Veteran's Pointe Memorial Park in Duncan Park serves as a place of reflection and remembrance for Spartanburg families honoring those lost in military service. Melissa Rhine photo
While the grills fire up and the lake fills with families enjoying the long holiday weekend, Spartanburg pauses each Memorial Day to remember the empty seats at those tables- the sons, daughters, husbands and wives who never made it home.
At the center of that remembrance is Veterans Pointe Memorial Park, tucked inside Duncan Park. For many local families, the memorial has become more than just a monument. It is a gathering place for reflection, ceremonies and quiet moments honoring those who paid the ultimate price in service to the country.
The memorial continues to grow year after year with plaques, dedications and spaces recognizing Spartanburg County veterans from multiple generations of service. Empty boots stand as a solemn reminder of lives cut short, while flags lowered to half-staff create a striking visual throughout the holiday weekend. Local VFW and American Legion posts traditionally host Memorial Day ceremonies there, including wreath layings, readings of names and moments of prayer and reflection.
In late 2024, the park added a powerful new monument honoring disabled, ill and injured veterans from Spartanburg County. Located just steps from the main memorial, the addition recognizes thousands of local service members whose sacrifices continued long after returning home.
Visitors can walk the memorial freely throughout the weekend. The peaceful setting inside Duncan Park offers a quieter side of Memorial Day that often gets overshadowed by cookouts and lake days.
Other monuments across the county also serve as reminders of the community’s deep military ties. The Boiling Springs Veterans Monument near Highway 9 stands as a tribute to veterans from the northern part of the county, while plans continue moving forward for the Woodruff Veterans Memorial in southern Spartanburg County.
Memorial Day weekend also unofficially marks the start of barbecue season across the Upstate, and several local favorites are already offering holiday preorder specials. Little Pigs BBQ is taking Memorial Day preorders for pulled pork, ribs, chicken and classic Southern sides perfect for lake weekends and family cookouts. Meanwhile, Jolly Rogers Woodfired BBQ is offering Memorial Day bundle specials featuring pulled pork, hash, buns and side dishes for larger gatherings.
Those are just two of many local barbecue spots preparing for one of the busiest weekends of the year. Residents are also likely to spot homemade hash and barbecue sales popping up throughout the county in church parking lots, community centers and roadside stands. Many of those longtime Southern traditions help raise money for local schools, athletic teams, fire departments and community organizations, making them a meaningful part of the weekend as well.
For those looking to honor the holiday through action, the annual Murph Challenge returns to the Middle Tyger YMCA on Monday, May 25, at 8 a.m. The grueling workout- a 1-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats and another 1-mile run- is held nationwide in memory of fallen service members and Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy.
Between crowded patios, lake weekends and family cookouts, the real purpose behind Memorial Day in Spartanburg should remain clear. Freedom carries a cost, and for many Spartanburg families, that cost was personal.
This Memorial Day, organizers encourage residents not only to enjoy the holiday weekend but also to show up. Visit a monument. Attend a ceremony. Support local veterans organizations. Pause long enough to remember the fallen whose sacrifices made the freedom to celebrate possible.
