Captain David MacAlpine, a hero to many
“If anybody deserves a bridge or street named after them, it would be Captain David MacAlpine,” said Cornell Hardison, in support of naming a bridge after Captain David MacAlpine.
A military man, a husband, a father, and a hero to many in New Hanover County. Now, some members of the community, like LeRon Montgomery, President of the New Hanover County Branch of the NAACP, are working to honor Captain David MacAlpine’s’ legacy by naming a bridge after him
“We kept getting new vehicles with the Church departments, or any other equipment that is needed. I was always told to go to Captain Mac; he can make that happen. When he passed away, those perks and resources were very greatly missed,” said Montgomery.
After serving in the United States Marines MacAlpine spent the last 30 years of his life with the New Hanover County Sheriff’s office, and at one point, served on the Governor’s Task Force.
MacAlpine died in 2021 after contracting COVID-19. To those who knew him, they say his impact is still deeply felt. Cornell Hardison, a father figure to MacAlpine, says he was dedicated to helping young people who were struggling in life.
“We had a lot of young men, in eastern Pender County, that was headed in the wrong direction. He was a great figure for these young men. I personally knew many of these people because some of them were my friends, and he had a great impact on their life, by just talking to them,” said Hardison.
He says MacAlpine wasn’t just a man of words, but also a man of action. He points to MacAlpine’s key role in the search for a 6-year-old girl who was kidnapped in in 2016.
“They had a picture of him, because he was deeply involved in the hunt, they had a picture of him bringing her out in his arms, and it brought tears into my eyes,” said Hardison. “It wasn’t just only my eyes, but other people were crying as well, seeing him bring out that young lady out the woods.”
Hardison hopes MacAlpine’s actions, words, and character can serve as a lesson for everyone.
“He always wanted to be a leader, and he leaded the right way, by being honest with people,” said Hardison “That’s one thing you have to do with people, be honest. That will take you a long way.”
