Rockingham County honors Sgt. David Eugene Hardy after identification and return

The Rockingham County Board of Commissioners on April 7 adopted a resolution honoring the life and service of Sergeant David Eugene Hardy after his remains were identified and returned to the county.

County Manager Lance Metzler told the board Sgt. Hardy was born at Leakes Ford Junction, Cascade, Virginia, in November 1928, served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and died in a prisoner-of-war camp in Pyeongyang, North Korea, on Feb. 28, 1951. Metzler said Hardy’s remains had been buried as an unknown at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu after initial repatriation efforts in 1954, then were disinterred in 2019 for analysis; military records identified him on Sept. 27, 2024, and he was returned to Rockingham County in March 2025 for military services and burial at Danview Cemetery in Eden.

The resolution, introduced by county staff and read into the record, states the board’s appreciation for Sgt. Hardy’s service and sacrifice. Commissioner Richardson moved to adopt the resolution; Commissioner Hall seconded the motion, and the board approved the resolution by voice vote.

Family members who attended thanked county staff and the community for support during the repatriation and memorial events. A family member said, “We’re really appreciative of all the support that we’ve received from Rockingham County ... The patriotism in Rockingham County is alive and well, and we are sincerely appreciative of everything that’s been done.” Another family member described the homecoming as “one of the most special moments of our lives.”

The board asked family members to join them at the front of the chamber for recognition. The resolution records the board’s official acknowledgment and was adopted in April 2025.