U.S. World War I Memorial Update

By David W. Hamon, Veterans Service Organizations & Military Director, U.S. WWI Centennial Commission

The U.S. National World War I Centennial Commission continues to make good progress on building a National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C. In April of this year the Commission on Fine Arts (CFA) in Washington gave its final approval for the design of the memorial. You can find the latest design information, including a computer generated image of the memorial in Pershing Park, which will be the future home of the memorial, as well as the interpretation center, a statue of General Pershing, and more at www.ww1cc.org/memorial.

In September, the Commission hopes the CFA will approve the final design features of the park itself, including lighting, landscaping, accessibility, and other infrastructure. Those elements would be funded and maintained by the U.S. Park Service within the Department of the Interior. The Commission hopes to officially break ground in October. Sabine Howard, the world famous sculptor, has started creating clay armatures of the first seven figures on the memorial. These completed items will be shipped to a special foundry in the United Kingdom where they will be cast in bronze

If your Post or Department is interested in becoming an official American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) Memorial Corps Chapter/Organization by making a donation to help build the memorial, the Commission will send you a special engraved certificate. Remember the Doughboys! Please don’t let their service and sacrifice go unrecognized.

Volume 73. Number 3. 2019