Monday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day, and it is the appropriate date for the grand opening ceremony for UNC Charlotte’s new Veterans Park.
The park was conceived by Christopher Orr ’18 as a place on campus to recognize UNC Charlotte’s historical connections to veteran students and to honor all past, present and future veterans who will attend or work at the University.
“By establishing Veterans Park here at UNC Charlotte, we are continuing in the recognition of our campus’ dedication to aid in educating returning service members. As we did following World War II, we continue to value and celebrate the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform,” said Bill Wilson, director of the Veteran Services Offices, which is hosting the grand opening celebration, scheduled for 1 p.m., Nov. 11.
Orr, an Army veteran who completed a bachelor’s degree in geology, worked with the Dean of Students Office and Facilities Management on the project. Together, they presented a proposal to Chancellor Philip L. Dubois who approved the project and site location in fall 2017.
The University broke ground on the park this May, and construction began during the summer. Veterans Park is adjacent to Memorial Hall, near the corner of Cameron Boulevard and University Road. Memorial Hall houses the University’s Army and Air Force ROTC programs.
Veterans Day (also called Armistice Day) is a U.S. federal holiday honoring military veterans. It coincides with other holidays celebrated in countries that marked the anniversary of the end of World War I; major hostilities of the war formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.
This article originally appeared in Inside UNC Charlotte.