VFW joins $200,000 giveaway program to rescue ailing WW1 Memorials

By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, U.S. World War One Centennial Commission

WASHINGTON, DC—The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has become a Supporting Organization for the 100 CITIES/100 MEMORIALS program.

Sponsored by the United States World War One Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, 100 CITIES/100 MEMORIALS is a $200,000 matching grant program for groups who undertake the restoration, preservation or conservation of local World War One memorials.

After the war, thousands of World War One memorials were erected across the country to honor the local veterans who fought. 100 years later, many of these have fallen into obscurity and neglect fading from view as honors to those vets. The 100 CITIES/100 MEMORIALS program was created to support up to 100 WW1 memorial rescue projects in 100 places around the country.

“The VFW strongly believes in honoring all who served as well as those who made the ultimate sacrifice. This project allows us to take action at the local level in communities across the country to bring attention to those who served in World War One," said Debra Anderson, Quartermaster General for the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Commissioner with the World War One Centennial Commission.

The 100 CITIES/100 MEMORIALS program launched in July, 2016, and the grant application period runs until June 15, 2017. "Having the VFW as a supporting organization is a real benefit", said Theo Mayer, the 100 CITIES/100 MEMORIALS program manager for the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission. "With the help and support of the VFW's 1,300,000 members, we can expand the awareness of these available funds. Our mutual goal is to ensure the memory of World War One veterans, and the memorials placed all over America to honor their are remembered."

To help local VFW members to identify & adopt community World War One memorial projects, the 100 CITIES/100 MEMORIALS program managers have prepared new resources that are specially-tailored to VFW regional and local posts. These will be distributed in the coming weeks. Visit the 100 CITIES/100 MEMORIALS page for more information on the program.