WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington could soon receive a very special honor. Local and state leaders want the Port City to be named as the first World War II Heritage City.
“There are two criteria. One is what did y’all do during the war for the war effort? Equally important, what have you done since then to preserve that legacy?” historian Wilbur Jones said.
Last week, the North Carolina House of Representatives adopted a resolution urging Congress to recognize one city each year for its efforts during the war. Representative Ted Davis sponsored that bill and has been a big supporter of the push.
“I have a heritage of knowing and respecting so much our military and the sacrifices our men and women make serving us so we can have the freedom such as being here today,” Davis said.
The Port City played a large role in shipbuilding and 248 New Hanover County men lost their lives during the Second World War.
Jones has been spearheading the effort to get Wilmington recognized for ten years.
“Wilmington was a small, sleepy little town in 1941,” Jones said. “All of a sudden, all of the armed forces came here in ’41. The ship yard opened. We constructed 243 ships, among other things to support the war effort. Wilmington became a boom town.”
Jones will head to the nation’s capital this week to talk with Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr, along with Representative David Rouzer. He hopes to gather some support for his effort.
In addition to its contribution to the war effort, city and county officials say Wilmington has many preservation accomplishments as well. They cite the Battleship North Carolina and the Hannah Block USO Building as key landmarks in the effort for this recognition.