Left to right: Larry D. Hall, Secretary, N.C. Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; Lorie Southerland, Gold Star Mother; Alicia Woods, Gold Star Spouse, James Trogdon, III, Secretary of Transportation. (photo: North Carolina DOT)The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has formally dedicated portions of NC 24, covering the counties of Carteret, Cumberland, Duplin, Harnet, Onslow and Sampson, as the Gold Star Highway.
NCDOT plans to install 12 signs along the route, including one at each county line, to remind travelers of the service and sacrifice of Gold Star families.
“The symbol of the Gold Star came from families of service personnel hanging a banner called a Service Flag with a gold star in the window of their homes to represent those who lost their lives serving their nation,” the department says.
Transportation Secretary James Trogdon III, speaking during a ceremony at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, and who retired in 2016 as the Deputy Adjutant General for the North Carolina National Guard, said that it was an honor to recognize military families at his first road naming ceremony since becoming Secretary of Transportation in January.
Other speakers at the ceremony included: Terry Hutchens, Division 6 Member, N.C. Board of Transportation; Rev. Randy Cash, N.C. American Legion; Greg Gebhardt, Advisor, N.C. General Assembly; Rep. David Lewis, Member, N.C. General Assembly; Lorie Southerland, Gold Star Mother; Alicia Woods, Gold Star Spouse and Larry D. Hall, Secretary, N.C. Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
