WWI Memorials (Arlington,Virginia; Providence, Rhode Island; Jacksonville, Florida)

The Arlington National Cemetery was built in Arlington, Virginia in honor of WWI veterans. The official website of Arlington National Cemetery stresses, “this was the final resting place for more than 400,000 active duty service members, veterans and their families.” Services are held on a regular basis and its spirit is kept alive witnessed by millions who come to visit and pay their respects.” The website’s goal is to digitally commemorate the lives of thousands that continue and will always be remembered through this peaceful and historic landmark.

This WWI Monument located in Providence, Rhode Island is yet another very popular First World War memorial whose construction process started around 1919. It is described as a “270-foot tower – granite shaft built by Philadelphia architect Paul Cret” as stated in Facts and folklore under Quahog.org. This image dates to 1929 and its Greek inspired architectural design placed within Providence’s main plaza, Memorial Square. According to rhodetour.org, “the Square was named Luongo Memorial Square in honor of Thomas S. and Vincent Luongo, World War I veterans who lived close.” Providence’s square memorial has been constantly under construction due to its long periods of abandonment. In this photograph, from far it is seen as one long and monumental column but the closer you get, the better inscriptions within the plaques can be examined closely. My favorite part of the memorial is the friezes where emblems are portrayed to spark the historical and allegorical connections in honor of those who served.

The Memorial Park dedicated to Floridian soldiers of the First World War is located in Jacksonville, Florida. The Memorial Park website established that “George Hardee of the Jacksonville Rotary Club put forth a proposal for a memorial to honor Floridians who died in service during “’The Great War.’” This park is public to its citizens and a relic to the state and nation. This memorial is a reminder of the effort put together by the state in order to recognize the nation’s historic heroes today continuously remembered. Apart from this, “this memorial park is forever linked with the outstanding legacy and body of work created by one of the most important landscape design firms (Olmsted Brothers) in the history of the profession.” This magnificence work of art made needs to be witnessed and cherished for what it stands for our nation.