welcoming people in the garden to join the dedication of the new memorial. Then there was a Chancellor’s welcome and opening remarks from Chancellor Randy Woodson followed by special remarks from Doug Morton, Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities and retired Navy Rear Admiral.
Throughout the ceremony, the graceful atmosphere was filled with performances from a single trumpet player. Other singers accompanied them, including the Ladies in Red, a troop of women known for their national anthem performances and red attire.
Everyone standing with hands on their heart created an honorable environment throughout the music performances.
Finishing up was the Keynote Speaker Jack Shanahan, a Retired Air Force Lt. General. Concluding the ceremony featured a performance from the Memorial Pipe Band of “Amazing Grace.”
During the veteran memorial service, Shanahan took part in the ceremony. He retired in 2020 after a 36 year fulfilling military career. After being a part of the military and his major positions in the US Department of Defense and fields of flying and technological intelligence, he pursued further education.
Shanahan is a 2022 graduate from NC State with a master’s degree in the International Studies program, and serves on the NCSU School of Public and International Affairs Advisory Council. He shares his personal connection to the military and the NC State community through his memorial speech. “My interactions with faculty and students affirm that I made the right choice, everyone I met, representing incredibly diverse backgrounds and life experiences was and remains committed to supporting those who serve.”
Throughout Shanahan’s experience with NC State, and being a part of the ceremony, he had thoughts upon the finished result. “This veteran memorial garden and the bell tower we’ll forever watch out for and watch over each other, honoring both those who have served and those who have died during their service.”
The new memorial is not an end, but a beginning. There is a QR code for one involved in the military at the new memorial site to help document one’s branch of service, cause of death and other information about each name. This helps list and honor the NC State students who lost their lives in service to the United States.=
Hancock shares future additions to the memorial. “In time, Reg and I hope that the memorial will be upgraded to include white granite columns with the six service branches emblems on them. There may also one day be a bronze statue at the site.”
Shanahan reflects during his memorial speech the future of what the memorial upholds for the community, “I am confident that in the years to come, the leadership of this great university will ensure that wolfpack veterans continue to receive the recognition they so pitchfully deserve.”
With more plans to honor those who help our country, Shanahan says “Let us carry forth this commitment to honor those who have served now and forever, for in so doing we embody the true spirit of the Wolfpack; strength and unity unwavering support for all.”
