Governor Stein Celebrates Veterans Day at North Carolina Central University

Today Governor Josh Stein joined North Carolina Central University’s Veterans Day observance program and inducted several people, including five veterans, into The Order of the Long Leaf Pine.  

“North Carolina’s veterans have courageously served our country, and we owe them a debt of gratitude,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Today we honor their service, recognize their lasting contributions, and rededicate ourselves to helping veterans and military families build a strong future in our state.” 

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Honorees in Attendance: 

• Dr. Tyrone Baines, Durham County – Former North Carolina Central University Chief Operating Officer and civil rights activist  
• Pastor Kenneth Dula, Durham County – Vietnam War veteran and Purple Heart recipient 
• Dr. Stephanie Freeman, Durham County – Former Director of the Arts and Humanities Program at North Carolina Central University and U.S. Air Force spouse 
• Retired Gunnery Sgt. Henry Grange, Columbus County – U.S. Marine Corps Montford Point Marine, Vietnam War veteran, and Congressional Gold Medal recipient 
• Retired Gunnery Sgt. Robert L. Thomas, Durham County – U.S. Marine Corps Montford Point Marine, Korean War veteran, and Congressional Gold Medal recipient 

Governor Stein also honored Montford Point Marine and WWII veteran Oliver Diggs of Lenoir County as a Long Leaf Pine recipient. 

North Carolina is home to more than 600,000 veterans and the fourth-largest military presence in the nation, including the most populated military base in the nation. Governor Stein’s administration is committed to supporting North Carolina’s military families and veterans. 

This week marks the one-year anniversary of Governor Stein and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services launching the statewide AskMeNC initiative and website focused on improving the lives of North Carolina’s veterans, service members, and their families through services including health care, housing, benefits navigation, employment, education services, and family support. The initiative utilizes the existing NCServes coordination system to connect users with trusted, community-based providers across the state.  

Last month, Governor Stein joined the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs at the Unlock the Veteran & MilSpouse Advantage Roadshow in Wilmington, the last of a statewide series connecting employers, workforce leaders, and community partners to explore how hiring from the military community strengthens North Carolina’s workforce, businesses, and economy. In May, the Governor signed an executive order that directs all cabinet agencies to designate a Military Affairs Coordinator to coordinate shared efforts supporting servicemembers and recommend strategies for addressing opportunities and challenges in supporting military communities.

Last year, Governor Stein signed into law four bills that support servicemembers and their families, helping military spouses transfer their professional licenses from out of state, making it easier to remotely renew driver licenses, aiding parents enrolling their children in public schools, and helping military students afford tuition in the University of North Carolina System. In August 2025, Governor Stein announced North Carolina became a Do Your Part State – a joint initiative between Blue Star Families and the National Governors Association that supports military families. 

Next week, Governor Stein will present six distinguished North Carolinians with the North Carolina Award, the state’s highest civilian honor. Honorees will include Lt. General Kevin Vereen (Ret.), who closed his career as the Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff. Proceeds from ticket sales for the awards ceremony at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh will go to two charities that benefit veterans and military families: Blue Star Families and Camp Corral. Blue Star Families is a national nonprofit organization that supports military families through the challenges of military life by better connecting them with the communities they live in during their servicemembers’ military service and deployments. Camp Corral serves children of this nation’s wounded, ill, and fallen military heroes. 

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