Because they serve,
we are free.

The merchants of downtown Kinston, North Carolina and local veteran's groups come together every year for the annual “Salute! A Tribute to America's Veterans". Now they are joining forces again to create a permanent memorial to all those who have served our country.

The Walk of Honor is a permanent commemorative walkway that is paved with bricks engraved with the names of honored men and women who have served our great country. It will parallel the picturesque Neuse River as it winds its way through the beautifully landscaped Neuseway Park. Along the way small sitting areas and memorials will afford quiet places for reflection and tribute.

The groundbreaking ceremony for phase one of the Walk of Honor was in September, 2003. On Veterans Day, 2003, veterans marched to the starting point of the walk during the Salute! A Tribute to America's Veterans Celebration and it was officially dedicated to all the men and women who have served in our armed forces.

Phase two of the Walk of Honor was begun on April 28, 2004. Placed along the riverfront walk, there will be over one hundred new bricks engraved with the names of honored veterans.

This SALUTE! website contains an online archive of all honorees, along with biographies and photos when available. A special section called “Service Stories” is now available to honor veterans who wish to share service time experiences. This website will also detail the memorial’s progress and give information on how you can help build the Walk of Honor.

By purchasing a brick, or by supporting the Walk of Honor in other ways, you not only help create a lasting memorial for veterans, you also create an opportunity for awareness of the sacrifices made by those who have selflessly served our great country.

Kinston's Proud Heritage

Kinston, North Carolina has played a significant role in over two hundred years of American military history.
During the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, major battles that shaped the history of our nation occurred in and around Kinston.  During World Wars I and II, tens of thousands of soldiers from military bases throughout Eastern North Carolina chose the friendly town of Kinston to visit for rest and recreation before being deployed overseas.    Kinston was incorporated in 1762 as Kingston, in honor of King George III. The bill to incorporate Kingston was introduced by Richard Caswell, who made his home in Kingston and later served as the first Governor of the State of North Carolina from 1776 to 1780. The conclusion of the American Revolutionary War brought a change of name to Kinston in 1784. In 1833 Kinston became Caswell, in honor of the governor, but reverted to Kinston the following year. Kinston is a city located in Lenoir County, North Carolina. As of the 2000 census, Kinston had a total population of 23,688. Kinston was the county seat of Dobbs County from 1779 to 1791, and Kinston has been the county seat of Lenoir County since its formation in 1791. Kinston is the home of the Kinston Indians baseball club of the Carolina League as well as the well known Kinston Drag Strip. Kinston and Lenoir County has a very rich Civil War and Revolutionary War history also, including 2 battlefields, CSS Neuse Ironclad and Museum, Harmony Hall, Governor Richard Caswell Memorial, Korean Veterans Memorial, Walk of Honor, Cultural Heritage Museum, a wonderful Community Council for the Arts, many Civil War and Revolutionary grave sites and a scale replica of the CSS Neuse that is under construction, we like to call the CSS Neuse II. Kinston and Lenoir County has over 6,000 veterans which have served in many of our Countries Theaters.