Memorial

On Armistice Day 1924, the Orlando Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) dedicated a granite marker to the soldiers from Orange County, Florida, who died in World War I.  Created by Carly Kittel, the marker consists of a bronze tablet attached to a large granite block and was originally erected at Memorial High School in Orlando, Florida. In the dedication address, Francis Gregory, chapter regent, proclaimed that the granite marker symbolized the solid character of the United States of America, and the bronze plaque commemorated those who made the marker possible: the DAR and the citizens of Orange County. After Memorial High School was demolished in 1961, the Orange County World War I Soldiers Memorial was moved to South Lake Eola where it still stands today.

The first memorial constructed in Salt Lake City's Memory Grove Park, The Pagoda honors Utahns who gave their lives for their country during World War I. Built in a classic style in the 1920s, the Pagoda has eight columns supporting a circular crest or entablature (all but the roof). The marble used in its construction was from the same source used in the construction of the Lincoln Monument in Washington, D.C. In 1932 a central octagonal column and urn were added bearing the names of fallen Utahns. Originally created as a city park in 1902, Memory Grove Park was dedicated in 1924 as a memorial for America's soldiers and contains several other monuments in addition to The Pagoda. On August 11, 1999 a tornado passed through Memory Grove Park resulting in the destruction of over 400 old trees. No monuments were damaged.

This bronze sculpture, entitled Return from the Argonne by British sculptor James Butler, RA, was dedicated on November 11, 2021 in front of the City of Montgomery's Union Station. 

The Return from the Argonne complements The Rainbow Soldier, another bronze sculpture from James Butler dedicated in August 2017, which remembers specifically the legacy of the 167th U.S. Infantry Regiment of the famous 42nd Rainbow Division, and their contributions in multiple battles that were vital to winning the war. Known as “The Immortals,” these heroic soldiers, many of who made the ultimate sacrifice, were revered for their unwavering courage in the face of unrelenting enemy attack. Their bravery in fighting alongside the French at the Battle of Croix Rouge Farm helped push back the Germans at the Ourcq River, one of the most critical points of the war. 

The Rainbow Soldier was gifted to the City of Montgomery by the Croix Rouge Farm Memorial Foundation through the generosity of longtime community and business leader Nimrod T. Frazer, Silver Star. It was originally commissioned in 2011 at the Croix Rouge Farm, located to the south of the French city of Fère-en-Tardenois on the site of the Battle of Croix Rouge Farm; the Montgomery sculpture is a second casting of the one in France. 

It was from this very same Victorian Railroad station that the soldiers from Alabama departed for France in August 1917 and where they returned in May 1919. The Return from the Argonne memorializes these soldiers, as well as all Alabamians who fought in the Meuse Argonne campaign, specifically the African American soldiers from the 366th Infantry in the 92nd division, the majority of whom called Alabama home. 

Another Alabama native son, the famous band leader James Reese Europe, from Mobile, also served in the Argonne. He led the military band of the 369th regiment (Harlem Hell Fighters) which brought jazz to Europe. 

Inscription: This monument perpetuates the memory of the sons and daughters of Prince George’s County who, true to the traditions of their county and the teachings of their forefathers, served their country in the Great War of 1917-1918. To the spirit of that service tribute is here paid by a grateful people.

This Memorial Monument stands in memory to four
recently returned World War 1 U.S. Army Veterans
slain while peacefully marching in the American
Legion Armistice Day parade, November 11, 1919

Location: George Washington Park
East side of S. Pearl St. between W. Main St. & W. Locust St.
Centralia, Washington 98531

Back Inscription:
TO THE MEMORY OF

BEN CASAGRANDA
WARREN O. GRIMM
ERNEST DALE HUBBARD
ARTHUR MC ELFRESH

SLAIN ON THE STREETS OF
CENTRALIA, WASHINGTON
ARMISTICE DAY, NOV. 11, 1919
WHILE ON PEACEFUL PARADE
WEARING THE UNIFORM OF
THE COUNTRY THEY LOYALLY
AND FAITHFULLY SERVED

Front Inscription:
THE
SENTINEL

IT WAS THEIR DESTINY -
RATHER IT WAS THEIR
DUTY - THE HIGHEST OF US
IS BUT A SENTRY
AT HIS POST

The sides are adorned on each side with bronze relief
pictures of the four soldiers and inspirational sayings.

Pvt. J. Robert Conroy befriended a stray pup as his infantry regiment trained on the Yale University campus in the summer of 1917. Naming the mutt Stubby, Conroy somehow smuggled him to France where he became the regiment's mascot. Stubby participated in 17 battles, was wounded twice, saved countless lives by smelling mustard gas before it arrived, and once captured a German spy by biting him on the butt (Stubby had an uncanny ability to identify Germans). He was renamed "Sergeant Stubby," returned home as a war hero, and met President Woodrow Wilson, who shook his paw.

On Memorial Day 2018, this life-size bronze statue of Sgt. Stubby was unveiled in his home state of Connecticut. The sculpture by Susan Bahary depicts Stubby giving a salute, a trick that endeared him to Conroy's commanding officer. He wears a vest that was made by the grateful women of France, to which were pinned Stubby's many medals. Stubby was the most decorated dog of World War I.

Also see: http://roadstothegreatwar-ww1.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-sergeant-stubby-memorial.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email

The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium is a historic performance hall in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Built between 1922 and 1924 by John Parks at a cost of $700,000 and designed by noted architect R. H. Hunt, who also designed Chattanooga's lavish Tivoli Theatre, the theater honors area veterans of World War I.

In 1924 the Soldiers' and Sailors' memorial, also known as "Youth Triumphant", was erected. The monument was carved from Barre granite by local artists Gino Enrico Tosi, Enrico Mori and John Delmonte from a model created by New Your sculptor C. Paul Jennewein. The figure of a noble young warrior supplicating for peace soon became a trademark of Barre and was adopted as the city seal.

The warrior sits atop a Barre granite base inscribed with verses from poet Laurence Binyon's "Ode for the Fallen". A graceful, sweeping granite bench completes the memorial. Created by John Mead Howells, the bench is often referred to as the "whispering wall" because the graceful curve "carries" sound from one end of the bench to the other.

DEDICATED TO THE PATRIOTIC SPIRIT AND SACRIFICE OF OUR COUNTRY'S YOUTH

THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD AS
WE THAT ARE LEFT GROW OLD
AGE SHALL NOT WEARY THEM
NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN
AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE
SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE
WILL REMEMBER THEM

(Metal plaque on base reads:) SPIRIT OF THE/AMERICAN DOUGH(illegible)Y/COPYRIGHTED/E.M. VIQUESNEY SCULPTOR/SPENCER, INDIANA (Plaque on front of stone base, with eagle on top:) Spalding County/Dedicates this memorial as a/perpetual evidence/of her Gratitude for the/Brave, Loyal and Patriotic service/rendered by/Her Sons and Daughters/in 1917-The World War 1918 unsigned

(Center of base:) ERECTED BY/HENRY WALTON CHAPTER/DAUGHTERS OF/THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION/IN MEMORY OF/THE BOYS FROM/MORGAN COUNTY, GEORGIA/WHO FOUGHT IN THE WORLD WAR/APRIL 6, 1917-NOV. 11, 1918 unsigned

(On front of base:) IN MEMORIAM/WORLD WAR VETERANS/OF CHATOOGA (sic) COUNTY/GEORGIA/1917-1918/ERECTED 1934/BY CITIZENS AND FRIENDS/OF CHATOOGA (sic) COUNTY/FOSTERED BY/THE TRION COMPANY/B.D. RIEGER, PRES. & TREAS./N.B. MURPHY, VICE PRES.,/A.D. ELLIOT (Back and sides of base have 4 metal plaques listing 475 veterans) unsigned

(On plaque on base:) That the memory of the boys who gave their lives and their services in the defense of their country and to perpetuate its ideals shall live as an inspiration to courage and patriotism unsigned

Commissioned by the East End Improvement Association and dedicated on November, 11, 1922, Alton's original E. M. Viquesney "Doughboy" statue was originally at the intersection of Henry and 5th street. The statue was moved in 1942 to Riverside (now Riverfront) Park and moved once again and rededicated in 1975 to 445 Alby Street in front of VFW Post 1308. E. M. Viquesney was a sculptor who produced a series of World War I statues in honor of fallen soldiers called "Spirit of the American Doughboy." The sculptures depict a young WWI soldier in full uniform, his fist raised triumphantly in victory. Viquesney's war statues were the first mass-produced memorials on record and were made using a design copyrighted in 1921 using 75 thin sheets of sheet bronze that were mechanically pressed and welded together over an internal frame.

The memorial in Alton has several commemorative plaques. The front reads: This memorial is erected to commemorate the patriotism and devotion of our citizens who answered our country's call and served in the World War. The plaque on the right has a list of engraved names of soldiers who gave their lives in WWI. The left plaque has a quote by Abraham Lincoln and the back of the statue has a list of 13 WWI battle sites. A nearby plaque was dedicated to those who lost their lives in WWII and the Korea and Vietnam Wars.

There once was a Viquesney Doughboy here, but it was severely vandalized and removed in 1946. according to Les Kopel

The left photo was taken at the former Herrin City Park location Northeast of the center of town. The Doughboy was moved in October of 2002 and rededicated the following November 11 at the new location shown on the right in a small downtown plaza area across from City Hall at the corner of North Park Avenue and West Adams Street. A major portion of the move was handled by the National Guard. The plaques honoring veterans were also moved and placed on the wall behind the Doughboy.