Holly Springs memorial honors Marine killed in Afghanistan, built by brother's Eagle Scout project
HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. (WTVD) -- Sam Griffith Sr. visits the War on Terror Memorial at Veterans Park every few months as a quiet ritual to honor his son, U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Sam Griffith Jr., who was killed during his third deployment to Afghanistan in 2011.
"A lot of times I'll come out just to make sure everything's being done right," Griffith said. "I check up on the guys."
The memorial, completed in 2014, was built as an Eagle Scout project by Griffith's younger son, David, who wanted a tribute that would last. The structure honors service members killed in the War on Terror and the passengers and crew of American Airlines Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Steel from one of the World Trade Center towers sits at the top of the monument.
Griffith Jr.'s photo is displayed on the memorial. His father said he didn't believe his son wanted to return to Afghanistan, but his unit insisted he join them as a training instructor.
"They really wanted him to go so that he could get the men home," Griffith said. "Unfortunately, Sam was the one that got killed. However, on his birthday on June 14, his entire unit came home."
When it came time for younger brother David to choose an Eagle Scout project, he told his grandfather he wanted to build something permanent and that reflected his brother's legacy.
The memorial sits near a lake and neighborhood homes, surrounded by U.S. and military branch flags. Bricks sold to help fund the project line the walkway.
"It's just a remembrance of what happened," Griffith said. "The whole country got together and backed our administration, our military, families that lost loved ones."
Griffith Sr. said he is proud of both of his sons. One who died protecting Marines; and the other, David, now a chaplain captain forward deployed with the U.S. Army.
"Good boy. Miss him a lot." Griffith said of his son, Sam. "Actually, I miss David, too."
Griffith believes his son Sam would have been humbled by the memorial.
"He was the kind of guy that didn't like recognition," he said with a laugh. "He'd probably say David went a little too far."
