WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington might be the first to get the American World War II City designation.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Monday to give that honor to at least one city in the country each year. Congressman Mike McIntyre, Captain Wilbur Jones and the World War II Wilmington Home Front Heritage Coalition have been working for years to try and bring the national recognition to the Port City.
According to a news release from Congressman McIntyre, during World War II, Wilmington was the “Defense Capital of the State.” It based and trained all five military services. Also, the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company of Wilmington constructed 243 cargo vessels that provided goods and equipment to soldiers.
The bill now goes to the U.S. Senate Veteran’s Affairs Committee whose ranking member is North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr.