The newest National World War I Memorial addition was unveiled to the public Friday night on Pennsylvania Avenue. Named “A Soldier’s Journey”, this bronze sculpture now finds itself the centerpiece of the site moving forward.
The 25-ton, $8 million piece was part of a wider effort to memorialize those Americans who served in the Great War. Sculptor Sabin Howard began his work in January 2016, culminating in 38 figures sprawled across 58 feet of wall. “I sculpted this with every ounce of energy that I have, using all of my creative skills,” Howard declared.
“This memorial clearly defines what we the people in World War I looked like . . . World War I transformed the world. This sculpture is about that transformation.”
The piece consists of five profound scenes: departure, initiation, ordeal, aftermath, and return. Each portrays a distinctly tragic reality the soldier endures at every stage of his service, from the emotional toll of leaving his family to the ravages of the battlefield.
“A Soldier’s Journey represents us historically from a moment in history called the War to End All Wars, and A Soldier’s Journey is a representation and a statement about who we were a hundred years ago, Howard said. “A Soldier’s Journey is a representation of who we are now at this very moment.”
“What you are about to witness is a radical and innovative cultural move towards potentiality,” Howard claimed.
The ceremony illuminated each section of the sculpture, scene by scene, against the backdrop of a dramatic narrative detailing Howard’s depictions.
“It may become the greatest memorial bronze of the modern age,” wrote Smithsonian Magazine.
Initially conceived as a volunteer project, the World War I Memorial Commission struggled to find financial backers in the early stages. That was until members uncovered an alluring discovery: draft cards signed by the forefathers of prominent American families, whose interest was suddenly piqued. Some of the most recognizable brands- FedEx, General Motors, the NFL, Walmart, and others- contributed substantially to its success.
Often overshadowed by the memory of World War II, the First World War called 4.7 million Americans to service, with 116,516 paying the ultimate sacrifice. The new-look memorial hopes to commemorate the sacrifices made by those brave individuals who so rarely yet deservedly receive our gratitude and admiration.
As Howard said, “There are no victims here. They are all heroes.”