Friday, April 16, 2021 was the first day the American flag flew above the newly dedicated World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C.
This brand-new addition to the National Park Service system honors the 4.7 million Americans who served their country during the First World War, especially the 116,516 soldiers who lost their lives during the “War to End All Wars.”
“The National Park Service is proud to be a part of the raising of the American flag over the memorial that honors the Americans who served this country during World War I. This memorial joins a nationally significant group of parks, monuments and memorials that commemorate and tell the stories of the American experience.”
– NPS Deputy Director Shawn Benge
Mister Benge encouraged everyone to join him “in honoring the service and sacrifice of the heroes who served their country in the First World War.”
The First Colors Ceremony also featured pre-recorded remarks by President Joe Biden and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. You can re-watch the full event online here, which I highly recommend you do.
Peace Fountain – Photo Credit: NPS
World War I Memorial Is Newest Memorial on the National Mall
The World War I Memorial occupies the site of former Pershing Park, which is located along Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. It is right across from the White House Visitor Center and is now part of the many monuments and memorials on the National Mall.
Designed by architect Joe Wieshaar, the new memorial retains many elements of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) Memorial, which previously stood in Pershing Park. It still features a statue of General John J. Pershing, who was the commander of the AEF during World War I, as well as a 10-foot-high wall depicting battle maps and inscriptions.
General Pershing Statue – Photo Credit: NPS
New features of the World War I Memorial include the Peace Fountain, which cascades over lines from Archibald MacLeish’s poem The Young Dead Soldiers Do Not Speak. This is the new centerpiece of the memorial. The addition of the memorial’s central feature, a bas-relief sculpture called A Soldier’s Journey by Sabin Howard, is planned for 2024, although a temporary installation is already in place.
Other highlights are exhibits showcasing the role the United States played in World War I, interpretive panels about the legacy of the war, inscribed quotes, and the names of major campaigns for which U.S. Army and Navy units were awarded battle honors.
The World War I Memorial will be open 24/7 and, during the day, National Park Service rangers can answer questions and offer visitor programs and other information.
You can find more information about this new National Mall memorial on the NPS website.
A Soldier’s Journey – Photo Credit: NPS
“The time is long overdue for the World War I Memorial to take its rightful place among the memorials of the nation’s capital that pay tribute to the men and women who served and sacrificed in America’s armed conflicts. The National Park Service is honored to serve as a keeper of America’s stories, and to care for this incredible memorial at which we honor those who served both “Over There” and on the home front in World War I.”
– Jeff Reinbold, Superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks
If you’d like to learn more about military history in the United States, the National Park Service manages dozens of battlefields, military parks, historic sites, monuments and memorials you might want to visit. Additionally, the National Park Service also administers fourteen National Cemeteries, including Antietam, Custer, Gettysburg, Shiloh, Vicksburg and Yorktown.
From the American Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War to the Civil War, American Indian Wars, World Wars I and II, the Cold War, Korean War and Vietnam War, these parks cover essentially the entire military history of the country.
You can find a full list of all National Park Service sites dedicated to military heritage here.