Local veterans and loved ones pose for a photo at the Mitchell veterans memorial during a previous Memorial Day celebration. Pictured are several members of the Mitchell DAV Chapter 58 including Ron Stirling.
Mitchell County Disabled American Veterans Chapter 58 is eying improvements to the local veterans memorial at the Mitchell Courthouse in Bakersville.
Local DAV treasurer Ron Stirling brought up the topic Monday, June 6 during the public comments portion of the regular meeting of the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners.
The veterans memorial was established at the courthouse roughly two decades ago behind the strong support of Bakersville Mayor Charles “Chuck” Vines and others. The memorial features a tribute to all five military branches on a large piece of granite surrounded by bricks which can be purchased to honor fallen veterans.
The memorial was established at that time on a temporary basis but Stirling asked the board to consider making the spot its permanent home.
The DAV will help fund the project, Stirling added. The DAV Chapter 58 already provides a scholarship for books at Mayland Community College for students from military families.
“We do have some money,” Stirling said smiling. “We would like to upgrade and beautify the place.”
The proposed upgrades include the addition of a concrete border around the bricks, a sidewalk and six stainless steel crosses flanking the memorial (three on each side).
“There is some crushed gravel there,” Stirling said about the walkway at the memorial. “It’s not the best access for people with high heel shoes and wheelchairs don’t roll over it well.”
The addition of the crosses would extend the length of the memorial by roughly a foot and a half and would give visitors a safe place to plant flags.
“A lot of people during Memorial Day, Flag Day or Veterans Day like to go up and put their own personal flags by the bricks,” Stirling said. “That’s kind of a tripping hazard, so we’d like to have a place behind the memorial where they can place their flags next to one of the crosses.”
Stirling asked the board for assistance in finding qualified contractors, securing any necessary permits and coordinating work with courthouse staff so normal operations aren’t interrupted by construction.
Bricks at the memorial are open to veterans from any era. Families can purchase the bricks and fill out an application with the DAV Chapter 58. Bricks are engraved in Newland and placed during special ceremonies.
“We’ll definitely take this into consideration,” said board chair Steve Pitman. “If more discussion is needed, we may reach out to you to add it to an agenda or something like that.”