At 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11, Orange County will host a Veterans Day Ceremony in honor of the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. The event, which marks the federal holiday originally known as Armistice Day, will be held at the site of the Orange County Veterans Memorial, located at 2501 Homestead Road, adjacent to the Seymour Center in Chapel Hill.
Nestled in a peaceful wooded setting, the Orange County Veterans Memorial features a curved masonry rock wall that gently rises to form a quiet courtyard of brick pavers and granite. At the center, a flagpole stands atop a hexagonal granite pattern representing the six branches of the U.S. military—Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force. The site also incorporates the Great Seal of the United States and the Great Seal of North Carolina, along with large stone benches engraved with the words:
“FREEDOM ★ SERVICE ★ SACRIFICE.”
The memorial was first dedicated in Phase I on May 29, 2017, with Phase II completed by May 31, 2021. Future improvements under Phases III and IV include an electronic kiosk, expanded walking paths, additional seating, and landscaping.
Veterans Day Ceremony Agenda (Tentative)
- Introduction & Welcome: Col. David Chandler, U.S. Air Force (Retired)
- Presentation of Colors: MSG Calfa U.S. Army & Color Guard
- Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Jess Anderson, Chapel Hill
- National Anthem: Billy G. Farrish, Minister of Music, Prospect Hill Baptist Church (Roxboro, NC)
- Invocation: Mayor Barbra Foushee, Carrboro
- Opening Remarks: Col. Fred Black, U.S. Army
- Recognition of Elected Officials and Dignitaries: Rep. Renee Price, NC District 50
- Introduction of Guest Speaker: Lt. Col. Lisa Klekowski, U.S. Army
- Guest Speaker: Brig. Gen. Vivek Kshetrapal,
Deputy Commanding General of 81st Readiness Division of the U.S. Army Reserve - Recognition of Military Branches: Mayor Mark Bell, Hillsborough
- Memorial Update: Capt. Bruce Runberg, U.S. Navy (Retired)
- Paver Recognition: Capt. John Cocowitch, U.S. Navy (Retired)
- Closing Remarks: Jamezetta Bedford, Orange County Board of Commissioners Chair
- Retrieval of Colors: MSG Calfa U.S. Army & Color Guard
- Sounding of Taps: Edward Gill, U.S. Army Veteran
The ceremony is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided by Orange County following the program.
“This site is more than stone and flag—it honors the ideals of freedom, service, and sacrifice,” said Bruce Runberg, a member of the Veterans Memorial Board of Directors and co-founder of the site. “As Veterans Day continues to evolve, ceremonies like this help bridge past and present, bringing together veterans, families, leaders, and citizens in gratitude and reflection.”
Runberg, a Chapel Hill resident and former UNC facilities leader, has been instrumental in the creation and development of the memorial.
The Orange County Veterans Memorial remains a living tribute—a place of remembrance that evolves with the community and offers a dignified space for reflection year-round.