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Honoring our veterans

Explore LJVM Coliseum’s tribute to veterans

Markers represent fallen service members from five branches of the Armed Forces.
| Photo by WStoday

Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum — commonly referred to as “LJVM” or “the Joel” — is not just home to big events. The property on the corner of University Parkway and Deacon Boulevard bears the name of a veteran who is the only Winston-Salem native to receive the Medal of Honor. It also pays tribute to Forsyth County natives killed in service to their country.

Who was Lawrence Joel?

Lawrence Joel was born in Winston-Salem in 1928. He enlisted in the Army at the age of 18 and served as a medic during the Vietnam War. He was wounded during an attack north of Saigon on Nov. 8, 1965, but still managed to administer aid to 13 fellow soldiers over 24 hours. Joel is credited with saving their lives — and became the first living Black American to receive the nation’s highest combat award since the Spanish-American War. President Lyndon B. Johnson awarded him the medal during a ceremony in 1967.

At least 30,000 people welcomed Joel back to Winston-Salem with a parade in 1967.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Joel retired from military service in 1973 and died in Winston-Salem in 1984. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

In February 1986, the Winston-Salem Board of Alderman voted to name the coliseum in Joel’s honor. Wake Forest University, which purchased the coliseum from the city in 2013, has stayed in touch with the Joel family about future plans for the memorial.

The memorial

There are nearly 500 permanent markers on the East and West Promenades outside the coliseum. Each one is engraved with the name of a service member from Forsyth County who was killed in the following conflicts:

World War I
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom
Panama

concrete-markers-outside-coliseum — Visitors can locate specific markers using coordinates listed on plaques in each promenade.
|
Photo by WStoday

When new markers are added, a ceremony is held during a Memorial Day observance in the spring. It happens after the veteran’s military service and birth in Forsyth County have been verified. The Triad Vietnam Veterans Association assists with installing new markers.

Events

Friday, Nov. 10

Turkey Cake Competition — Cake Decorating Class | Friday, Nov. 10 | 4-5:30 p.m. | The Canvas Cake Studio, 300 Jonestown Rd., Winston-Salem | $45 | Unleash your creativity and learn the art of making a cake designed like a turkey — just in time for Thanksgiving.
WS Fearless Collective Game Night | Friday, Nov. 10 | 7-9 p.m. | 1002 Brookstown Ave., Winston-Salem | Free | Enjoy some friendly competition with an assortment of board games + card games.

Saturday, Nov. 11

Majestic Rachmaninoff & Shostakovich | Saturday, Nov. 11-Sunday, Nov. 12 | Times vary | RJ Reynolds Auditorium, 301 N. Hawthorne Rd., Winston-Salem | $10-$95 | Guest pianist Michelle Cann performs Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto — music from UNCSA’s Jared Miller and a symphony by Dmitri Shostakovich will also be featured.
National STEAM Day | Saturday, Nov. 11 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Kaleideum, 400 W. Hanes Mill Rd., Winston-Salem | Free | Celebrate National STEAM Day by learning from students with Wake Forest University’s Genetic Counseling Program and scientists from Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Veterans Day Ceremony | Saturday, Nov. 11 | 11 a.m. | Carolina Field of Honor at Triad Park, 9652 W. Market St., Kernersville | Free | A ceremony to honor all service members will be held rain or shine — bring your own chair.

Sunday, Nov. 12

Designing a Native Plant Garden | Sunday, Nov. 12 | 1-3 p.m. | Parkway United Church of Christ, 1465 Irving St., Winston-Salem | Free | Forsyth County Master Gardener Kathy Johnson will offer suggestions for native plants to add to your garden + design considerations before you plant them.

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News Notes

Civic

Some city operations will be altered today, Nov. 10 in observance of the Veterans Day holiday. City offices will be closed and garbage collection will be postponed until Monday, Nov. 13. Recycling + yard waste collection will not be affected.

Shop

Fiddle and Fig will host its next market on Sunday, Nov. 12 from 12 to 3 p.m. The event in the parking lot of the store at 403 W. End Blvd. will feature 15 small businesses from across NC.

Opening

GreeNest of Winston-Salem is moving its holiday pop-up store to a new location. The nonprofit will host an opening on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 5233 Robinhood Village Dr. Proceeds from purchases will go toward helping those at risk of homelessness.

Closed

BE Shoes in Thruway Shopping Center has closed after nearly 20 years. The owner said he considered multiple factors in making the decision. It’s not clear yet if a new tenant has rented the space. (Winston-Salem Journal)

Film

The School of Filmmaking at UNC School of the Arts will present its Fall Panorama tonight, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. The screening event will feature short films from alumni in celebration of its founding 30 years ago. Admission is free and no ticket is required.

Seasonal

Salem Band will host two free holiday concerts for the community. “Down Home Christmas” will be presented at New Philadelphia Moravian Church in Winston-Salem on Dec. 14 and at Clemmons First Baptist Church on Dec. 19. Both shows will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Arts

Artists can submit proposals for the “Invitational 2024 @ Delta Arts” juried exhibition until Friday, Dec. 1. The art gallery is seeking applications from African American artists in NC who have completed works in the past three years that are for sale.

Travel

See why The New York Times named Greenville, SC as one of the “52 Places to Go in 2023.” Plus, snag a free Visitor’s Guide to start planning your trip.*

Shop

Our online shop (Six & Main) now features Jenni Earle, a Winston-Salem small business that aims to remind people about their own courage through its products. Items include “be brave” bandanas, trophies, stickers, and cards. Shop now.

Plan Ahead

Holiday shop and hop

Hop on and off a trolley to get your holiday shopping done

Think of this as your modern-day sleigh. | Photo courtesy of Martha Lawson and Forsyth Tech Small Business Center

A trolley will be offering free rides around downtown Winston-Salem on Saturday, Nov. 25 — known as Small Business Saturday. Here’s how it will work:

Between the hours of 12 and 6 p.m., customers can get wristbands from participating local businesses that have a Small Business Saturday flyer in their storefront.
Shoppers can then ride the trolley from one end of downtown to the other, getting on and off at four stops along the way.
Children can also write a letter to Santa at Barcelona Burger Bar and send it to the North Pole by way of a special mailbox.

The new event is a collaboration between the Small Business Center at Forsyth Technical Community College and the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership. The goal is to give families a fun way to shop small this holiday season.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Cambridge

From the editor

Did you know that nearly 99,000 veterans call the Triad home? I’m so grateful to our brave neighbors who have answered the call to serve. If you are a member of the Armed Forces or the loved one of a service member — thank you.

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