100 Cities/100 Memorials Designates Elkhart Doughboy “WWI Centennial Memorial”

[May 21, 2018]  ELKHART --  The 100 Cities/100 Memorials program has announced that the Village of Elkhart’s Veterans’ Park Doughboy statue is being honored with the official national designation as a "WW1 Centennial Memorial." 100 memorials in 100 cities in 37 different states have been designated and will receive a matching grant towards the restoration, conservation and maintenance of local historical treasures. The program is sponsored by the US World War One Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum & Library with support from the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The 100 Cities/100 Memorials program was created to draw attention to WWI memorials throughout the United States, and enable citizens to take part in the WWI centennial commemoration. “More than 4 million American families sent their sons and daughters to serve in uniform during World War I, 116,516 U.S. soldiers died in the war and another 200,000 were wounded,” said Terry Hamby, commissioner of the United States World War One Centennial Commission. “100 Cities/100 Memorials is a critically important initiative that will have an impact beyond these grants. These memorials represent an important part of remembering our past and preserving our culture.”

Located in historic downtown Elkhart, Veterans' Park is home to a WWI Doughboy statue presented to the Village by the returning veterans of World War I in honor of the men who did not return from that war. Unlike most “Spirit of the American Doughboy” WWI memorial figures, this statue depicts the Doughboy in the position of “Order Arms” in which the rifle is held vertically next to the right leg with the butt of the rifle resting on the ground. Plaques have been added to the statue with the names of Village veterans from WWII, the Korean War and all veterans killed in action from Elkhart during past wars.

WWI Doughboy Statue

“To conserve and protect our Doughboy, the park site and base of the statue is being replaced,” says Lois Olson, President of Elkhart’s Need and Goals (NAG) group. “Damaged by weather and time, the statue and plaques will be cleaned for preservation purposes. The new construction in Veterans’ Park will not destroy the historic statue or spatial relationship that characterize the statue in the park, but will enhance it as the main entrance. The restoration work is designed to be compatible with the historic materials, features, size, scale and proportion of the Doughboy statue.”

Janice Funk, NAG’s Project Manager for the park renovation project, says, “Our vision is to improve the existing park to make it safe and restore it to honor veterans, have a public space for congregation, improve historic downtown Elkhart, and make the park location our center for Veterans’ events, community festivals, outdoor movies, potlucks and cultural events.” The project includes making the park handicap accessible, updating the US flag depository, landscaping, a reflective sitting wall and benches, and installing electricity in the park. “Work has begun on the renovations and should be completed by the end of the year. In-kind donations, volunteer help, landscaping plants and monetary donations are needed and appreciated,” says Peggy Lee, Village of Elkhart Trustee. “Tax deductible donations can be made to the Veterans’ Park Fund and sent to PO Box 20, Elkhart, IL 62634.”