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Monuments & Memorials

"The centennial of World War One offers an opportunity for people in the United States
to learn about and commemorate the sacrifices of their predecessors."

from The World War One Centennial Commission Act, January 14, 2013

DCWorldWarMonumen 1World War One was a watershed in American history. The United States' decision to join the battle in 1917 "to make the world safe for democracy" proved pivotal in securing allied victory — a victory that would usher in the American Century.

In the war's aftermath, individuals, towns, cities, counties, and states all felt compelled to mark the war, as did colleges, businesses, clubs, associations, veterans groups, and houses of worship. Thousands of memorials—from simple honor rolls, to Doughboy sculptures, to grandiose architectural ensembles—were erected throughout the US in the 1920s and 1930s, blanketing the American landscape.

Each of these memorials, regardless of size or expense, has a story. But sadly, as we enter the war's centennial period, these memorials and their very purpose—to honor in perpetuity the more than four million Americans who served in the war and the more than 116,000 who were killed—have largely been forgotten. And while many memorials are carefully tended, others have fallen into disrepair through neglect, vandalism, or theft. Some have been destroyed. Watch this CBS news video on the plight of these monuments.

The extant memorials are our most salient material links in the US to the war. They afford a vital window onto the conflict, its participants, and those determined to remember them. Rediscovering the memorials and the stories they tell will contribute to their physical and cultural rehabilitation—a fitting commemoration of the war and the sacrifices it entailed.

Memorial Hunters Club

We are building a US WW1 Memorial register through a program called the Memorials Hunters Club. If you locate a memorial that is not on the map we invite you to upload your treasure to be permanently archived in the national register.  You can include your choice of your real name, nickname or team name as the explorers who added that memorial to the register. We even have room for a selfie! Check the map, and if you don't see the your memorial CLICK THE LINK TO ADD IT.

100 Cities - 100 Memorials

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  • Memorial Hunters Club Submission: Aaron Lefkowitz & Hiromu Mitabe
25 Plattekill Avenue
12561 New Paltz
NY
USA

"ERECTED BY THE GRATEFUL CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY" Serves as joint World Wars Memorial.

New Ulm's copy of E.M. Viquesney's much-duplicated "Spirit of the American Doughboy" was dedicated by the local VFW post in 1941 (then redone in 1995). John McCrae's iconic poem, "In Flanders Field," is inscribed at the base of the statue. Not far away stands a slightly older memorial: a flagpole erected "In memory of all war veterans" by the American Legion on November 11, 1934.

Central Park, S. Main St.
14513 Newark
NY
USA

An eagle sculpted of Barre Vermont light gray granite has its wings spread and head turned to the left, lt perches on a tall fluted granite column, which has a band of stars incised at its top. Beneath is an octagonal base with plaques inscribed with shields, stars and stripes, palm fronds and dates. It was dedicated on May 30,1928, to honor the soldiers, sailors and marines of all wars. Stone panels list the WWI and WWII dead.

Newark Veterans of Foreign Wars, 460 Forry Ave.
43055 Newark
OH
USA

A life-size metal statue of a WWI infantryman appears to be ad­vancing through the barbed wire and stumps of No Mans Land, while carrying a grenade in his upraised right hand and a rifle In his left. It was sculpted by E.M. Viquesney.

333 Washington St
02445 Brookline
MA
USA

Newsboys Memorial to Albert Edward Scott 

This memorial is dedicated to the local boy who is believed to have been the youngest American soldier killed in the First World War, Albert "Scotty" Scott.  Scotty was just a few weeks into his freshman year at Brookline High School when he lied to a recruiter about his age (15 at the time) and enlisted as a private in the infantry.  He was killed in action at age 16 on July 23, 1918 during an advance by the 26th Yankee Division north of Château-Thierry. Scotty had worked as a newsboy and after his death his fellow newsboys raised $2,000 for a plaque in his honor.  Brookline native Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson, a Brookline sculptor known for her war memorials, was chosen to create the Scotty memorial, which was dedicated in 1921.  A year later his body was disinterred from France and he was buried locally.




  • Photos courtesy of Lamar Veatch
Covington Square
30014 Covington
GA
USA

Granite obelisk in the city square. “In Loving and Grateful Memory of Those Citizens of Newton County Who Gave Their Lives in the Defense of Our Country”.  Fifteen names on the WW1-WW2 side of the obelisk are engraved from WW1.  

2003 20th St
25143 Nitro
WV
USA

Nitro War Museum

100 Cities / 100 Memorials

100c 100m wwi centennial plaque The U.S. federal government founded Nitro as a gunpowder manufacturing center to support the nation's efforts in fighting World War I.  Today, the city works hard to honor and preserve that history and considers the community to be "A Living Memorial to World War I.  The Nitro War Museum is home to many artifacts from the war and the creation of Nitro.

  • Dedication Date: May 29, 1988
46701 Albion
IN
USA
  • Dedication Date: November 11, 1922
46755 Kendallville
IN
USA
46408 Gary
IN
USA
Norfolk Junior High School, 510 Pasewalk Ave.
68701 Norfolk
NE
USA

John Paulding sculpted this bronze WWI soldier who holds his rifle parallel to the ground, and holds his other hand raised and open. The rectangular stone base has a plaque dedicating it to the veterans of all wars. It was unveiled by American Legion Post No. 16 on May 30, 1928.

  • Memorial Hunters Club Submission: Richard Byrne
3 North Street
06058 Norfolk
CT
USA

This World War I memorial, dedicated on November 11, 1921, is constructed of granite ashlar and is triangular in plan and elevation, echoing the Green on which it sits. Seats are built into the face of each side and bronze tablets commemorate the lives of those lost. It was built by the fathers and brothers of those who died.

Washington Cathedral
20016 Washington
DC
USA

This memorial (statue and tomb) was sculpted by Paul M. Landowski in 1937 to honor Norman Prince, the founder of the Escadrille Lafayette, a unit which fought in World War I.  Prince was born in 1887 in Massachusetts, graduated from Harvard University, and taught law in Chicago. While in law school at Harvard, he became just the 55th American to be licensed to fly an airplane. When World War I broke out in 1915, Prince quit his law practice and sailed to France. After more than a year, he finally persuaded the French government to create an air force in April 1916 (year before the United States entered the war).  This air force became known as the American Escadrille and later named the Lafayette Escadrille in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, the French officer who served in the Continental Army in the American Revolution. Prince flew 122 combat missions, and shot down five enemy planes. In October 1916, Prince's plane hit a telegraph wire as he was attempting to land. He crashed his plane and broke both legs. He died three days later from a blood clot. He was initially interred at Luxeuil, but later was moved to the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial tomb at St. Cloud (near Paris). In 1937, Prince's father, Frederick Prince, had Norman's body moved to Washington National Cathedral. Frederick Prince donated $200,000 to the cathedral so they could build a chapel in the south choir. 

For additional detail: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/long-entombed-at-national-cathedral-a-forgotten-hero-of-wwi-is-recalled/2016/10/12/c8bd2fc4-8fd6-11e6-9c85-ac42097b8cc0_story.html

  • Memorial Hunters Club Submission: Robert Shay, PH3, USNR-R, 1964-70
1776 E. Robinson St.
73071 Norman
OK
USA

“Sam”, as the 5’ granite doughboy is affectionately known by staff and patients,
has been a fixture here since moved from it’s original and still standing base at
1183 E. Main St. in Norman. This was the original location of the Veteran’s Center.
The doughboy and it’s original base have no inscription, dedication or Honor Roll
plaque. “Sam” is displayed at the center with a granite plaque dedicated to The
National Sojourners. Sam’s history is not known by Center staff, but research is
being done to correct it’s missing provenance.

  • Memorial Hunters Club Submission: Robert Shay, PH3, USNR-R, 1964-70
1776 E. Robinson St.
73071 Norman
OK
USA

A second WW1 artifact at the Norman Veterans Center is a bronze plaque
that is now mounted on the front of the new facility but appears to have
been moved from our old facility located at 1183 E. Main St. in Norman.
It commemorates Oklahoman’s Disabled and killed in World War I .
It is accompanied by a re-dedication plaque.

North Andover Police Station, Osgood St.
01845 North Andover
MA
USA

A standing bronze soldier in battle dress typical of the WWI era holds his rifle in front of himself, his right hand above the trigger and his left around the barrel. It sits on a large stone boulder, and was intended to typify the bravery and self-sacrifice of all North Andover men who served in the Army and Navy in any wars in defense of our country. It was sculpted by Theo A.R. Kitson and dedicated on June 14, 1913.

  • Memorial Hunters Club Submission: Memorial Hunter: Bob Beasley
7846 Pittsburg Rd.
44720 North Canton
OH
USA

Located in the center of the cemetery surrounded by American flags. References the Spanish-American War and World Wars

Keowee St. and Valley Pike
45404 Dayton
OH
USA

This is a circular stone plaza reached by steps. In the center on a square column is a globe topped with an eagle. At the edge of the plaza are three tall square columns, engraved to honor those who served in WWI, WWII, and the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

  • Memorial Hunters Club Submission: Andrew McGreal
Paul Revere Mall, Boston, MA 02113
02113 Boston
MA
USA

Located in the North End of Boston on the Freedom Trail just slightly southwest of the Old North Church (of Revolution fame), this plaque recognizes the service of North Enders in both the Spanish-American War and in World War I. It shares its courtyard space with several other plaques dedicated to other wars and famous North End residents. The plaque's reference to the First World War as simply "The World War" indicates it was established sometime before the Second World War. The World War I portion of the plaque reads: "In Honor of the Men of the North End Who Served Their Country in the World War 1917-1918"

  • Dedication Date: Unknown
46962 North Manchester
IN
USA