Chapel Hill, NC – March 7, 2024. Sometimes this writer receives questions as to Who is a hero? Who is a Veteran? Another is “Are all veterans heroes?”
It is not an easy question to answer. If you ask a combat veteran if he or she was a hero they would shy away from recognition and say, “I served my country.” Few of today’s student population can tell you about Sergeant Alvin York or Sergeant and then Major Audie Murphy. They think more of a Marvel Comic hero as a “hero.”
I know of many people in my family who served and died for their country. They are long forgotten as are many servicemen and women from “the Great Wars,” Korea, Vietnam, and current conflicts.
Our Orange County Veterans Memorial was conceived as a means to memorialize all who have served in uniform. Be it for a day or as a career soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine, they all need to be recognized and remembered. It is the right thing to do, and we hope that local families feel the same way.
We want to share with you stories of local people who have served their Country. We will share stories of people since the American Revolutionary War right here under the heading of News Blog.
Today’s story is of four local Heroes that were recognized by Chapel Hill Magazine, November 9, 2021, edition. One of the four passed away at the age of 102 in August 2023. Major Elmer Hughes, USAF. Elmer was just seventeen when he decided to “sign up” and leave the safety and security of a small town in Delaware to serve his country as an enlisted soldier. We are including a link to the magazine’s story and hope you will read the four stories of local veterans. Chapel Hill Magazine has been a staunch supporter of local veterans and veteran service groups for many years. CLICK HERE FOR THE STORY.
How about you? Do you have a person in your family that is almost forgotten? You can honor them by donating to the Orange County Veterans Memorial. Give what you can and share the opportunity with family and friends. Any amount will help, but if you make a significant contribution at the Supporter level, we will formally honor a person or family with an engraved memorial paver that will perpetually recognize them and be seen by those visiting our, no your, memorial to all those who have served. To donate online, click here. For paver information, click here.
– Lee Heavlin
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