DC War Memorial Controversy
Since AOI's 2010 Memorial Day event recognizing the 90th anniversary of the District of Columbia's World War I 16th Street Tree Memorial, more controversy has arisen regarding congressional bills calling for re-designating the District's War Memorial (in Ash Grove on Ohio Drive) as a National World War I Memorial. With the encouragement of AOI member Joe Grano, the AOI has taken a strong stance against this usurpation of our War Memorial and have communicated our displeasure to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton who has, in turn, introduced her own House Resolution telling Sen. Rockefeller (WV) and Cong. Ted Poe (TX) to keep their hands off the D.C. War Memorial. Since this issue has come to light, the AOI has strongly encouraged Cong. Norton and District Officials to take a firm stance against these initiatives and we have corresponded with the National Capital Planning Commission, the Commission on Fine Arts and testified before the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission and the House Committee on Natural Resources. In addition to opposing the re-designation of the DC War Memorial as a National World War I Memorial, the AOI has called for recognizing Pershing Park and the American Expeditionary Forces Memorial as a National World War I Memorial. Below are links to all of AOI's correspondence regarding this most important issue. We will add more as events unfold. Initial Letter to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton World War I - Pershing Park Graphics Testimony Before the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission HR 346 - WWI Memorial TBD.COM's Coverage of the WWI Memorial Issue WWI Mem NMAC Letter to Senate 8-2-2011 WWI NCMAC Letter to House 8-2-2011 WWI Memorial Alternative to Norton - Follow-up World War I Project Correspondence AOI's Response to World War I Memorial Project Letter to Mayor Gray Regarding Reopening of DC War Memorial Nov. 3 Press Release - DC War Memorial Reopening DCist.com Renovated DC War Memorial Renovated Los Angeles Times Covers Re-opening of DC War Memorial Washington Times Covers the Re-opening of the DC War Memorial DC Council's DC War Memorial Resolution of 2011 (CER19-0150) AOI's Published Letter to the Editor - Washington Post, Dec. 4, 2011, "Time Is Running Out!" Read the Washington Examiner's Liz Farmer's Story Here Listen to WAMU-FM Bill Redlin's account of AOI's efforts to keep the DC War Memorial DC's Read the Huffingtonpost's Article on AOI's Efforts View Fox5's NewsEdge Broadcast of 12-28-2011 and additional Fox5 Clips WTOP Radio's Web Site Coverage Invitation to Testify before House Cmte. on Natural Resources Congresswoman Norton's Press Conference Opposing Re-name DC War Memorial John Kelly's Column Covering Pending Hearing Washington Times' Tom Howell, Jr's. Story Testimony Before the House Committee on Natural Resources The Washington Times' Tom Howell, Jr's. Follow-up Article The Post's John Kelly's Follow-up Article What? Pershing Park IS on the Mall! AOI Seeks the Support of the American Battle Monuments Commission American Battle Monument Commission's Reply A World War I Fact Sheet AOI President Bill Brown's Remarks for the 76 Annual Commemorative Observances at the D.C. War Memorial, May 20, 2012 Read Julian Saltman's Opinion Piece in the "Bakersfield Californian" on a National World War I Memorial Read and Review the Extensive Compilation of DC War Dead Time is Running Out as the Centennial of WWI Approaches AOI's 2012 Memorial Day Event at the DC War Memorial We highly suggest that if you care about the District maintaining its War Memorial (dedicated in 1931), are concerned about adding more memorials to the National Mall (currently prohibited by Congress) but believe that the existing Pershing Park would be a fitting tribute as a National World War I Memorial, you will want to read the above correspondence. Did you know there is another DC War Memorial commemorating District residents who gave their lives in service to their country? Click here to be taken to the District of Columbia 16th Street Memorial and the AOI's efforts to publicize its plight and call for its restoring in time for its 2020 centennial. A Never Ending Story: Congress appears to have refocused their efforts on establishing a WWI Centennial Commission, re-designating the National World War I Museum in Kansas City a National Memorial and explore alternatives for a new National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C. Read the Washington Times' Thomas Howell, Jr.'s article on this change of approach and on the District of Columbia City Council's Sense of the Council Resolution on Pershing Park. On Tuesday, September 11, 2012, a hearing was held by the House Committee on Natural Resources to hear testimony on recently proposed changes to the Poe bill which would establish a National World War I Memorial in what is now Constitution Gardens which is located just north of the Reflecting Pool on the S.W. corner of Constitution Avenue and 17th Street. Read Tom Howell's account of the up-coming hearing in the Washington Times on 9/10/12 and The Huffington Post's Andrea Stone's coverage from 9/11/12. Among those invited to testify at the Sept. 11th hearing was Dr. Judy Scott Feldman, AOI member and director of our 'partner' organization the "National Coalition to Save The Mall." In her comments before Cong. Bishop and his committee, Judy not only emphasized the need for a more comprehensive approach to the National Mall and its environs but used the occasion to promote Pershing Park as a fitting location for a National World War I Memorial. Read Judy's testimony... The National Park Service's National Capital Regional Director Stephen Whitesell also supports Pershing Park as an appropriate memorial to the centennial of World War I in his testimony and says: "A national memorial to World War I veterans has already been established in Washington, D.C., near the White House, in Pershing Park, on Pennsylvania Avenue between 14th and 15th Streets... Rather than duplicate this memorial by establishing a new memorial to World War I, the Department would encourage enhancement of the World War I Veterans Memorial in Pershing Park." Read the complete text of HR 6364, Congressman Poe's revised legislation to establish a World War I Commission and new memorial on the National Mall. HR6364. Note Sect. 10, paragraph (d) prohibits encroachment on the District of Columbia War Memorial. The Washington Post's John Kelly continues his coverage of the DC War Memorial expressing his enthusiasm for additional interpretive elements at the Pershing Memorial... perhaps a "...WWI era tank and biplane! That would be so cool!" The District of Columbia War Memorial photographed by Bill O'Leary is the featured photo for November 2013 in the Post's 2013 calendar distributed with their supplements on 11/11/2012. Veterans' Day 2012 -- "The Right Way to Remember the Great War" in the Washington Post's "Local Opinions" by Bill Brown (additional related photos appear in the story to the right). House Committee on Natural Resources mark-up of HR 6364 appears to move Cong. Poe's forward in the House. Read the Washington Times' Tom Howell's account in this December 5th article AND read the amended section of the legislation. Fall 2013 - The National World War I Commission will be the 'go to' authority for events, programs, commemorations, etc., for the centennial of World War I. Please visit their site for the latest 'up-dates': World War I Centennial On April 28, 2014, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, Congressman Cleaver and other Congressional Representatives introduced HR 4489 that would re-dedicate the Pershing Memorial as the National World War I Memorial in the District of Columbia in time for the Nov. 11, 2018 centennial of Armistice Day and the end of World War I. Read the text of the legislation here. The Washington Times' Thomas Howell, Jr. continues his coverage of the DC War Memorial controversy and AOI's quest -- inspired by departed member Joseph Grano -- to focus attention and resources to revitalize and re-dedicate the Pershing Memorial. Read his article here for more details and history of this initiative. The National Park Service has installed a new, interpretive wayside at the DC War Memorial in Ash Grove. Click here to read AOI's 'thank you' letter to NPS Director Jon Jarvis, and view a slide show of the new wayside in the right column of this page. On Sunday, August 10, 2014, Philip Kennicott of the The Washington Post wrote extensively about the various memorials in the District and vicinity dedicated to World War I. Read his piece here. Congress has passed the 2015 Defense Appropriation Act that includes redesiginating Pershing Park as a nation memorial to World War I and puts to rest the issue of encroachment on DC's own War Memorial. You can read an excerpt of the 1600+ page bill here. 2015 Defense Appropriation Act excerpt. To remain current with the developments at Pershing Park, the best way to do so is to check-in periodically at the National Park Service's Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) page. Read the Cultural Landscape Foundation's article about Pershing Park's Determination of Eligibility status. We also invite you to read AOI's response to the 2nd NEPA Section 106 meeting held on Wed., Sept. 21, 2016 which addresses design revisions for the World War I Memorial and Pershing Park. Now, in early 2017, the design team for the World War I Centennial Commission has submitted more revisions for Pershing Park which we continue to object to... Congress' mandate was to "enhance" the existing Pershing Park; however, these alternative designs virtually destroy/render unrecognizable the award-winning Frieberg/Ohme-van Sweden design of the existing park. Read our comment of 2/16/2017 to the US Commission on Fine Arts below. We will be filing a similar letter to the National Capital Planning Commission for the next meeting to be held on Thursday, March 2, 2017. The AOI of DC Celebrates Memorial Day 2012 at the DC War Memorial
On Monday, May 28, 2012, 35 AOI members, friends, associates and tourists joined together for a commemorative program at the District of Columbia War Memorial, the first such observance actually held on Memorial Day since the Memorial's restoration in 2011. [Note: there was an 'official' 76th Annual Commemorative Observance held on Sun., May 20th, 2012; however, this was the first held on the 'observed' holiday.]
As AOI members arrived to prepare for the program, we were pleasantly surprised to find that 499 bouquets of red roses had been placed around the memorial by the Memorial Day Foundation in N.Y. As we set up for our brief presentation, including the reading of the D.C. City Council's Ceremonial Resolution we were impressed that a Scottish-themed honor guard arrived to lay their own wreath at the memorial. As 11 am approached more and more tourists arrived and a National Park Service volunteer appeared to provide information and pass out NPS's DC WWI Memorial brochures. Three of DC's four major television stations spent considerable time interviewing a number of us. The reading of the DC Council Resolution followed by remarks by historian C.R. Gibbs were greeted with applause from the audience. We hope that today's event and AOI's informal celebration helped to continue to promote the city's desire to maintain its (WWI) War Memorial as our own and help focus attention on Pershing Park as an appropriate alternative for a National World War I Memorial. View WJLA-TV's Sam Ford's Memorial Day Wrap-up & AOI's DC War Memorial Event on May 28, 2012 at 2:10 seconds into story View WUSA-TV's Coverage of Memorial Day 2012 at the D.C. War Memorial:       |
When the following was written for Veterans' Day 2012, the focus of attention for a World War I memorial in Washington, D.C. had finally turned away from the District of Columbia War Memorial and toward establishing a memorial in Constitution Gardens on the National Mall just north of the Reflecting Pool...
Wouldn't $10,000,000 Go A Lot Further to Enhance Pershing Park Than for a New Work in Constitution Gardens? Congressman Poe's new bill, H.R. 6364, would authorize the [National] World War I Memorial Foundation to add elements in the vicinity of the existing Constitution Gardens (not to exceed 1.5 acres) and not cost more than $10 million to commemorate World War I. Wouldn't the time and effort needed to proceed with this initiative, not to mention the $10mil., go a lot further to enhance the existing Pershing Memorial in time to celebrate the centennial of the Great Conflict? The funding could be used to add statuary to represent the other service branches, interpretive signage, a reproduction tank or biplane attraction and a modest visitors' center. In fact, why couldn't space on the ground floor of the John A. Wilson (District) Building be set aside as a volunteer-staffed National World War I Memorial Visitors' Center just as the Commerce Department houses the White House Visitors' Center? Time is running out as 2014 approaches and the centennial period of the Great War begins. 
Pershing Park's water feature with the Treasury Department in the background.
A World War I Memorial in Oak Park, IL could serve as a model for additional elements.
A view of Constitution Gardens suggests a commemorative work to WWI would be 'lost' in its vastness and somewhat 'off the beaten path' of visitors.
Detail of current statue of Gen. Pershing and the detailed, engraved panels depicting American Expeditionary Forces campaigns.
...now, nearly two years later, as the centennial of World War I has commenced, attention has finally turned to recognize Pershing Park and the American Battle Monument Commission's memorial to General Pershing as a national World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton has co-sponsored legislation together with Congressman Cleaver and other Congressional Representatives and introduced HR 4489 that would re-dedicate the Pershing Memorial as the national World War I Memorial in time for the Nov. 11, 2018 centennial of Armistice Day and the end of World War I. Senator Claire McCaskill has introduced similar legislation in the U.S. Senate. Additionally, at its World War I Centennial Conference and Trade Fair (held Sat., June 14, 2014 at the offices of Jones-Day in Washington, D.C.), the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission listed among its Commemorative Programs and Events goals, "The Commission will ask Congress to authorize a national World War I Memorial at Pershing Park in Washington, D.C...." The National Park Service has already weighed in recommending that the word 'national' not be a part of the title (as other memorials do not bear this moniker) and that a separate division/entity within the Park Service be established to oversee the park. Pershing Park is already under the auspices of the National Park Service but recognizing it as a distinct entity allows for certain administrative advantages. Now, with the DC War Memorial controversy behind us and most parties seemingly focused on Pershing Park we can re-focus our energy on promoting commemorative programs and service band performances at the DC War Memorial and contribute in various ways to support and promote the redesign, re-dedication and promotion of a new national World War I Memorial at Pershing Park in Washington, D.C. For more information about the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission, click on this link. View Mark Levitch on the CBS Evening News as he discusses the threats to local memorials to World War I. Memorial Day weekend 2015 -- The design competition for a re-designed Pershing Park as the World War I Memorial progresses. Read Michael Ruane's account in the Washington Post. Without much fanfare, and little to no credit, it is interesting that the plans for Pershing Park reflect those proposed by the AOI in 2012 and coincide with significant events of the WWI Centennial period: 1. July 28, 2014 – The World War Commences in 1914: Rededicate Pershing Park as the World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C. and announce a design competition for additional statuary, interpretive waysides and program space; 2. April 6, 2017 – The United States enters the conflict in 1917: Have new interpretive signage in place; and, 3. November 11, 2018 – Armistice Day 1918: Unveil the new sculpture(s)/displays and commemorate the centennial of the end of the World War at the newly designated, re-envisioned Pershing World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C. ...After 12-years of fund-raising, design and construction The World War Memorial at Pershing Square has finally be dedicated. See the below links to stories covering this long-awaited event: A century later, Black soldiers get the recognition they never got after World War I - WTOP News Home - World War I Centennial site (worldwar1centennial.org) ##### To read about the AOI's 90th anniversary recognition of the District of Columbia's 16th Street World War I Tree Memorial, click here.
Also, See "Your Ancestors in the AOI" under the "About Us" tab to see if your ancestor is among those D.C. residents memorialized on both the DC War Memorial or the 16th Street Tree Memorial. Park Service Installs New Interpretive Wayside at the DC War Memorial
A sad footnote to our World War I commemoration initiatives...
On November 24, 2013, D.C. preservation activist and long-time AOI member Joseph N. Grano passed away after a brief illness. As a professional tour guide here in the District (among other hats he wore) Joe was often asked by his young charges and had difficulty reconciling the disconnect between the District of Columbia War Memorial (on Independence Avenue in Ash Grove across from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial), other national war memorials on the National Mall and the several other memorials to World War I including the often overlooked memorial to General John G. Pershing on Pennsylvania Avenue between 14th and 15th Streets, N.W., just one block from the White House. At Joe's urging, the AOI of DC took on the tasks of calling attention to the plight of the DC War Memorial (since restored), efforts to nationalize it and re-name it a 'national' World War I Memorial and, instead, focus the attention of our elected leaders (both local and national), the news media, veterans organizations and the public on Pershing Park. As you can see from the chronology of initiatives and events documented on this page, a considerable amount of time and effort was dedicated to Joe's dream... had he only lived to witness the outcome. In a phone conversation that Joe had with AOI President Bill Brown a few weeks prior to his death (and at this point, Joe was just "under the weather") he was modestly down-playing the part he had played over the years calling to the attention of the AOI the "centennial" of many note-worthy events in D.C.: the centennial of the John A. Wilson (District) Building [the seat of DC government], the centennial of the District of Columbia 16th Street War Memorial, the centennial of the District's Building Height Act and, of course, the approaching centennial of World War I. When Bill pointed out to Joe how much he had inspired others to action, Joe replied, "Well, perhaps that can be my epitaph..." 
The Grano Family grave in Force, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Lisa Nickerson)
We will miss Joe Grano and his "inspiring others to action."
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