By: Devansh J.

Nearly a century after World War I (WWI) came to an end, there was a long-waited memorial that commemorated the global conflict that was opened in Washington D.C. In fact, the Associated Press reported that WW1, also known as the Great War, was one of the last of the major wars to actually receive a memorial in the nation’s capital. This changed when the American flag was raised over the World War I memorial for the first time on April 16^th, 2021. The memorial honors the 4.7 million Americans that fought and served in WWI, including the 116,516 who died in the conflict (US News). As an extension of the former “Pershing Park”, the monument is located along Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 14^th Street NW and 15^th Street NW. The memorial was designed by architect Joseph Weishaar and built by the United States World War I Centennial Commission.

Check out the WWI Memorial / Pershing Park on the map of Washington D.C above:

The World War I memorial in D.C. is a clear depiction of what had occurred nearly 100 years ago when soldiers boarded ships heading to France, with the goal of being able to close a conflict they saw would be a war to end all future wars. Although they were not alone in doing so, the soldier’s courage and sacrifice in the conflict helped bring the war that had killed millions to an end.

Leadership during the War:

The monument is located in an area in D.C. previously known as “Pershing Park”. The space is now designated as a national memorial that also incorporates a current statue already in place of General John J. Pershing, who was the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces that were sent to fight on Europe’s Western Front. Next to the General Pershing statue is a granite panel with walls serving as the American Expeditionary Forces memorial to celebrate both the victory and suffering of American troops in WWI. Specifically, the granite walls celebrate General Pershing in his role in victories in the Meuse-Argonne campaign and overall his role on the Western front (Archives). The text commemorates both the army and airmen that contribute to their victory as WWI was one of the first modern war conflicts. However, the high 10-feet walls also indicate the tone of trench warfare, indicating the sacrifice American troops made in facing a new form of conflict.

The memorial also includes the Peace Fountain, a cascade of water behind an excerpt of the poem “The Young Dead Soldiers Do Not Speak” by Archibald MacLeish. Additionally, there are also engraved quotes and references to different theaters, campaigns, and battles in which the American forces participated with exhibits about the overall role the United States played in World War I. This quote is important because they want everyone to remember those who gave meaning to their sacrifice in the war by pushing for peace. Additionally, the quote emphasizes that remembrance important for sacrifice and the definition of how war is made to the next generations. Overall MacLeish tries to reflect on how sacrifice and war can relate to victory and the responsibility of the period after the war.

Looking at the history of triumph and suffering:

However, there is a sculpture titled “A Soldier’s Journey” that is a central element of the memorial that is still not complete and will be installed in 2024. The wall of remembrance is nearly 60 feet long and 12 feet tall, with a sketch showing the future of the sculpture currently standing in its place (New York Times). This wall tells the story in 38 figures of an originally reluctant soldier who returns home as a hero, which also demonstrates the country’s mood from isolationism to a level of global leadership in the world (WWI Centennial Commission). Beginning from the left, the soldier takes off from his wife and daughter. He then charges into combat and sees men all around him get killed, wounded, and gassed. Afterward, he recovers from the shock and comes home to his family.

When the soldier is departing, his daughter hands him his helmet and his wife touches him with an arm in restraint, symbolizing the debate over American involvement in the war by holding him back as he answers the call to serve. Through initiation, the soldier joins the war as the United States joins the war in Europe. Despite some controversy over segregated divisions between Whites and African Americans, the work as a whole includes African Americans and other ethnicities to commemorate all groups that chose to serve. In the middle section of the portrait, or the ordeal, the parade devolves into violent combat with a soldier calling his fellow men into battle with a battle cry. When it comes to the aftermath of the war, there are many physical and mental wounds inflicted on the troops. This also includes the women who also assisted the country in the war effort. In the return phase, the soldier joins the homecoming parade. The soldier then returns his helmet back to his daughter. When she looks into the helmet, she sees World War II that will bring America back to Europe in a relatively short period of time.

Recognition of the past and moving forward:

At the WWI memorial, there is also the Belvedere as an architectural feature that provides an overall scenic view of the memorial. The Belvedere is truly the conceptual center of the memorial as It provides a great view of the memorial – with the statue of General Pershing on the left, “A Soldier’s Journey” sculpture towards the front, and the flagstaff with quotes from President Woodrow Wilson and others on the right. Right in the center of the Belvedere is a large rendering of the front of the WWI victory medal centered upon the floor of the memorial. This victory medal shows a winged Victory, a Greek statue, holding a shield with a sword on the front that indicates the start of a new era of peace (Smithsonian).

The exhibit panels in place among the Belvedere wall show the accomplishments of Americans during the war and the roles played by different American forces with their legacy. Lastly, the names of the campaigns the U.S. forces participated in during the war are engraved on the exterior encircling the Belvedere.

WWI Memorial Video Tour

More resources for reading and viewing:

Learn more about the World War I memorial through the National Park Service: https://www.nps.gov/places/000/national-world-war-i-memorial-future-site.htm

Learn more about the opening of the World War I Memorial in the Smithsonian Magazine, titled How D.C.’s Newly Unveiled WWI Memorial Commemorates the Global Conflict: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/world-war-i-memorial-unveiled-180977551/

Want to see the memorial unveiled? Watch the virtual unveiling of the World War I memorial with the help of the Doughboy Foundation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0CO0Nmv7Jo&t=79s

Not in Washington D.C.? No problem! Check out a virtual 3D tour of the memorial: https://www.worldwar1centennial.org

You can also check out the officially approved design of the memorial: https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/images/2019-memorial/pdf/memorial-design-19-09-07.pdf

Even details about the landscaping of Pershing Park and the WWI memorial are available: https://www.tclf.org/landscapes/pershing-park