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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.

 

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Chevron Veteran's Memorial Parkloupe
Simpson Ave. at 8th Street
Hoquiam
WA
USA 98550

Park contains a Memorial Monument to Hoquiam residents lost in World Wars 1, 2, Korea and Vietnam.
Also there is a granite marker to those who built the park and a very old bronze plaque dedicating a tree
to Clara Barton by “The National Woman’s Relief Corps Auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic”, an
association of Union Army veterans of the American Civil War.

 
Cheyenne and Arapaho Veterans Memorialloupe
100 Red Moon Circle
El Reno
OK
USA 73022

Cheyenne-Arapaho-Veterans Memorial Wall

This war memorial stands on the grounds of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribal Headquarters. This is a beautiful war memorial, erected near the tribal administration offices. Four black granite pillars are engraved with the names of tribal members who have served in this Nation's wars. The photo gallery shows closeups of some of the names which are distinctly Native American. Above the four pillars a black granite cross beam reads: "Men and Women Who Served to Protect our Freedoms", and the words: Duty - Honor - Country - Tribe. A red granite gabled pediment is above engraved: "Cheyenne-Arapaho Veterans" and the words: Tsistsistas (Cheyenne) and Hinono'el (Arapaho). The center black pillar has a map of Oklahoma, with tribal symbols. It reads: "In honor of our veterans and the Gold Star Mothers we dedicate this memorial". Beneath that: "Our veterans gave a portion of their lives, and some lost their lives in order for us to enjoy the freedom we have now". The names of those Killed In Action are listed beneath. The memorial stands on an octagonal plaza with two benches and is lit at night. Designed and built by Willis Granite.

 
Cheyenne River Sioux World War I Memorialloupe
Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation
Eagle Butte
SD
USA 

This memorial stone is located in the town of Eagle Butte, and honors the Sioux veterans, chiefs, and valiant men who died fighting in WWI.

The impetus to erect this memorial came from Congress, in April 29, 1930, when they passed the resolution to build a memorial in order to honor the twenty-five Sioux men who fought in WWI.

 
Chickasaw County Veterans Memorialloupe
8 East Prospect Street
New Hampton
IA
USA 50659

The Chickasaw County Veterans Memorial was dedicated on
November 11, 2013.
Opening into the Memorial is a large archway etched with the
emblems of all branches of the military, with two small tablets,
one one each side, thanking donors and veterans. There are
ten black granite walls inscribed with the names of local
veterans from all wars as well as peacetime. There are also
two obelisks, benches, granite markers and a bronze sculpture
of a young woman and child holding a ceremonially folded
American flag.
No taxpayer funds were used to build this Memorial. only
donations from veterans, veterans families and other private
sources, as well as grants.

 
Chilton County Veterans Memorialloupe
500 2nd Ave N
Clanton
AL
USA 35045
May 26, 1986
 
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Chinese-American War Memorialloupe
Pine Street and Quincy Street
San Francisco
CA
USA 94108

100 Cities / 100 Memorials

100c 100m wwi centennial plaque This  is 3' x 4' bronze plaque dedicated to the veterans of Chinese ancestry who made the supreme sacrifice in World War I and World War II. It is located in St. Mary's Park (Square) in San Francisco's Chinatown. The plaque was a joint venture in the early 1950s of the American Legion, Cathay Post #384 and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Chinatown Post #4618. Money was raised through a community fundraiser.  Memorial Day annual services are ongoing.

 
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Choctaw War Memorialloupe
10 Council House Rd
Tuskahoma
OK
USA 74574

Photo courtesy of Forest County Potawatomi

This memorial is inscribed: In Honor of Those Choctaws Who Gave Their Lives in Defense of Our Nation. It is further dedicated to the Choctaw code talkers of WW1. Although Native Americans were not considered citizens during WW1, roughly 10,000 volunteered to serve. Once they reached the front, Native servicemembers were stereotyped as fierce warriors and frequently assigned to dangerous missions. As a result, they suffered casualty rates five times higher than U.S. troops overall.

 
Christos Kalivas Memorialloupe
Kalivas Park, Lake, Cedar, Chestnut, and Barry Sts.
Manchester
NH
USA 03103

A low relief bronze panel depicts a young man wearing a WWI military jacket, and that is set against an upright shaft of New Hampshire granite. At the top is a low relief image of an eagle, with wings spread fan-like upward, with a five-pointed star above its head. It was sculpted by Francoise T. Bourcier and dedicated on March 29, 1959, in memory of Christos Kalivas, the first Greek-American to die in WWI.

 
Churubusco War Memorialloupe
115 S. Main Street, Churubusco IN 46723
Churubusco
IN
USA 46723
1948

This tablet erected to perpetuate the memory of those who sacrificed their lives and honoring those who served in our armed forces.

 
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Circleville Veterans Memorialloupe
115 E Main Street
Circleville
UT
USA 84723

Donor bricks are located on each side of the walkway leading to the Circleville Veterans Memorial in the small park at approximately 115 E Main Street in Circleville, Utah. The memorial is dedicated to all those who have served, with sections for each war since 1865. A statue of a soldier, which can be seen in the picture gallery, stands near the memorial.

 
Citizen Soldiers Monument - Irvingtonloupe
Springfield Avenue & Nesbitt Terrace
Irvington
NJ
USA 07111
1922
Charles Keck

This monument was erected to honor the soldiers & sailors of Irvington, NJ who fought in World War I. It depicts a bronze soldier dressed in a military uniform with an open-collared shirt, holding a bayonet in his lowered right hand. In his left hand, he grasps an upright flagpole topped with a small eagle. A partially unfurled American flag wraps around the flagpole.

In the back of the figure, an anvil is placed atop a tree stump and topped with an open book and an oil lamp. The statue stands on an inscribed marble base decorated in its upper portion with a relief of garland leaves.

Narrative adapted from Smithsonian Institution Research Information System (SIRIS) inventory #NJ000277.

Photo courtesy of: Smithsonian Institution Research Information System (SIRIS)

 
Citizens of Irvington Monumentloupe
Baltimore
MD
USA 21229

Inscription: As a lasting expression of their gratitude and affection, have placed this tablet as a testimonial to the young men of this community, who, in a spirit of unselfish patriotism, volunteered at their country's call, in the cause of democracy.

 
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City of Bisbee War Memorialloupe
Bisbee Police Department Headquarters
Bisbee
AZ
USA 85603

This bronze plaque and obelisk once stood at the entrance to Old Town Bisbee, but was moved to this location. The date of the move is unknown. The significance of the obelisk is also unknown, but it appears to be topped with an old flag pole ball top and has a bronze American Legion emblem on the front. In the gallery photo of Police HQ, the monument can be seen to the right of the flag pole base, withe two posts and a chain in front of it.

The plaque reads:

THE CITY OF BISBEE HONORS BY THIS MEMORIAL HER WARRIORS WHO DIED IN THE DEFENSE OF THE PRINCIPALS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AGAINST ENEMIES OF FREEDOM IN WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR 2, THE KOREAN WAR, THE WAR IN VIETNAM THAT THEIR PATRIOTIC SACRIFICE WILL BE AN INSPIRATION TO SAFE GUARD LIBERTY IN THE UNITED STATES FOREVER.

DEDICATED THIS MEMORIAL DAY

MAY 31, 1976

 
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City of Renton Memorial Plaqueloupe
523 S 3rd St
Renton
WA
USA 98055

This plaque is inscribed with the names of "the boys of the city of Renton who served in the World War" as well as the Bible verse John 15:13: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." A star next to a name signifies "Died In Service," meaning the servicemember was killed in action, died of wounds, died of disease, or died in an accident. The memorial is located in Veterans Memorial Park, south of the Renton History Museum.

 
City of Richmond Heights World War Service Rosterloupe
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 3500
Richmond Heights
MO
USA 63117

IN HONOR AND MEMORY
OF THOSE WHO SERVED
           DURING THE
WORLD WAR, 1914 - 1918

Followed by the names of the 70 soldiers, sailors and marines from Richmond Heights who served in
the World War six of them who Died In Service are noted at the top of the list with a star preceding their name.

DEDICATED MAY 30, 1923
               BY THE
CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF
    RICHMOND HEIGHTS

 

In recognition of those who served in World War 2 and The Korean War with special emphasis to those “…WHO GAVE THEIR LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION FOR THEIR COUNTY”, an additional plaque was added and dedicated on May 30, 1954. It however does not list the names of those soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen.

 

 
City of Seattle Employee Honor Rollloupe
500 4th Ave #430
Seattle
WA
USA 98104

Dedicated in 1931
Restored and Rededicated 4-6-2017
500 Block of Fourth Avenue Employee Entrance Niche

This bronze Honor Roll contains the names of all city employees who served in The World War.
Names of service members lost in The Great War are precede by a Star.

 
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Clackamas War Memorial Plaqueloupe
104 Tumwater Drive
Oregon City
OR
USA 97045

Veterans Memorial Building
Clackamas County
In Memory Of All Who Gave Their Lives For
The Preservation Of American Freedom
Spanish American War - World War 1 - World War 2
Erected Under the Direction Of
Waldo Caufield Post No. 1324
Veterans Of Foreign Wars Of The United States
1949

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1324 was chartered in 1925 in Oregon City,
Oregon and has been at the current location since 1949 when we built and
dedicated the Clackamas County Veterans Memorial Building, our Post home.
We are a VFW Post with active members who served in WWII, Korea, Viet Nam,
Iraq, and Afghanistan. We are involved in our community from West Linn and
Gladstone to Clackamas and Happy Valley, and of course Oregon City.

 
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Clarendon War Memorialloupe
Wilson Blvd, Clarendon Blvd, Washington Blvd
Arlington
VA
USA 22201

Clarendon War Memorial

100 Cities / 100 Memorials

100c 100m wwi centennial plaque The Clarendon War Memorial has honored Arlington County's fallen service members since Veterans Day 1931, when it was dedicated to commemorate the 13 local men who died during the First World War.  It now stands as a prominent memorial to the 394 Arlington service members who lost their lives in every conflict the U.S. has participated in from World War I through the present.

 
Clark County All Veterans Memorialloupe
Jeffersonville
IN
USA 47130
 
Clark County Veterans Memorialloupe
Clarksville
IN
USA 47129
 
Clark County Veterans War Memorialloupe
Fort Vancouver Barracks Park
Vancouver
WA
USA 98661

Dedicated In Memory of Those Who Died In
Defense Of Our Country - Lest We Forget
Dedicated: November 11, 1998
 
The original memorial located at the Clark County Courthouse was built in 1945. In the early
1990’s it was discovered that names were missing from that memorial. Because of the
smaller size, age and handicap in-accessibility of the original memorial it was thought a new
memorial might be in order. Upon a request from Clark County officials, the 40 et 8 formed
The Clark County Veterans Memorial Advisory Committee, co-chaired by Chuck Jones and
Coleah I. Penley-Ayers. Meeting monthly, committee members worked for five years uncovering
more missing names, designing, planning and fundraising. Primarily the memorial was funded
by individual donations from within the community.

 
Clark Veterans Monumentloupe
Clark Municipal Building, 430 Westfield Ave.
Clark
NJ
USA 07066

Attached to a stone marker is a bronze plaque dedicated to vet­erans. Beneath it is a marble inset engraved with the names of the wars -  WWI, WWII, and the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf Wars.

 
Clarke Co. - Athens - Oconee Hill Monumentloupe
Clarke Co. - Athens - Oconee Hill Monument
Athens
GA
USA 30605
May 30, 1925
Photos courtesy of Tom Jackson and Lamar Veatch

The historic cemetery on the National Register of Historic Places includes numerous monuments of the World War I era, including a World War I memorial erected in 1925.

The main WWI monument is a large rough-hewn granite stone with a brass memorial plaque. Sixteen names are inscribed.

Monument Inscription: “That the memory of the men of Clarke County who gave their lives in the World War in defense of their country and to perpetuate its ideals shall live as an inspiration to courage and patriotism. 1914 - 1918. Erected by the Auxiliary of the Allen R. Fleming Post 20, American Legion, Athens Georgia, May 30, 1925”

 
Clarke County War Memorialloupe
350 Commerce St
Jackson
AL
USA 36545
1998
Erected by the citizens of Clarke County.
 
Clarke County World War I Memorialloupe
Clarke County Courthouse Square
Grove Hill
AL
USA 36451
1924

Monument dedicated to the servicemen from Clarke County who lost their lives during World War I. In 2002, a new honor roll tablet was added to replace the previous one that separated the service men based on race. The memorial is a contributing structure to the Grove Hill Courthouse Square Historic District.

 

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