CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Veterans memorial plazas and monuments across Mecklenburg County serve as a place to remember those who died protecting our country while serving in the military.
There are more than a dozen locations across the greater Charlotte area, including locations in Matthews, Cornelius, Huntersville, and Mint Hill:
- Mecklenburg County Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- American Legion Memorial Stadium
- Freedom Park Memorials
- Matthews Veterans Memorial Park
- Evergreen Cemetery WWII Memorial
- Veterans Monument at Rotary Park Cornelius
- Davidson College War Memorials
- Huntersville Veterans Memorial
- Mint Hill Korean War Veterans Memorial
- Veterans Park at UNC Charlotte
Some of the monuments are dedicated to those who died serving in particular wars or events. Other monuments are dedicated to all the lives lost regardless of military branch or conflict.
In the city of Huntersville, they remembered the fallen this Memorial Day with a ceremony at Veterans Park. Veterans like Joel Tuchfeld take Memorial Day as a chance to remember those he served alongside.
It's a tribute for all those who have fallen from all the wars that we have fought," Tuchfeld said. "It's very, very important for the young people here today to remember that their parents and their uncles and their aunts served the United States to preserve freedom.”
Mecklenburg County has compiled an interactive map with more information about these places and more across the county.
In addition, there are also special events planned throughout the holiday weekend. Those can be found on the WCNC Charlotte QC Happenings events calendar.
Kannapolis renames street
During a Memorial Day event on Monday, the city of Kannapolis renamed a street in honor of the city's military veterans. Southern Avenue will now be known as Kannapolis Veterans Way.
"It is our privilege to rename this street in honor of the thousands of Kannapolis, Rowan and Cabarrus County residents who have served in the military and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their life, " Kannapolis Mayor Darrell Hinnant said in a released statement. "We are grateful for the sacrifices made in the past and present by those who have served and are serving now."
The community gathered at City Hall, a moment-veteran Larry Gonzalez took to heart.
“I didn't realize how many people in North Carolina had served until I got to this park and they showed the soldiers," Gonzalez, a Vietnam veteran, said. "And that brings a lot of feeling to me, knowing I’m in an area where people just like me to served their country.”
The city's Veterans Park on Main Street includes the Ring of Honor, which has over 1,700 names of service members who died in military service.
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