Magazine features Danville-Pittsylvania County Veterans Memorial

The stunning granite that comprises the walls of the Danville-Pittsylvania County Veterans Memorial in Dan Daniel Memorial Park has been showcased on the cover of the Elberton Graniteer, a granite industry magazine distributed internationally.

The magazine calls it “a magnificent memorial to defenders of freedom” constructed of jet-black granite from Lexington Blue Granite Co.

Davis Newman, the Korean War veteran who spearheaded the project with the

“Korean Happy Warriors” veterans group, said he was thrilled to see the memorial showcased in the magazine.

“Everyone who worked on this was great — Lexington Blue Granite got us beautiful granite,” Newman said. “Oakes Memorials, here in Danville, has done a great job with engraving all the names on the wall, the plaques, benches and the brick walkway.”

The names on the wall represent residents of Danville and Pittsylvania County who lost their lives serving their country, dating all the way back to the Revolutionary War.

The brick walkway is engraved with the names of people who served in the armed forces, and anyone, from anywhere in the United States, can purchase a brick and have a loved one’s name engraved on it.

“At latest count, there are 5,286 bricks in the walkway that have been purchased,” said Lawrence McFall, another active member of the Veterans Memorial Committee. “We have averaged selling about 13 a week since January of 2007.”

Asked what they will do when all 11,000 bricks in the walkways are engraved, Newman laughed and said, “We’ll find a way to put some more (walkways) in.”

He said the newest goal is to raise money for a decorative fence to enclose the memorial.

“We want to set it off from the rest of the park, so it’s clearly a place of reflection and remembrance,” Newman said.

Keeping it pristine and peaceful is important, he added.

“You’d be amazed at some of the stories you hear out here,” Newman said. “Some people have never been able to go to the remote places a family member is buried. They come here and see the name on the wall, and it’s the only memorial they have; it’s sacred to them.”

Bricks can be ordered through the Community Foundation of the Dan River Region by visiting www.cfdrr.org or calling (434) 793-0884. The $125 purchase price not only pays for the engraving, but helps maintain the memorial as well.

• Contact Denice Thibodeau at thibodeau@registerbee.com or (434) 791-7985.