Two weekends ago, the National WW I Monument was unveiled across the river from the Post!  

 

The monument is located at Pershing Plaza and has several sculptures and design elements to memorialize WW I. The memorial's centerpiece,  the sculpture "A Soldier's Journey" by Sabin Howard, was unveiled on September 13th. The sculpture has thirty-eight separate figures, spread over approximately 58 feet of wall towards the western end of the Memorial Core; the panels portray the experience of one American soldier. Starting from the left, the soldier takes leave from his wife and daughter, charges into combat, sees men around him killed, wounded, and gassed, and recovers from the shock to come home to his family. The figures are mounted on the wall.[1]

 

In addition to the "Soldier's Journey," the memorial has two other significant features: The American Expeditionary Forces memorial, a statue of General John J. Pershing, a flagstaff, and quotes from President Woodrow Wilson and others to the right.

 

On Saturday, September 14th, several WW I reenactors and organizations were displayed.  

Of note was a display of the "Hello Girls," bilingual phone operators recruited by the American Expeditionary Force to operate the phone switches between the French and American forces. For more about the Hello Girls, please visit:  

In addition to the Hello Girls, two displays centered on the American intervention in Russia: a display about the USS Olympia and a display about the 339th Infantry Regiment. The USS Olympia conducted several convoy escort missions and participated in the Russian interdiction. The USS Olympia, the flagship for Admiral Dewey during the battle of Manila Bay, is a museum ship in Philadelphia, an easy drive up I-95.  

 

The 339th Infantry Regiment (The Polar Bears) was diverted to Archangel, Russia, as part of the Allied intervention to protect the port and infrastructure from Soviet forces during the Russian Revolution. Yes, those are fur pants!

There was also a display from the 29th Infantry Division (John Lyon's own) and several vehicles on display.  

 

 

Overall, it was an exciting display and a great way to showcase the Soldiers' Journey in our Nation's Capital.