From the Desk of the County Manager, May 21, 2026
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces play an important role in our lives and our nation’s story. Each May marks Military Appreciation Month, and also Military Spouse Appreciation Day, celebrated on the Friday before Mother’s Day, and Armed Forces Day, which is traditionally the third Saturday in May.
Whether it’s the freedom we hold dear and enjoy, the protection we see or know is ever-present or the courageous and self-sacrifice we quietly celebrate, these men and women have worn more than uniforms; they have carried their hearts, their hopes, and their lives into combats and conflicts that have safeguarded our shores, defended our lands and upheld our values.
This and every Memorial Day, our country pauses to pay tribute to the brave lives of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and fought and died to ensure the liberty and legacy of freedom we hold dear. We will always remember the magnitude of their innumerable sacrifices. Please read the Memorial Day Resolution that the Board of County Commissioners presented at the May 11 Regular Session.
North Carolina has long been a place for those who serve and live. Today, our state has one of the largest military footprints in the country, representing three of the four branches of service. In 2024, our state was home to more than 621,000 veterans, according to the most recent estimates from the American Community Survey, an increase of more than 5,600 from 2023. The U.S. Veterans Affairs estimates that during this same period, more than 14,000 veterans reside in Durham County.
While we have always supported our military members, the acknowledgment of those who did not return home to their families or sustained injuries and traumas that led them to lose their lives remains part of our community commitment. Durham County’s Veteran Services Office is staffed by a dedicated team that assists our residents and provides a host of resources, activities, and connections locally and with the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
“As our nation marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, it is my sincere hope that this milestone achievement will heighten the awareness of the enormous contribution our military men and women provided in securing and maintaining that independence,” said Linzie B. Atkins III, Director, Durham County Veterans Services Office. “Memorial Day is a somber reminder that some of those service members paid the ultimate sacrifice and never got a chance to take off their uniforms. I am so grateful that we live in a County where we pause, reflect, honor, and celebrate our Armed Forces and their families.”
Our Veteran Services Office will host the annual Memorial Day Remembrance Event on Monday, May 25, beginning at 9 a.m., in Conference Room 126 of the William V. Bell Building (formerly the Administration II Building), at 201 E. Main Street. Residents and visitors are invited to attend this special ceremony honoring the heroes who answered when duty called and performed the most selfless and patriotic act: giving their lives in service to our country. The program includes a solemn roll call recognizing the more than 350 known Durham County veterans who died in service to our nation, followed by the traditional POW/MIA Table Ceremony, which pays tribute to service members who were taken as prisoners of war or remain missing in action, and will conclude with the playing of “Taps.”
An unknown author is quoted as saying, “The brave may fall, but never yield.” As we observe Memorial Day, please join me in taking a moment to remember, to reflect and to honor the men and women whose ultimate sacrifice has woven the enduring fabric of freedom that defines our country.
Until next week,
Claudia Hager
Durham County Manager