Durham, N.C. – This Memorial Day, the Durham County Veteran Services Department wants to not only commemorate the bravery of our fallen military heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation but also recognize the strength and resilience of their surviving relatives. Veteran Services is inviting Gold Star families in the community to take part in a special tribute during their 2025 Memorial Day Remembrance Event on Monday, May 26, 2025.

The annual Memorial Day program will include a presentation recognizing Gold Star families living in Durham. Gold Star families are immediate family members of United States Armed Forces service members who died during active-duty military service. Durham County residents who are Gold Star families are encouraged to join in this special occasion and share the legacy of their loved ones with the community.

“Gold Star families bear both the pain of grief and the challenges of living without their loved ones,” said Jonathan Crooms, Durham County Veterans Service Officer. “We want them to know that they are not forgotten.”

Gold Star families residing in Durham County who wish to have their loved ones honored during the program are encouraged to contact the Durham County Veteran Services Department before the event. For more information or to participate, please contact Veteran Services at 919-560-8387 or veteranservices@dconc.gov.

The Memorial Day Remembrance Event on May 26 starts at 9 a.m. in Conference Room 126 in the Administration II Building, located at 201 E. Main St. This event is free and open to the public. This year’s program will feature a keynote address from Durham County Commissioner Stephen J. Valentine, a United States Army veteran. The program will also include a roll call of Durham County’s more than 350 known active-duty service members who died at war. 

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