The District welcomed its newest national monument on Friday with a solemn ceremony and flag raising. The National World War I Memorial, located on Pennsulvania Ave., is now open to the public.

The Memorial, which features sculptures, fountains and quotes, honors the 4.7 million Americans, including 117,000 killed, as well as the civilians who served in theater and on the home front, in what was at the time called “The Great War.” The National World War I Memorial occupies Pershing Park, on the 1.8 acre site located at 14th Street and Pennsylvania Ave. NW in Washington D.C., just one block from the White House, and named for John Joseph “Black Jack” Pershing, who commanded American Expeditionary Forces in Europe. Pershing is the only American to be promoted in his own lifetime to “General of the Armies” rank, the highest possible rank in the United States Army. The new memorial incorporates an 8 foot tall statue of Pershing by Robert White dedicated in 1983.

The “First Colors Ceremony” featured opening remarks from President Joe Biden deliverd by telescreen, and a flyover by a pair of F-22 fighter jets from the U.S. Air Force 94th Fighter Squadron. British Ambassador to the U.S. Dame Karen Pierce and the British Defence Attache Air Vice-Marshal Mick Smeath, RAF were in attendance. A ceremonial wreath was jointly placed by WWI Centenial Commissioner Vietnam War POW Col. Thomas Moe, USAF (Ret.), and Chairman Jerry L. Hester. The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” provided musical accompaniment.

World War I began on July 28, 1914 and ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, on Nov. 11, 1918. Congress didn’t declare war on Germany until Arpil 6, 1917, but the American entry proved decisive in turning the tide in favor of the Allies. In conjunction with the upcoming WWI Centennial, the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act authorized the World War I Centennial Commission to build the memorial. Congressional sponsors Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) and former Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas) participated in Friday’s opening ceremony.

Work on the project began much earlier, according to Edwin Fountain, Vice Chair of the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission who was there at the start in 2008. It had been “thirteen years from the first idea to completion”, said Fountain. “It was a disservice that we had National Memorials to the three other major wars of the Twentieth Centrury but not one to World War I and now those veterans are honored in the same way that the veterans of those other wars are.” Both of Fountain’s grandfathers were in the Army at the time. “What I am proud of … is that each (grandfather) in his own way represented a different part of the American Experience.” One was a “farm boy who hardly had ever been outside the county he grew up in before he went to France”, and the other was a recently arrived immigrant.

“This will be our 32nd battle monument” said retired Maj. Gen. William M. Matz, Jr., the outgoing secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission which will manage and take over the monument for the U.S. National Park Service.

Construction is now complete with the exception of “The Weight of Sacrifice” by Chicago architect Joe Weishaar and New York sculptor Sabin Howard. Mr. Weishaar’s design includes a 60 foot long bronze wall covered with bas reliefs, currently being worked on by Howard, based on his design concept drawings. Its intention is to educate the public and to commemorate those who served in the war.  Until it is finished, visitors will view a temporary canvas anticipating the artwork to come. In a series of images from left to right, the sculpture will depict in sequential fashion the story of a soldier’s journey to war through to his return home. To aid in the construction of the clay model, Howard incorporated state of the art 3D imaging techniques using real life models.  The completed sculpture will be installed in 2024 or 2025. The memorial design includes a “Peace Fountain” inscribed with a quote from the American poet Archibald MacLeish, who saw action in the conflict. Included in the design team: GWWO Architects as Architect-of-Record and Land Collective as Landscape Architect.

“This memorial finally will offer a chance for people to visit and reflect and to remember. More than 100 years has passed since WWI ended, but the legacy and courage of those Doughboys sailing off to war, and the values they fought to defend, still live in our nation today” said President Biden.

View Jeff Malet’s photos of the National World War I Memorial from Friday’s “First Color Ceremony” by clicking on the photo icons below.

tagsceremonydedicationmilitarymonumentsNational World War I MemorialWorld War IWWI