WASHINGTON – In observance of the centennial of World War I, a total of 100 matching grants of up to $2,000 apiece are being awarded for the restoration, conservation or even creation of 100 World War I Memorials across the United States.
The first 50 “WWI Centennial Memorials” were announced on Sept. 27, 2017 and grant applications for the second 50 awards are being taken now. Applications can be submitted until Jan. 15, 2018. The program management expects to announce the second group of 50 awardees on April 6, 2018.
Any organization, group, municipal government, or individual may apply. The memorial or monument must be WWI related, must be in the 50 United States or U.S. territories, and the project must be, or have been completed between Jan. 1, 2014 and Nov. 18, 2018.
To date, both American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts from around the country have participated, as well as many other veterans service organizations, community groups, city, state and municipal organizations, local historic preservations societies and even individuals.
WWI memorial restoration, preservation and even creation projects are being undertaken around the country during this centennial period. Some of the projects may not know about the program, which not only provides some financial assistance in the form of a matching grant, but most importantly, applicants get to tie into a national program and awardees also receive an official federal designation as a “WWI Centennial Memorial.”
Interested parties should go to
ww1cc.org/100memorials where they can learn about the details of the program, read or download the competition manual, submit a grant application and sign up for an informational blog about the program that will keep them updated over the coming months.
By restoring these monuments and memorials, many of which bear the names of those members of the community who served and fell in the “war that changed the world,” the sponsors of the 100 Cities/100 Memorials initiative hope not only to honor those who served, but to raise awareness of this momentous event in our nation’s history, and increase each community’s understanding of their town’s and city’s place in military history.
It is our great hope that the 100 Cities/100 Memorials initiative will help unite the nation in a conversation, and collective celebration of our victory in World War I and in proper recognition of the contributions of those who served and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of liberty and freedom.
The 100 Cities/100 Memorials program was created and is sponsored by the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library. Both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars are signed on as supporting organizations.
Questions can be addressed to the 100 Cities / 100 Memorials program managers:
For the US WW1 Centennial Commission:
Theo Mayer:
theo.mayer@worldwar1centennial.org
For the Pritzker Military Museum and Library:
Susan Mennenga:
smennenga@pritzkermilitary.org