James Rogers McConnell Memorial

Jacques MacConnell (James McConnell) was a citizen of Carthage, N.C. He was a pilot for the American Military who enlisted in the French Army in 1915 and flew in the Lafayette Escadrille. On March 19, 1917 he was killed over France during an air battle with German fighter planes. He is celebrated annually in Carthage on Memorial Day. Front plaque: IN HONOR OF / JAMES ROGERS MCCONNELL / 1887-1917 Front, obelisk: JAMES ROGERS MCCONNELL / A CITIZEN OF CARTHAGE / JOINED THE FRENCH ARMY / EARLY IN 1915 AND AFTER / TWO YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED / SERVICE FELL IN HEROIC / BATTLE WITH GERMAN / AEROPLANES ON MARCH 19, 1917. / HE FOUGHT FOR HUMANITY, LIBERTY / AND DEMOCRACY, LIGHTED THE WAY / FOR HIS COUNTRYMEN AND SHOWED / ALL MEN HOW TO DARE NOBLY / AND TO DIE GLORIOUSLY. / A FOUNDER OF THE LAFAYETTE ESCADRILLE Rear, plaque: HE FOUGHT WITH ARDOUR, FOR HE / FOUGHT UNSTAINED, HE DIED WITH / GLORY, FOR HE DIED FOR TRUTH, / HE GAVE, UNRECKONING THE GAIN / OR LOSS, HIS HOPES, HIS DREAMS, / HIS PROMISE AND HIS YOUTH.