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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:48.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">NEWS RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">For Immediate Release Date: 5/20/21<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">Contact: Public Information Office Phone: (919) 560-0000/Fax: (919) 560-0020<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"> E-mail:
</span><a href="mailto:publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">County Updates Historic World War I Display<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><b><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black">D</span></b><span class="normaltextrun"><b><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black">urham,
N.C. – </span></b></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black">In 1921, a statute was erected to honor fallen World War I (WWI) soldiers from Durham, North Carolina. When commissioned, the prominent
statute detailed the names of white soldiers from Durham separate from the names of Black soldiers who served and died during the wartime of 1917-1919. In 2013, the Durham Board of County Commissioners issued a resolution to add contextual signage at the statue
that combines the names of all Durham residents who gave the ultimate sacrifice in WWI into on list on the honor roll of the deceased. This sign proposal was approved by the Durham City-County Appearance Commission. </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black">“The separation of the soldiers’ names by their race in the 1921 Commission of the monument depicts
a time not forgotten in Durham’s history,” said Assistant General Manager for Environmental Stewardship and Community Prosperity/Deputy Director of Durham County Engineering and Environmental Services Peri Manns. “The updated signage features the appropriate
alphabetical order of the soldiers and additional names that were missed during the initial design.” </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black">The combined names of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in one of the deadliest conflicts
in history can now be seen on a commemorative sign installed in March 2021. The new sign and the original statue are situated in front of the Durham County Administration I Building, located at 200 E. Main Street, in a statue garden on the eastern lawn of
the historic Durham County Courthouse.</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black">“</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">Durham
County Government would like to thank former Councilman Eddie Davis for bringing the “WWI Honor Roll” to the County’s attention,” said </span></span><span class="spellingerror"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">Manns</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">. <span style="color:black">Davis
and former County Commissioner Michael Page worked together to initiate the memorial update. The WWI Commemorative Signage Committee and O’Brien Atkins Architects were key to the finalizing the content and design up the updated sign readied for installation.</span></span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black">“On behalf of Veteran Services and veterans across Durham County I want to commend this committee,
led by Peri Manns, on their extraordinary effort to recognize and equally honor the ultimate sacrifice of Durham County’s WWI service members. Displaying this memorial plaque will serve as a sober reminder that the time to do what is right is always “now”.
It’s about more than rearranged and added names. This plaque speaks from the heart of Durham and shouts that every life is important, regardless of race. It’s not only a great symbol but a wonderful and timely tribute to those men who died to advance and protect
our freedom. I want to thank everyone whose efforts made this honor and recognition possible,” commented Director of Veterans Services Lois Harvin-Ravin.</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black">For more information about the installation of the updated WWI display or approval by the Durham
Historic Preservation Commission, contact Peri </span></span><span class="spellingerror"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black">Manns</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black"> at </span></span><a href="mailto:pmanns@dconc.gov" target="_blank"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#0563C1">pmanns@dconc.gov</span></span></a><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black">. </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E">On
May 31, Durham County Veteran Services will commemorate Memorial Day 2021. Read more about the upcoming ceremony on the national day of mourning
</span></span><a href="https://www.dconc.gov/Home/Components/News/News/8305/31?backlist=%2f"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">here</span></a><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E">.</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" align="center" style="margin:0in;text-align:center;vertical-align:baseline">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black">###</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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