Back
home in Chapel Hill, Eaves rallied friends and fellow ROTC alums to his
cause: a new memorial for Memorial Hall recognizing Carolina's service
dead since the Civil War. A member of the hall's transformation committee,
Eaves was already involved in the facility's two-year, $15 million renovation.
"Our initial goal was to raise $500,000 to name the portico,"
Eaves said. "We formed the ROTC Memorial Committee, drafted a letter
to ROTC alumni and so far, have received about $400,000 in pledges and
donations."
Located in the center of the UNC campus, Memorial Hall was built to honor
Carolina's fallen Civil War soldiers. After the first hall was razed and
a second one built on the site in 1931, the original memorial plaques
were incorporated into the auditorium of the new building which for 70
years served as a center for the performing arts, university ceremonies
and civic and campus events. Transformation of Memorial Hall into an updated,
state-of-the-art facility began in April 2002. As part of the process,
the lobby will be expanded on both sides, leaving the symmetry of its
historic façade intact.
Upon approval of the Board of Trustees, the ROTC Memorial Committee will
dedicate the portico area with a plaque inscribed, "ROTC Alumni to
honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country." The
original Civil War plaques will be reinstalled; research is also being
done to add the names of all those with ties to the University who died
in service to their country. A book listing their names and the names
of donors will be placed in the lobby.
The committee also wants to raise an additional $150,000 to $200,000 for
an outdoor memorial honoring Carolina's service dead. "This artwork
could take the form of a garden or a sculpture," Eaves said. "Students,
faculty, staff and visitors will pass by this space every day. Inside
and out, the sacrifice of our fallen heroes will always be remembered."
To make a gift honoring those Carolina alums who died in service to their country, please contact Sam Magill at 919-962-9694. If you know someone whose name should be included in the memorial listing, please call Don Luse, director of the Carolina Union, at 919-966-3120.