Colfax near Kernersville in Guilford County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

The United States Navy Memorial

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 20, 2026

1. The United States Navy Memorial Marker, Side One

Inscription.

The United States Navy Memorial. . Established October 13, 1775 Honor, Courage, Commitment .

"Without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive - and with it everything honorable and glorious." General George Washington

United States Navy. 1775 and the Revolutionary War a strong presence at sea is decisive in the Nation's struggle for independence by providing vitally needed supplies for the Army, transporting Troops and defending important port cities., 1779 Captain John Paul Jones, while commanding the USS Bonhomme Richard, responds to a British demand to surrender by replying, "I have not yet begun to fight.", 1812 War with Great Britain is the result of interference with U.S. commerce and the U.S. defending its freedom of the seas., 1845 The Naval Academy opens its door in an old army fort on the Severn River., 1861-1865 During the Civil War, the Navy is a decisive factor in victory through operations on the high seas, rivers, bays, and harbors throughout the southern states. The clash of the ironclad USS Monitor/CSS Virginia at Hampton Roads revolutionize naval warfare and ends the era of wooden fighting ships., 1898 The Spanish American War starts with the sinking of the battleship USS Maine by the Spanish in Havana Bay, Cuba., 1908 The Navy Nurse Corps is established; these are the first women to fully serve in the Navy., 1911 Birth of Naval Aviation occurs with LT Theodore Ellyson, the first designated Naval Aviator., 1917-1918 World War I operations include convoying troops and supplies across the Atlantic and using Naval aircraft for antisubmarine and mine laying efford. For the first time enroll in Naval Reserve., 1922 The first aircraft carrier, USS Langley (CV-1), enters service., 1941-1945 During World War II, the Navy conducts worldwide operations, including escort duty, troops transport and carrier operations. The leadership of Admirals Chegstr W. Nimitz and William F. "Bill" Halsey is decisive in victory in the Pacific Theater. WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services) are established to assist the war effort., 1942 Three Naval Construction Battalions form; known as Seabees, these men prove instrumental in winning the war in the Pacific Theater., 1950-1954 The Korean War finds the U.S. working within the framework of a United Nations resolution, responding to the Republic of Korea by communist troops from the north., 1955 The submarine USS Nautilus (S-1) becomes the first nuclear powered naval vessel., 1958-1989 During the Cold War, the Navy performs multiple peace keeping duties, as its role changes to a worldwide utilization of sea power to deter or contain acts of aggression and for humanitarian operations., 1962-1973 During the Vietnam War the U.S. Navy, conducts inshore operations and offshore patrols in support of the Vietnamese Navy, as well as supports Marine Corps and Army missions with naval gunfire and carrier based sorties., 1990-1995 Major engagements in Southwest Asia include the liberation of Kuwait and the defeat of Iraqi forces during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm., 2001-2014 The War on Terror includes opérations in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Persian Gulf. Navy SEAL Team 6 located and kills Osama bin Laden in Pakistan on May 2, 2011., And the United States Navy mission continues....

Established October 13, 1775
Honor, Courage, Commitment

"Without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive - and with it everything honorable and glorious."
General George Washington

United States Navy 1775 and the Revolutionary War a strong presence at sea is decisive in the Nation's struggle for independence by providing vitally needed supplies for the Army, transporting Troops and defending important port cities.

1779 Captain John Paul Jones, while commanding the USS Bonhomme Richard, responds to a British demand to surrender by replying, "I have not yet begun to fight."

1812 War with Great Britain is the result of interference with U.S. commerce and the U.S. defending its freedom of the seas.

1845 The Naval Academy opens its door in an old army fort on the Severn River.

1861-1865 During the Civil War, the Navy is a decisive factor in victory through operations on the high seas, rivers, bays, and harbors throughout the southern states. The clash of the ironclad USS Monitor/CSS Virginia at Hampton Roads revolutionize naval warfare and ends the era of wooden fighting ships.

1898 The Spanish American War starts with the sinking of the battleship USS Maine by the Spanish in Havana Bay, Cuba.

1908 The Navy Nurse Corps is established; these are the first women to fully serve in the Navy.

1911 Birth of Naval Aviation occurs with LT Theodore Ellyson, the first designated Naval Aviator.

1917-1918 World War I operations include convoying troops and supplies across the Atlantic and using Naval aircraft for antisubmarine and mine laying efford. For the first time enroll in Naval Reserve.

1922 The first aircraft carrier, USS Langley (CV-1), enters service.

1941-1945 During World War II, the Navy conducts worldwide operations, including escort duty, troops transport and carrier operations. The leadership of Admirals Chegstr W. Nimitz and William F. "Bill" Halsey is decisive in victory in the Pacific Theater. WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services) are established to assist the war effort.

1942 Three Naval Construction Battalions form; known as Seabees, these men prove instrumental in winning the war in the Pacific Theater.

1950-1954 The Korean War finds the U.S. working within the framework of a United Nations resolution, responding to the Republic of Korea by communist troops from the north.

1955 The submarine USS Nautilus (S-1) becomes the first nuclear powered naval vessel.

1958-1989 During the Cold War, the Navy performs multiple peace keeping duties, as its role changes to a worldwide utilization of sea power to deter or contain acts of aggression and for humanitarian operations.

1962-1973 During the Vietnam War the U.S. Navy, conducts inshore operations and offshore patrols in support of the Vietnamese Navy, as well as supports Marine Corps and Army missions with naval gunfire and carrier based sorties.

1990-1995 Major engagements in Southwest Asia include the liberation of Kuwait and the defeat of Iraqi forces during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

2001-2014 The War on Terror includes opérations in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Persian Gulf. Navy SEAL Team 6 located and kills Osama bin Laden in Pakistan on May 2, 2011.

And the United States Navy mission continues...

Erected by Corporal

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William H. 'Doc' Long Company G, 315th Inf. Regiment 79t Inf. Division. In honor, memory and dedication to my brothers James H. and George E. Long, their fellow comrades of the U.S. Navy during WWII and all those who serve in our U.S. Armed Forces.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Military • War, Spanish-American • War, US Civil • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical date for this entry is October 13, 1775.

Location. 36° 7.296′ N, 80° 2.11′ W. Memorial is near Kernersville, North Carolina, in Guilford County. It is in Colfax. It is on Pleasant View Trail east of Willow Creek Road, on the left when traveling north. Location is the Carolina Field of Honor. The specific marker is to the southwest of the center obelisk. Accessibility is a short walking distance from nearby parking areas. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 1945 Pleasant Vw Trl, Kernersville NC 27284, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in North Carolina’s Piedmont

and specifically in Piedmont Triad.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

The United States Navy Memorial Marker, Side Two image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 20, 2026

2. The United States Navy Memorial Marker, Side Two

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: United States Marine Corps Memorial (here, next to this marker); The U.S. Navy Flag (here, next to this marker); United States Army Memorial (a few steps from this marker); The U.S. Army Flag (a few steps from this marker); 20 Star Flag - 1818 (within shouting distance of this marker); Betsy Ross Flag - Circa 1790 (within shouting distance of this marker); Great Star Flag - 1837 (within shouting distance of this marker); Guilford Courthouse Flag - 1781 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kernersville.

The United States Navy Memorial dedication plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 20, 2026

3. The United States Navy Memorial dedication plaque

The United States Navy Memorial looking towards the Carolina Field of Honor obelisk image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 20, 2026

4. The United States Navy Memorial looking towards the Carolina Field of Honor obelisk

Full view The United States Navy Memorial and Naval Flag image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 20, 2026

5. Full view The United States Navy Memorial and Naval Flag

Credits. This page was last revised on April 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 24, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.