Centennial Website Catalogs Georgia's WWI Monuments, Memorials and Historic Sites

DAHLONEGA, Ga., Sept. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A key project in Georgia's commemoration of its role in World War I, "the Great War," is to create an inventory and photographic record of every monument to those who fell in that conflict.  Across Georgia there are scores of such monuments and memorials standing in dedication to those that gave all.  As part of the National Inventory Project to identify and catalog an estimated 2,000 such sites across the nation, the Georgia World War One Centennial Commission has begun highlighting monuments, memorials and historic sites across the state and listing them on the Georgia WW1 Centennial website "Monuments, Memorials, and Historic Sites."

The University of North Georgia (UNG) is one of only six senior military colleges in the nation and is designated as The Military College of Georgia. As such, UNG has taken a leading role in supporting the work of the Georgia WWI Centennial Commission.

Fairburn, Georgia hosts the earliest WWI monument in the state, a candidate for being one of the first in the United States.  Unveiled on May 21, 1919, the tall inscribed column topped with a globe was dedicated to the "soldier boys" of Campbell County, which later became part of Fulton County.

Georgia's monuments range from simple inscribed brass plaques to expansive and elaborate "veterans' parks."  New ones are being added, including Rockdale County's three-acre "Walk of Heroes" and Walton County's Veterans Memorial at the new government center. 

In addition to recording a listing of these historic monuments, this effort is helping to complete a comprehensive listing of all Georgians who died in service during WWI.  Many of these local monuments and plaques are inscribed with names that have not appeared on earlier casualty listings.  These names are being added to the Georgia Memorial Database, also searchable on the Georgia WWI Centennial Website. 

To date, monuments and historic sites in 84 of Georgia's 159 counties have been photographed and cataloged on the website.  The goal by the end of the 2018 Centennial year is to include every county that has such a monument.   

The public is invited to help with this effort by submitting sites and monuments for inclusion.  Please contact the coordinator, Dr. Lamar Veatch ([email protected]).

The Georgia WW1 Centennial Commission was created by the General Assembly and the Governor in 2015.  Its mission is to "Honor, Educate, and Commemorate" the sacrifices of Georgians through projects and programs. 

SOURCE University of North Georgia

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