World War I Memorial

In the shadow of the large, shining new World War II memorial lies a forgotten, neglected memorial. Standing quietly in the trees along West Potomac Park, this modest memorial was designed to commemorate the 26,000 citizens of Washington, D.C. who served in the first World War. It was designed by architects Horace W. Peaslee and Nathan C. Wyeth and dedicated in 1931 on Armistice Day.

The memorial is a simple marble Doric temple in a peristyle dome, large enough to hold an 80-member U.S. Marine Corps Band as it was originally intended to do. Resting on a concrete base, it consists of 12 Doric columns, each standing 22 feet high and has 499 names of Washington residents carved into the base who lost their lives in the war. It was the first war memorial in West Potomac Park, and is the only memorial on the National Mall dedicated to local residents.

Unfortunately, the memorial is falling apart with neglect. Cracks, age and dirt are showing, and few tourist maps list the memorial as a site to see. In 2006, it was been placed on the Most Endangered Places list by the DC Preservation League.

The reason for its neglect is because both governments - the DC government and the federal - were unsure exactly who was supposed to care for the memorial. There is no signage around the memorial other than what's carved into the memorial. Only recently has the National Park Service decided it was its responsibility and has taken charge to restore it.

There is no actual national World War I memorial on the National Mall, since the current one is only dedicated to local residents who served. The last surviving American veteran of the first World War, 109-year-old Frank Buckles (still alive, by the way), visited the memorial in 2008 and petitioned to restore and rededicate the memorial as a National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial.

HelloMetro Tip: After Buckles' appeal, a World War I Memorial Foundation was created to ensure that his vision of a national monument is fulfilled. The foundation's mission, which is headed by President David DeJonge, includes raising funds for the restoration and re-dedication of the DC War Memorial as a national World War I shrine, with the goal of honoring all Americans who chose to serve in the "War to end all wars." Click here to visit that website.
 

- by Rin-rin Yu, Washington Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Rin-rin Yu

Rin-rin is an award-winning writer and journalist based in the Baltimore-Washington area. Her work has appeared in China Daily, DAYSPA magazine, Luxury Home Design, Aquatics International, Not For Tourists and other publications. Rin-rin has also worked for ABC News, WHDH-TV (NBC) in Boston and Hanley Wood Business Media. She has a master's degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She is an avid world traveler and maintains a travel blog, www.mytravelhats.com.