WWI Field Artillery Piece on the grounds of Morton Grove's American Legion Civic Center

 

The Elks Veterans Memorial is a tribute to the bravery, loyalty and dedication of the thousands of Elks who have fought and died for our country. It has been described as one of the most magnificent war memorials in the world, but with its monumental architecture and priceless art, the Memorial is more a symbol of peace and of the patriotism of the members of the Elks fraternity.

The Lincoln Hall Memorial Court was a gift from the UI classes of 1918 and 1919 and was dedicated as a memorial to University of Illinois students who died in World War I. It was dedicated on homecoming weekend on Nov. 1, 1969. The classes raised $25,000 for the project. One of the honorary co-chairmen of the campaign was George Halas, founder of the Chicago Bears and the National Football League and member of the class of 1918.

Midway Village Museum hosts an annual Great War Event, a World War I military event featuring re-enactors portraying soldiers and civilians from the United States, France, Great Britain, Belgium, Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary in the museum’s 13-acre Village on the museum grounds. Visitors engage in history with the opportunity to walk near encampments and tour a reproduction three-bunker trench, talk to over 220 re-enactors about life as a soldier, learn about the various military equipment and combat techniques of this war, and watch large-scale narrated battle reenactments.

Erected by the citizens of Oak Park and River Forest, Illinois in honor of the men of this community who took part in the World War, 1914-1918." It depicts a US pilot, a soldier & a sailor in front of a figure of Columbia sheathing her sword. Inscribed with the names of 2,446 veterans from Oak Park, 56 of whom were killed in WWI.

Actually, the "public subscription" efforts tallied $52,206.69, but the effort, spearheaded by a committee, started fundraising efforts as early as 1921, so the investment earnings on the fund topped out at $59,267.46, leaving the Park District of Oak Park with a trust fund of $6,693. 83 to be used for maintenance and cleaning.

 Renovation began in July 2009. Initially, it was expected to cost more than $240,000, but another $79,400 was added when inspectors in October 2009 found the foundation also was decaying. The final renovation cost was $326,400.

The Mission of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library is to acquire and maintain an accessible collection of materials and to develop appropriate programs focusing on the Citizen Soldier in the preservation of democracy. Colonel J.N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired), founder of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, assembled a major collection of books and related materials on military history, with a particular focus on the concept of the Citizen Soldier in America. Today, building upon that foundation through the generosity of private donors, the Pritzker Military Museum & Library has become a non-partisan research organization that attempts to increase the public understanding of military history and the sacrifices made by the men and women who have served. In a democratic society, it is important for people of all viewpoints to have an open, public forum to discuss the past, present, and future of the military. Through its collection and its programs, the Museum & Library is dedicated to serving as a forum for those discussions and preserving them for future generations. Since opening in 2003, the Museum & Library has hosted more than 400 events featuring the country's most acclaimed authors, historians, journalists, and scholars.

Proudly We Pay Tribute
To The Valiant
Men And Women
Of The
Sangamo Electric Co.
Who Gave Themselves
In Service And Sacrifice
For God And Country

In Memoriam
World War I
Leslie Smith

World War II
Henry Bunn -- Hardford Larison
Mike Cimbaista -- Franklin McKelvey, Jr.
Sam Connelly -- Glen Padget
Robert Cormeny -- Thomas Roberts, Jr.
John Eggleston -- John Vorhes
Ferren Hinds -- Elvis Waisath

1948

The bronze statue was first installed in 1921 by the Women's War Working Circle in Morton Grove. It has stood on this spot since that time, pre-dating the library which was built in 1952. On Memorial Day and Veterans Day, the Ladies Auxilliary of the American Legion Post 134 lay a wreath at the base in remembrance.

Morton Grove Doughboy

100 Cities / 100 Memorials

This bronze statue was first installed in 1921 by the Women's War Working Circle in Morton Grove. It has stood on this spot since that time, pre-dating the library which was built in 1952. On Memorial Day and Veterans Day, the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion Post 134 lays a wreath at the base of the statue in remembrance.

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.